What does the Common Yellowthroat call sound like?
Geothlypis trichas
Call Common
Play the real Common Yellowthroat call, the "tchep!", and learn what to listen for.
“tchep!”
What the Common Yellowthroat call sounds like
A low, rough chip from dense cover, often the first hint that a Common Yellowthroat is tucked into the vegetation.
“tchep!”
Birders often file this one under Husky chip call.
Call vs. song: telling the two apart
The same bird makes both. They sound nothing alike.
The call (this page)
A low, rough chip from dense cover, often the first hint that a Common Yellowthroat is tucked into the vegetation.
“tchep!”
The song
A distinctive, rolling 'witchity-witchity-witchity' or 'witch-i-ty, witch-i-ty' sung from exposed perches by territorial males.
“witchity-witchity-witchity”
Where you'll hear it
Thick, tangled vegetation in wetlands, prairies, pine forests, hedgerows, and disturbed sites across North America.
Common Yellowthroat call FAQ
What does a Common Yellowthroat call sound like?
A low, rough chip from dense cover, often the first hint that a Common Yellowthroat is tucked into the vegetation. Birders write it as "tchep!".
How do I tell a Common Yellowthroat from a Wilson's Warbler?
Wilson's Warbler: Male has black cap rather than mask. Brighter yellow overall.
When is the best time to hear the Common Yellowthroat call?
Most active during daylight hours, skulking through dense vegetation and singing from exposed perches.
More Common Yellowthroat sounds
Common Yellowthroat: the full species pageEvery sound we have, field marks, habitat and similar species.Common Yellowthroat songThe full song, not the call.How to Identify Bird Sounds (By Ear & With Apps)Learning to identify bird sounds is how you stop letting those moments slip by. It is also one of the fastest ways to feel like birds are no longer random background noise but neighbors you actually recognize.How to Learn Bird Calls Fast: A 7-Day Spring PlanYou have seven days. You want seven birds. This is the plan: one new song per day, a mnemonic per bird, ten minutes you steal from your coffee break. Sunday-to-Sunday, you walk outside and a name lands in your head before you have time to think about it.