Salt marsh common yellowthroat

Salt marsh common yellowthroat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Geothlypis
Species:
Subspecies:
G. t. sinuosa
Trinomial name
Geothlypis trichas sinuosa
(Linnaeus, 1766)

The salt marsh common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas sinuosa, is a subspecies of the common yellowthroat, a New World warbler.[2] It was first described by Joseph Grinnell in 1901, who distinguished it from neighboring western subspecies by darker dorsal coloration and slightly smaller size.[3] Because of its discovery in San Francisco Bay, the subspecies is often referred to as the San Francisco common yellowthroat.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This subspecies occurs around San Francisco Bay, from Tomales Bay and San Pablo/Carquinez Strait south through the South Bay, occupying dense emergent marsh and riparian vegetation near water.[4] Within San Francisco, most breeding records are concentrated at the Lake Merced complex.[5]

Threat

The salt marsh common yellowthroat has experienced a dramatic 80% decline from the early 20th century through 1976 due to significant loss of its preferred habitat, marshes and other areas of dense vegetation near water.[2][5] Additional pressures include degradation of riparian thickets in urban settings and brood parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird.[4]

Conservation

Recognized by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as a Bird Species of Special Concern, the subspecies is considered in local planning and restoration projects.[4] For example, it is a species of concern for protection in efforts to restore Chelsea Wetlands in Hercules, California.[6]

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Geothlypis trichas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22721836A94733730. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22721836A94733730.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Common Yellowthroat Archived 2008-10-24 at the Wayback Machine, National Audubon Society, access date 11-02-2009
  3. ^ Grinnell, J. (1901). "The Pacific Coast Yellowthroats". The Condor. 3 (3): 65–66. doi:10.2307/1361545. JSTOR 1361545. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d Gardali, T.; Evens, J. (2008). "San Francisco Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas sinuosa)". Shuford, W. D.; Gardali, T. (eds.), California Bird Species of Special Concern. Camarillo, CA and Sacramento, CA: Western Field Ornithologists, and California Department of Fish and Game. pp. 317–321. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "City and County of San Francisco: Bird Species of Conservation Concern, 2023" (PDF). Golden Gate Bird Alliance. 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  6. ^ Chelsea Wetlands Restoration Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, City of Hercules website, 23-06-2008, access date 08-02-2009