Yellow-breasted Chat

Icteria virens

The Yellow-breasted Chat hunts its prey in the reserve’s riparian woodlands in spring and summer. It picks insects off the leaves and branches of low shrubs and sifts through the leaf-litter on the ground, sometimes holding its food with its foot. In spite of its bright yellow chest, it usually manages to avoid detection by dashing hurriedly from shrub to shrub, emerging onto outer branches only to sing.

Fun Fact:
This large wood-warbler has an unusually stout bill for an insect-eater, probably an adaptation for eating berries when insects aren't available.

What’s for Lunch:
Insects, especially moth and butterfly larvae

Where’s Home:
In summer, nests in riparian woodlands; flies to Mexico and Central America for the winter