Unusual Common Yellowthroat (Paruline masquée) in our backyard

01 May 2017

     Miriam called to me, "Come quickly!

     Looking out the window from the family room she had seen an odd looking bird, which she recognized as a Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas, but it had a very visible white crown. We both tried to get a picture, she from the downstairs window and I from the bedroom, but the bird flitted about nervously and was in and out of vegetation and we were unsuccessful. Finally the bird flew off.

     I decided to have a nap on the sofa and while I was asleep the bird returned and Miriam was able to capture a few shots.

     I have never seen a bird like this before and I can only conclude that leucism is responsible for this condition. As you can see there are white patches in its characteristic black mask in addition to the extensive white crown.
     Males (and this bird is a male) normally have a pale whitish band separating the mask from the olive rear crown and neck, as shown in the pictures below taken from my archives.

     Common Yellowthroats have recently returned from their winter quarters in Central America or the West Indies, and it was serendipitous that our first sighting this spring would be of this anomalous bird.
     Surely this all proves why birding is an eternal source of enjoyment and fascination. Perhaps it also serves to point out that it's good to have a wife who doesn't take an afternoon nap!