Perch Supply
Chats (Icteriidae)

Yellow-breasted Chat

Icteria virens. Insects and fruit from dense thickets.

Chats (Icteriidae)Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
Scientific name
Icteria virens
Length
6.7–7.5 in
Weight
0.7–1.1 oz
Nest
Bulky cup low in dense brambles or vines
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–6 eggs
Incubation
11–12 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Large, heavy-billed with a bright yellow breast
  • White spectacles on a grey face
  • Olive-green above

Voice

Bizarre medley of whistles, cackles and chuckles.

Diet and feeding

Insects and fruit from dense thickets.

What do yellow-breasted chats eat? · Best feeder for yellow-breasted chats

Yellow-breasted Chats by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederApril–July
AlbertaSummer breederJune–July
ArizonaSummer breederApril–July
ArkansasSummer breederMay–July
British ColumbiaSummer breederJune–July
CaliforniaSummer breederApril–July
ColoradoSummer breederMay–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMay–July
DelawareSummer breederMay–July
FloridaSummer breederApril–July
GeorgiaSummer breederApril–July
IdahoSummer breederMay–July
IllinoisSummer breederMay–July
IndianaSummer breederMay–July
IowaSummer breederMay–July
KansasSummer breederMay–July
KentuckySummer breederMay–July
LouisianaSummer breederApril–July
MarylandSummer breederMay–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMay–July
MichiganSummer breederMay–July
MinnesotaSummer breederJune–July
MississippiSummer breederApril–July
MissouriSummer breederMay–July
MontanaSummer breederJune–July
NebraskaSummer breederMay–July
NevadaSummer breederMay–July
New JerseySummer breederMay–July
New MexicoSummer breederMay–July
New YorkSummer breederMay–July
North CarolinaSummer breederMay–July
North DakotaSummer breederJune–July
OhioSummer breederMay–July
OklahomaSummer breederMay–July
OntarioSummer breederJune–July
OregonSummer breederMay–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMay–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMay–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederJune–July
South CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
South DakotaSummer breederMay–July
TennesseeSummer breederMay–July
TexasSummer breederApril–July
UtahSummer breederMay–July
VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WashingtonSummer breederMay–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMay–July
WisconsinSummer breederJune–July
WyomingSummer breederJune–July

Frequently asked

What do yellow-breasted chats eat?

Insects and fruit from dense thickets. At feeders: none — dense brambly thickets are the draw.

How big is a Yellow-breasted Chat?

6.7–7.5 in long and 0.7–1.1 oz.

Do yellow-breasted chats use birdhouses?

No. Bulky cup low in dense brambles or vines.

Sources

  1. Yellow-breasted Chat — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Yellow-breasted Chat life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Yellow-breasted Chat — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.