Common Yellowthroat in August
Where common yellowthroats are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Common Yellowthroat's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Common Yellowthroat specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 61 states and provinces where common yellowthroats occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where common yellowthroats are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, common yellowthroats are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Common yellowthroats are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, common yellowthroats put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and spiders
A marsh and damp-thicket bird. Leave a wet, weedy corner in the yard and it may nest there.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Common Yellowthroat diet guide → · Best feeder for common yellowthroats →
Watching common yellowthroats this month
Common yellowthroats are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region common yellowthroats are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Common Yellowthroat month by month
Common Yellowthroat by state
Frequently asked
Where are common yellowthroats in August?
In August, common yellowthroats are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do common yellowthroats nest in August?
No — common yellowthroats typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do common yellowthroats eat in August?
Caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers and spiders.
Sources
- Common Yellowthroat — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Yellowthroat life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Common Yellowthroat — 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.