What specific physical characteristic defines the male Common Yellowthroat (*G. trichas*) in comparison to relatives?
Answer
A distinctive black mask, often set off by a grey band
While the broader Parulidae family includes birds with yellow-green upperparts, the male Common Yellowthroat possesses a highly defining visual cue that separates it from many of its congeners in *Geothlypis* and other warblers. This feature is its distinctive black mask. Furthermore, this mask is usually framed or set off by an accompanying grey band. Females, in contrast, are significantly duller, exhibiting an olive-brown plumage, although they retain the tell-tale wash of yellow on the throat.
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