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Platte River Status: An uncommon migrant and nesting species across the study area. Rosche (1979) recorded yellow-breasted chat as a summer resident present 14 May to 21 August in the lower North Platte River Valley. Tout (1947) considered yellow-breasted chat a locally common summer resident in Lincoln County during 10 May to 28 September.

Breeding Range: An uncommon and local nesting species in the western third of the Platte River Valley physiographic region; uncommon and highly local elsewhere in the study area.

Breeding Population: Because of the patchy, localized, distribution on the study area, we failed to record yellow-breasted chat on random census plots during 1979-1980. We believe this is an artifact of the sampling method, rather than a reflection of the number of yellow-breasted chats on the study area. On 18 May 1934, Tout (1947) estimated one pair of yellow-breasted chats per 0.6 km while walking through Moran Canyon and nearby Sioux Lookout, Lincoln County.

Habitat: Within the Platte River Valley, yellow-breasted chat occurs with greatest frequency in thick riparian vegetation along river channels, and in mixed coniferous-deciduous vegetation associated with the canyonlands on the Dissected Plain of southern Lincoln County. Rising (1974) found yellow-breasted chat locally common in tall, rank stands of riparian vegetation in western Kansas, that were characterized by various willow species, salt cedar, and others. Faanes (1983) found yellow-breasted chat in western North Dakota most frequently in wooded draws supporting high shrub density, few mature trees, and low percentage canopy cover.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Yellow-breasted chat has benefited from the establishment of early seral stage wooded vegetation within the channel of the Platte River system. Excessive grazing of native grasslands associated with the canyonland region of the Dissected Plain, along with grazing of the wooded habitat within the canyons, contributes to reduced attractiveness of that habitat type.

Nesting Data: We have one confirmed nest record from the study area. On 16 June 1979, Faanes observed a nest with four eggs in dense riparian vegetation adjacent to the Platte River near Kearney, Buffalo County. Swenk (1940) found yellow-breasted chat nesting along the Little Blue River south of Hastings, Adams County, during the summer of 1929. Johnsgard (1979) reported that egg dates from Kansas extend from 11 May to 20 July, with peak nesting activity in early June.