Common yellowthroats are vulnerable to a variety of predators because they build their nests close to the ground in shrubs. In the nest, young and old alike may be preyed upon by snakes, raccoons, and opossums. During flight, they may be taken by shrikes, kestrels, and merlins. Their nests are also parasitized by brown-headed cowbirds, which deposit eggs in their nests to trick common yellowthroats into raising cowbird chicks as their own.