Updated at: 25-09-2023 - By: petstutorial

Yellow birds are a common sight in North America and around the world. They are known for their bright and vibrant plumage, making them easy to spot and identify.

In this article, we will explore 10 types of yellow birds with pictures. These birds range from seed-eaters to insect-eaters and can be found in various habitats. We will provide a description of each bird and their location, so you can easily identify them when you see them.

So, let’s dive in and discover the beauty of these yellow birds!

10 Types Of Yellow Birds With Pictures

American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch is a small, migratory bird that belongs to the finch family. It can be found in North America, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canada-United States border to Mexico during the winter.

The American Goldfinch is a granivore and is adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating.

The American Goldfinch is a small finch, 11-14 cm long, with a wingspan of 19-22 cm and weighs between 11-20 g.

The male American Goldfinch is known for its bright yellow body with black wings and a black cap, while the female is duller yellow beneath and olive above. Winter birds are drab, unstreaked brown, with blackish wings and two pale wingbars.

Yellow Warbler

The Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) is a small, migratory songbird that belongs to the New World warbler species. It is the most widespread species in the diverse genus Setophaga and can be found throughout most of North America.

Yellow Warblers are small, evenly proportioned songbirds with medium-length tails and rounded heads. For a warbler, the straight, thin bill is relatively large. They are sparrow-sized or smaller, measuring 4.7-5.1 inches (12-13 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 6.3-7.9 inches (16-20 cm) and weighing between 0.3-0.4 ounces (9-11 g).

The breeding habitat of Yellow Warblers is typically riparian or moist land with ample growth of small trees, in particular willows, alders, and other shrubs along edges of streams, lakes, swamps, and marshes. They are insectivores and primarily feed on caterpillars and other insects.

The Yellow Warbler is known for its bright yellow body with reddish streaks on its breast, while the female is duller yellow beneath and olive above. They have a bright, musical sweet-sweet-sweet, sweeter-than-sweet song and a sharp chip call.

Yellow Warblers are migratory birds and fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single nonstop journey during migration.

Western Tanager

The Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) is a medium-sized songbird that belongs to the cardinal family. It is a distinctive summer visitor to the western coast of North America, ranging from southeastern Alaska south to northern Baja California, Mexico.

Here are some key facts about the Western Tanager:

Physical Characteristics:
– Adult male Western Tanagers have a bright yellow body with black wings and a flaming orange-red head.
– The wings have two bold wingbars; the upper one yellow and the lower one white.
– Females and immature males are duller, sometimes mostly grayish with just faint yellow on the belly and undertail coverts.
– They are stocky songbirds, larger and heavier-bodied than warblers, with short, thick-based bills and medium-length tails.

Habitat:
– During the breeding season, Western Tanagers are found primarily in relatively open coniferous forests and mixed woodlands.
– They nest in coniferous forests of the north and the high mountains.
– During migration, they may show up in any habitat, including grassland, riparian areas, parks, and orchards.

Behavior:
– Western Tanagers are insectivores and primarily feed on insects, including beetles, ants, wasps, and caterpillars.
– They are known for their sweet, robin-like song.
– Western Tanagers are migratory birds and fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single nonstop journey during migration.

Overall, the Western Tanager is a stunning bird with its bright yellow body, black wings, and flaming orange-red head. It can be found in a variety of habitats during migration and breeding season, and is known for its sweet song and insectivorous diet.

Yellow-breasted Chat

The Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) is a large songbird found in North America and is the only member of the family Icteriidae.

Here are some key facts about the Yellow-breasted Chat:

Physical Characteristics:
– Yellow-breasted Chats are larger and bulkier than warblers or vireos, with a long tail, large head, and a relatively thick, heavy bill.
– They are larger than a Yellow Warbler but smaller than a Robin.
– Adult Yellow-breasted Chats have olive upper parts with white bellies and bright-yellow throats and breasts.
– They have large, white eye rings and blackish legs.
– Females and immature birds are similar to males but duller and less yellow.

Habitat:
– Yellow-breasted Chats are found in dense, brushy areas and hedgerows.
– They nest in thick shrubs, often only about 2.5 m (8.2 ft) above the ground.
– They are often heard but not seen, as they are shy and skulking.
– During migration, they can be found in a variety of habitats, including shrubby areas and field edges.

Behavior:
– Yellow-breasted Chats are insectivores and mainly eat insects, which they search for among the leaves of thickets and bushes.
– They also eat fruits and berries when available.
– During the breeding season, male Yellow-breasted Chats will choose a high perch and sing a series of clucks, cackles, and squawks, which they use to attract potential mates and defend their territory from other males.
– They have a somewhat awkward-looking flight display where they flap their wings slowly and hover with their legs dangling downward while singing.
– Yellow-breasted Chats will vigorously defend their nests from potential threats.

Overall, the Yellow-breasted Chat is a unique and elusive bird that can be found in dense, brushy areas and hedgerows. They are insectivores and mainly eat insects, and during the breeding season, males will sing from high perches to attract mates and defend their territory.

Yellow-headed Blackbird

The Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) is a medium-sized blackbird and the only member of the genus Xanthocephalus. Here are some key facts about the Yellow-headed Blackbird:

Physical Characteristics:
– Yellow-headed Blackbirds are considered relatively large blackbirds with large, yellow heads.
– Adult males are mainly black with a yellow head and breast, and have a white wing patch sometimes only visible in flight.
– Adult females are mainly brown with a dull yellow throat and breast.
– They have a sharply pointed bill, a long tail, and a stout body.

Habitat:
– Yellow-headed Blackbirds are found in marshes, wetlands, and fields throughout western North America.
– They nest in noisy colonies in big cattail marshes of the west and midwest.
– When not nesting, they gather in flocks in open fields, often with other blackbird species.

Behavior:
– Yellow-headed Blackbirds are omnivores and feed on insects, seeds, and grains.
– During the breeding season, males will perch on tall cattails and sing to attract females.
– They are known for their distinctive, metallic calls.
– Yellow-headed Blackbirds are migratory birds and winter in the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Overall, the Yellow-headed Blackbird is a stunning and unmistakable blackbird with its large, yellow head and black body plumage. They can be found in marshes, wetlands, and fields throughout western North America, and are known for their distinctive calls and perching behavior during the breeding season.

Yellow-throated Vireo

The Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) is a small American songbird that belongs to the Vireonidae family. Here are some key facts about the Yellow-throated Vireo:

Physical Characteristics:
– Yellow-throated Vireos are small, chunky songbirds with a big head, thick bill, and short tail.
– They are larger than a Black-capped Chickadee but smaller than a Blue Jay.
– Adult Yellow-throated Vireos have a yellow throat and breast, olive-green upperparts, and white underparts.
– They have a distinctive white eye-ring and two white wing bars.

Habitat:
– Yellow-throated Vireos are found in open deciduous forests and edges throughout eastern North America.
– They prefer mature forests with a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees.
– During migration, they can be found in a variety of habitats, including parks and gardens.

Behavior:
– Yellow-throated Vireos are insectivores and primarily feed on insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and spiders.
– They forage for insects high in trees and will also eat berries, especially before migration and in winter when they are occasionally seen feeding on gumbo-limbo fruit.
– Yellow-throated Vireos are known for their burry, slow song, which is similar to a Blue-headed Vireo with a sore throat.
– They make a thick cup nest attached to a fork in a tree branch, and both sexes help build the nest.

Overall, the Yellow-throated Vireo is a colorful and distinctive songbird that can be found in open deciduous forests and edges throughout eastern North America. They are insectivores and primarily feed on insects, and are known for their burry, slow song and distinctive nest-building behavior.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) is a regular North American bird species that can be commonly observed all across the continent. Here are some key facts about the Yellow-rumped Warbler:

Physical Characteristics:
– Yellow-rumped Warblers are fairly large, full-bodied warblers with a large head, sturdy bill, and long, narrow tail.
– Adult males have a blue-gray back, black face, and a bright yellow throat, breast, and sides.
– They have a distinctive yellow rump patch and two white wing bars.
– Females and immature birds are duller and have less yellow on their bodies.

Habitat:
– Yellow-rumped Warblers are found in a variety of habitats, including open coniferous forests, deciduous forests, and mixed forests.
– During the breeding season, they are found in the northern parts of North America, including Canada and Alaska.
– During the winter, they can be found in a variety of habitats, including coastal bayberry thickets in the East and streamside woods in the West.

Behavior:
– Yellow-rumped Warblers are omnivores and feed on insects, berries, and seeds.
– They are known for their ability to eat wax myrtle berries, which allows them to winter farther north than other warblers.
– Yellow-rumped Warblers are migratory birds and migrate earlier in spring and later in fall than other warblers.
– They are also known for their distinctive, musical trill song.

Overall, the Yellow-rumped Warbler is a common and widespread bird species found throughout North America. They are known for their distinctive yellow rump patch and trill song, and can be found in a variety of habitats throughout the year.

Common Yellowthroat

The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is a New World warbler that is an abundant breeder in North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico. Here are some key facts about the Common Yellowthroat:

Physical Characteristics:
– Common Yellowthroats are small songbirds with chunky, rounded heads and medium-length, slightly rounded tails.
– Adult males have black face masks which stretch from the sides of the neck across the eyes and forehead, which are bordered above with white or gray.
– They have olive backs, wings, and tails, yellow throats and chests, and white bellies.
– Females are similar in appearance, but have paler underparts and lack the black mask.
– Immature birds are similar in appearance to the adult female.

Habitat:
– Common Yellowthroats are found in a variety of habitats, including open marshes, reed-beds, and patch of cattails from coast to coast.
– They prefer dense, low vegetation, such as shrubs, brambles, and tangled vines.
– During migration, they can be found in a variety of habitats, including fields, forest edges, and gardens.

Behavior:
– Common Yellowthroats are insectivores and primarily feed on insects, including beetles, flies, and caterpillars.
– They forage for insects low in vegetation and will also eat berries and seeds when available.
– Common Yellowthroats are known for their distinctive, witchety-witchety-witchety song, which is often heard before the bird is seen.
– They are also known for their secretive behavior and will often skulk through dense vegetation.

Overall, the Common Yellowthroat is a small and abundant songbird found throughout North America. They are known for their distinctive black face mask and witchety-witchety-witchety song, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including open marshes, reed-beds, and dense vegetation.

Evening Grosbeak

The Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) is a large, heavyset finch found in North America. Here are some key facts about the Evening Grosbeak:

Physical Characteristics:
– Evening Grosbeaks are large, heavyset finches with very thick, powerful, conical bills.
– They have a thick neck, full chest, and relatively short tail.
– Adult males have a bright yellow forehead, black head, and a yellow body with black and white wings.
– Females are duller, with a grayish-brown head and a yellowish body.

Habitat:
– Evening Grosbeaks are found in coniferous forests throughout North America.
– During the winter, they may wander widely in search of food and can be found at bird feeders.

Behavior:
– Evening Grosbeaks are primarily seed-eaters and feed on a variety of seeds, including those of conifers, maples, and sunflowers.
– They are known for their distinctive, loud calls and can be heard from a distance.
– Evening Grosbeaks are social birds and will gather in large flocks during the winter.

Overall, the Evening Grosbeak is a large and distinctive finch found in coniferous forests throughout North America. They are primarily seed-eaters and are known for their distinctive calls and social behavior. During the winter, they may wander widely in search of food and can be found at bird feeders.

Magnolia Warbler

The Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) is a small songbird that belongs to the wood warbler family Parulidae. Here are some key facts about the Magnolia Warbler:

Physical Characteristics:
– Magnolia Warblers are small, active songbirds with a thin, pointed bill and a long tail.
– Adult males have a black face mask, a bright yellow throat and chest, and a white belly.
– They have a distinctive white wing patch and black streaks on their sides.
– Females are similar in appearance, but have a duller yellow throat and chest.

Habitat:
– Magnolia Warblers are found in the northern parts of some Midwestern states and the very northeastern parts of the US, with states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin comprising its southernmost boundaries.
– They are mostly found across the northern parts of Canada, such as the boreal forest.
– During migration, they can be found in dense vegetation, often at forest edges.

Behavior:
– Magnolia Warblers are insectivores and primarily feed on insects, including caterpillars, beetles, and spiders.
– They forage for insects high in trees and will also eat berries when available.
– Magnolia Warblers are known for their distinctive, high-pitched song, which is a series of clear, ringing notes.
– They build their nests in small conifers, especially young spruces, in purely coniferous stands or mixed forests.

Overall, the Magnolia Warbler is a small and active songbird found in the northern parts of North America. They are insectivores and primarily feed on insects, and are known for their distinctive song and nest-building behavior.

FAQS

1. What are some common types of yellow birds in North America?

Some common types of yellow birds in North America include the American Goldfinch, Yellow Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat.

2. Where can I find yellow birds?

Yellow birds can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, wetlands, and fields. Some species are migratory and can be found in different locations depending on the season.

3. What do yellow birds eat?

Yellow birds have diverse diets, with some species primarily eating insects and others primarily eating seeds and berries.

4. How can I identify a yellow bird?

Yellow birds can be identified by their bright yellow plumage, distinctive markings, and unique calls. Field guides and online resources can also be helpful for identification.

5. Are yellow birds endangered?

Some species of yellow birds are considered threatened or endangered due to habitat loss and other factors. It is important to protect their habitats and support conservation efforts to ensure their survival.

6. Can I attract yellow birds to my backyard?

Yes, you can attract yellow birds to your backyard by providing food, water, and shelter. Bird feeders with seeds and suet can be especially attractive to some species.

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