Yellow birds are common and easy to spot. Theres a reason for that birds have incredible color vision, which is one of the reasons why the color of a birds plumage is so important.
Bright plumage is crucial for mating because bright plumage means a bird is strong and in good health. Additionally, the color of a birds plumage also benefits us because birders use colors and markings to identify birds.
Weve compiled a list of the most common yellow birds, their descriptions, frequently asked questions, and more!
On this list, youll find birds that are completely yellow, partially yellow, or only have sections of yellow. We would like to mention that most of the yellow birds seen are females. Males of the same species may be red, orange, brown, etc.
American Goldfinches are small birds. They have small heads, long wings, short tails, and conical, short bills.
Adult males in early summer and spring are bright yellow with black wings and black foreheads. In addition, they have white markings on the wings and white patches on the tail.
Adult females are olive above and a duller yellow below. Winter birds have blackish wings with two faint wing bars and are unstreaked brown.
These cheery creatures are some of the most commonly seen backyard birds in the United States.
Yellow Warblers are small songbirds with yellow body. They have rounded heads and medium-length tails. The bill is relatively large, straight, and thin. Yellow Warblers are consistently yellow birds.
Males are a bright yellow and have reddish streaks on the underparts. Both males and females flash yellow patches on the tail. Their faces have no markings, which really emphasizes their large black eyes.
Western Tanagers are heavyset songbirds. However, theyre relatively small but noticeably larger than warblers. They have medium-length tails and thick-based bills.
Adult males are yellow, have black wings, and have bright orange-red heads. The wings have two vivid wing bars, one yellow and one white. The tail and back are black.
Adult females have red on the front of the face and yellow-green plumage on the body.
In North America, Western Tanagers can be spotted in the western sides of the USA and Canada.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds are relatively large blackbirds. They have large heads, plump bodies, and conical, long bills.
Males are striking; theyre mostly black but have yellow chests and heads and white patches where the wings bend. Females and immatures have duller yellow heads and are brown instead of black.
Common Yellowthroats are small songbirds. They have medium-length, slightly rounded tails, and rounded heads. Adult males have olive underparts, are bright yellow below, and have a striking black face mask.
A thin white line runs between the mask from the neck and the head. Females are olive-brown and have yellow on the throat and under the tail. They do not have the black mask.
Evening Grosbeaks are heavyset, large finches. They have short tails, thick, conical bills, thick necks, and full chests. Adult males are black and yellow birds and have noticeable white patches on the wings.
Their heads are dark, and a bright-yellow stripe goes over the eye. Females and immatures are mainly gray, have a greenish-yellow tint to the neck and flanks, and have white-and-black wings.
Yellow-Breasted Chats are relatively small songbirds but are bulkier and larger than warblers. These birds have large heads, thick bills, and long tails.
In addition, these birds have bold face markings, olive green above, and bright yellow breasts. Their faces are gray with white rings around the eyes connecting to the bill. The lower belly is white as well.
Magnolia Warblers are small songbirds. They have narrow, long tails and small bills. Adult males have distinctive black streaking and black masks.
Males have yellow throats, yellow bellies, gray and black plumage above, and wide white wing patches. Females have gray heads, white eyerings, 2 white wing bars, and a faint gray band on the neck.
Magnolia Warblers (and other yellow warblers, such as Nashville Warblers, Pine Warblers, and sometimes even Yellow-rumped Warblers) can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from parks to edges of forests and shrubs.
Dickcissels are compact, sparrowlike birds who are known for their bright yellow coloring. They have short tails, thick, large bills, and full chests. Adult males have yellow faces and chests, grayish heads, and a bold black V on the neck.
The shoulders are reddish-brown, and the back is gray and brown. Females look similar but lack the black V on the throat and have a more muted pattern.
#10 Female Summer Tanager
Summer Tanagers are chunky, medium-sized songbirds. They have large heads and big bodies. Their bills are blunt, large, and thick. Though they are both bright yellow-green in color, the females and immature males have slightly greener wings and backs and yellower underparts and heads. Their bills are pale.
Summer Tanagers make a cup-shaped nest. There are usually 3-4 eggs in the nest. They prefer open woodlands and second-growth forests.
Bananaquits are small and very active warbler-like birds. These birds have variable plumage across their range. The majority of Bananaquits have bright yellow underparts and bold white eyebrows.
White, pale gray, and sooty gray are some other variations in throat color. Some birds in their range are entirely black.
Lesser Goldfinches are tiny songbirds with bright yellow belly areas. They have short, notched tails and long, pointed wings. Males have bright yellow below, glossy black caps, and white patches on their wings.
Their backs can be a dull green or glossy black. Their tails have white corners and are mostly black. Females have dull yellow underparts, olive backs, and black wings.
Lesser Goldfinches inhabit a range of habitats, including parks, open woodlands, grasslands, thickets, and other similar places. They are frequent visitors to bird feeders.
At backyard feeders, they relish nibbling on a variety of seeds.
Orchard Orioles are slender songbirds and are larger than warblers. Their heads are round, their bills are straight and sharp, and their tails are medium in length.
The overall color of female Orchard Orioles is greenish-yellow, with two white wing bars. Male Orchard Orioles that are immature resemble females except that their bills and throats are black.
Social Flycatchers are medium-sized flycatchers. Their heads are dark gray, their eye stripes are a striking white, and their crowns have a hidden brown stripe.
The upper parts of social flycatchers are also olive brown, while their wings and tails have a deeper brown color. Furthermore, the underparts are yellow and the throat is white.
Couchs Kingbirds are bulky, large flycatchers. They have long tails, long wings, and straight, heavy bills.
Male and Female Couchs Kingbirds look almost identical. These birds have whitish throats, pale gray heads, dark bills, dark legs, and yellow breasts. Their upperparts range from gray-brown to slightly green.
Scotts Orioles are medium-sized birds. Their bodies are robust, with lengthy tails, erect, elongated bills, and sturdy feet and legs.
Male adult Scott’s Orioles have bright yellow undersides and black throats and chests. They also have white wing bars, black and yellow tails, and yellow shoulders.
Adult female Scott’s Orioles have a muted yellow underside and an olive-green upperpart. Additionally, they have weak wing bars and some stippling on their heads.
Scott’s Orioles can be seen at your feeders because, like other orioles, they enjoy nectar.
Saffron Finches are medium-sized finches. Male Saffron Finches have bright orange foreheads and are primarily bright yellow in color.
Unlike many yellow finches, their backs and wings are less brownish-olive in color. There are some regional differences. Southern populations tend to be duller and have browner above.
Southern populations of Saffron Finches are streakier and browner, and females are duller than males.
Cassins Kingbirds are compact but powerful flycatchers. They have somewhat long tails and wings, smaller heads, and straight, heavy bills. Cassins Kingbirds have gray heads, yellow bellies, and white throats. The tails and wings are brown.
Their tails outer feathers are not white. However, you can see that the tip is pale.
Baltimore Orioles are smaller than American Robins. These birds are medium in size, with thick necks, long legs, and robust bodies. Their thick base, length, and point make their bills stand out.
Both immature males and females have two white wing bars, a yellowy-orange breast, and a grayish head.
Great Kiskadees are blocky, large flycatchers. They have thick necks, large heads, and straight bills. Their medium-length, square-tipped tails complement their rounded, wide wings.
The striking mix of reddish-brown, white, black, and yellow makes Great Kiskadees stand out. Their heads are black, their underparts are yellow, and they have bold white eyebrows and throats.
When they fly, their reddish-brown tails and wings are clearly visible.
Fun fact: Because of the box elder beetle’s widespread distribution, they were able to expand their habitat eastward. See them high in the trees during the summer as they search for beetles. They may make one of those amazing and infrequent feeder visits that creates excitement during their winter fruit and seed search!
FAQ
What are yellow birds called?
What kind of bird is all yellow with a black head?
Is a goldfinch a warbler?
How rare is a yellow warbler?