
Examples of birds with yellow feathers Altamira Oriole, American Goldfinch, American Redstart, American Yellow Warbler, and Blackburnian Warbler.
Birds are one of the most interesting creatures on Earth. They can be found in a variety of environments, and each species has unique features that make them stand out from the rest.
While many people think of birds as being gray or brown, there are actually quite a few species with beautiful yellow feathers. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most notable birds with yellow feathers. We will also discuss the reasons why these birds have evolved to have such colorful plumage.
Examples of Birds with Yellow Feathers
1. Altamira Oriole
Scientific Name | Icterus gularis |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | northeastern Mexico |
The Altamira Oriole is a beautiful bird with yellow and black feathers. The males of this species are particularly striking, with their bright orange plumage. The females are less brightly colored, but they still have attractive yellow feathers.
2. American Goldfinch
Scientific Name | Spinus tristis |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | North America |
The American goldfinch is a small songbird that is found throughout North America. These birds are easily recognizable by their bright yellow feathers and black wings. The male goldfinches are particularly striking, as they have a yellow head and tail.
3. American Redstart
Scientific Name | Setophaga ruticilla |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | eastern North America travel to Florida, the Greater Antilles, and northern South America, while those breeding in central and western North America migrate to Mexico and Central America |
The American redstart is a small songbird that is found in North America. The male of the species has beautiful yellow, black, and white feathers. The female is generally drabber in coloration, with grayish-brown feathers.
4. American Yellow Warbler
Scientific Name | Setophaga petechia |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | North America as far south as central Mexico |
The American yellow warbler is a small songbird that is found throughout North America. These birds have bright yellow plumage, and they are often seen in open woodlands and near streams. The males of this species are typically more brightly colored than the females.
5. Blackburnian Warbler
Scientific Name | Setophaga fusca |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | eastern North America, from southern Canada, westwards to the southern Canadian Prairies, the Great Lakes region, and New England, to North Carolina |
The Blackburnian warbler is a small songbird that is found in North America. The males of this species are known for their bright orange and yellow plumage.
The Blackburnian warbler gets its name from the black throat patch that is found on the males of the species. This black throat patch is used to attract mates during the breeding season.
6. Bullock’s Oriole
Scientific Name | Icterus bullockii |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | western North America |
The Bullock’s Oriole is a small songbird that is found in open woodlands of the western United States. These birds are easily recognized by their bright yellow and black plumage. The male Bullock’s Oriole is particularly striking, with his yellow body and black head.
7. Canada Warbler
Scientific Name | Cardellina canadensis |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Canada |
The Canada Warbler is a small songbird that is found in North America. The males of this species have a bright yellow head and breast, with grayish-green upper parts. The females are similar in appearance, but their plumage is generally duller in color.
8. Cape May Warbler
Scientific Name | Setophaga tigrina |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | the Caribbean region |
The Cape May warbler is a small songbird that is found in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. This bird gets its name from the cape-like shape of its tail.
The Cape May warbler has a yellow body with black streaks on its back and wings. Its head is also yellow, with a black stripe running through its eye.
9. Common Yellowthroat
Scientific Name | Geothlypis trichas |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | North America, ranging from southern Canada to central Mexico |
The Common Yellowthroat is a small songbird that is found in North and Central America. These birds are olive-green on the upper parts, with yellow throat and breast. The females usually have less vibrant plumage than the males.
10. Dickcissel
Scientific Name | Spiza americana |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | the central United States from North Dakota south to Texas and east to Ohio and Tennessee and Alabama |
The dickcissel is a small songbird that is native to North America. It gets its name from its distinctive call, which sounds like the bird is saying “dick-cissel”. The dickcissel is mostly gray or brown, but it has a bright yellow breast and belly.
This yellow plumage is used to attract mates. The dickcissel is also notable for its long tail, which it uses to balance itself while perching on branches.
11. Eastern Meadowlark
Scientific Name | Sturnella magna |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | eastern North America and parts of South America |
The Eastern Meadowlark is native to North America. This bird is yellow with brown stripes on its back and wings. The underside of its tail is white, and its bill is black.
12. European Goldfinch
Scientific Name | Carduelis carduelis |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia |
The European goldfinch is native to Europe and Asia. The males of this species are yellow with black wings, while the females are brown with white stripes on their wings. The European goldfinch is a popular pet bird, and it is also often seen in art and literature.
13. Evening Grosbeak
Scientific Name | Coccothraustes vespertinus |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Canada and the northeastern to the Midwestern United States |
The evening grosbeak is a member of the finch family, and it is native to North America. This bird gets its name from its habit of feeding on seeds in the evening hours. The evening grosbeak is easily recognizable thanks to its bright yellow plumage.
14. Female Summer Tanager
Scientific Name | Piranga rubra |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | much of the eastern and southwestern United States and northern Mexico |
The Summer Tanager is a bird that is found in the eastern United States. The females of this species are mostly yellow, with a few red feathers on their wings. The males are red, with a black faces and yellow throats. Both sexes have black legs and feet.
15. Golden Conure
Scientific Name | Guaruba guarouba |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | the Amazon Basin of interior northern Brazil |
The Golden Conure is a member of the parrot family, and it is native to the rainforests of Brazil. These birds are easily recognizable due to their bright yellow plumage. The Golden Conure is also notable for its long tail feathers.
16. Hooded Oriole
Scientific Name | Icterus cucullatus |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | northern coastal and central California, southern Nevada, central Arizona, and western Texas south into northern Mexico |
The Hooded Oriole is a small songbird that is found in North and South America. The male of the species is particularly striking, with its black body and bright orange-yellow hood. The Hooded Oriole gets its name from this distinctive feature.
17. Hooded Warbler
Scientific Name | Setophaga citrina |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America |
The Hooded Warbler is found in the eastern United States and Canada. This bird gets its name from the black hood that extends down to its breast. The rest of its body is yellow, and it has a white belly.
18. Icterids
Scientific Name | Icteridae |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Colombia and southern Mexico |
The icterids are a family of birds that includes the blackbird, oriole, and meadowlark. This family is known for its brightly colored plumage, which is often yellow or orange.
19. Lesser Goldfinch
Scientific Name | Spinus psaltria |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | California and Texas |
The lesser goldfinch is a small bird that is found in the western United States. These birds are mostly yellow, with black wings and tails. The male of the species has a black cap, while the female does not. Lesser goldfinches are typically found in open habitats such as meadows and fields.
20. Magnolia Warbler
Scientific Name | Setophaga magnolia |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Midwestern states |
The Magnolia Warbler is a small bird that is found in North America. This bird gets its name from the fact that it is often seen near magnolia trees. The Magnolia Warbler has yellow plumage on its head, breast, and belly. It also has black streaks on its back and wings.
21. Nashville Warbler
Scientific Name | Leiothlypis ruficapilla |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | central and northern North America |
The male of the Nashville Warbler is brightly colored, with a yellow body and grayish-brown wings. The female is less colorful, with a duller yellow body and brownish wings. This warbler gets its name from the city of Nashville, Tennessee, where it was first discovered
22. New World Orioles
Scientific Name | Icterus |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | the Americas, from Canada south to Southern America; as well as the Caribbean islands |
These beautiful birds are found in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. They are named for their brightly colored plumage, which is most often orange or yellow. The males of this species are typically more colorful than the females.
23. New World Warblers
Scientific Name | Parulidae |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | temperate North America |
These small songbirds are some of the most brightly colored birds in North America. They are found in a variety of habitats, but they prefer to nest in trees. Warblers are known for their beautiful songs, and they are often used as symbols of springtime.
24. Orchard Oriole
Scientific Name | Icterus spurius |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | The United States and southern Canada |
The Orchard Oriole is a small songbird that is found in North America. The males of this species are bright yellow, while the females are mostly gray with some yellow on their wings. The Orchard Oriole feeds on insects and fruits, and can often be seen perched in trees near forests or open fields.
25. Palm Warbler
Scientific Name | Icterus spurius |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | the Caribbean and in a narrow strip along with the southeastern United States and occasionally along the West Coast |
This little bird is found in North America, and it is known for its yellow breast and throat. The palm warbler gets its name from the fact that it is often seen perching on palm trees. These birds are not particularly rare, but they are still a sight to behold.
26. Prairie Warbler
Scientific Name | Setophaga discolor |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | eastern and south-central United States |
This bird has bright yellow plumage, with bold black streaks on its breast and back. The Prairie Warbler is a relatively common bird, and it can be found in a variety of habitats including forests, fields, and even suburban areas.
27. Prothonotary Warbler
Scientific Name | Protonotaria citrea |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | southeastern Ontario and the eastern United States |
The Prothonotary Warbler is a yellow bird that is found in wooded areas of the eastern United States. These birds are easily recognizable due to their vivid yellow plumage. The males of the species are particularly striking, with bright yellow feathers on their head, back, and tail.
28. Saffron Finch
Scientific Name | Sicalis flaveola |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | Colombia, northern Venezuela |
The Saffron Finch is a small bird that is found in the highlands of South America. The males of this species are a bright yellow color, while the females are a more subdued olive green. The Saffron Finch is thought to get its name from the fact that its plumage resembles the spice saffron.
29. Scarlet Tanager
Scientific Name | Piranga olivacea |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | eastern North America and winter in northern and western South America |
The scarlet tanager is a species of yellow bird that is native to North America. This bird gets its name from its reddish-orange plumage. The scarlet tanager is found in wooded areas, and it typically feeds on insects.
30. Scott’s Oriole
Scientific Name | Icterus parisorum |
Type of Animal | Bird |
Range | The Southwestern United States and south to Baja California Sur and central Mexico |
The Scott’s oriole is a yellow bird that is found in the southwestern United States. This bird has a black head and back, with bright yellow feathers on its belly and wings.
More Examples Of Birds With Yellow Feathers
- Townsend’s Warbler
- Verdin
- Western Kingbird
- Western Meadowlark
- Western Tanager
- White-Eyed Vireo
- Wilson’s Warbler
- Yellow-Breasted Chat
- Yellow-Headed Blackbird
- Yellow-Headed Blackbird
- Yellow-Throated Vireo
Conclusion
Birds with yellow feathers can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia. These birds are known for their brightly colored plumage, which is often used to attract mates during the breeding season. Some of the most common species of bird with yellow feathers include the Common Yellowthroat, Cape May Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Yellow-Throated Vireo.

Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.