Month: September 2024

Have you spotted a yellow and black bird at your backyard bird feeder? We’re not surprised. Yellow and black birds are common in the United States! Numerous species have this distinctive color of plumage.

If you want to identify the bird at your feeder, here is your guide. 

Click here to skip directly to the pictures and see if it was one of these yellow and black birds you spotted!

Yellow and Black Bird Species of North America

According to Bird Advisors, North America has at least twenty-three yellow and black bird species. The list they provided contains the following birds:

1. American Goldfinch
2. Common Yellowthroat
3. Western Meadowlark
4. Lesser Goldfinch
5. Prairie Warbler
6. Orchard Oriole Female
7. Western Tanager
8. Pine Warbler
9. Yellow Warbler
10. Yellow-headed Blackbird
11. White-eyed Vireo
12. Eastern Meadowlark
13. Yellow-throated Warbler
14. Evening Grosbeak
15. Scott’s Oriole
16. Hooded Oriole
17. Wilson’s Warbler
18. Hooded Warbler
19. Black-throated Green Warbler
20. Canada Warbler
21. Magnolia Warbler
22. Altamira Oriole
23. Audubon’s Oriole

In this article, we focus on identifying eight common birds from this list. These include:

1. American Goldfinch
2. Common Yellow Throat
3. Western Meadowlark
4. Yellow-Headed Black Bird
5. Scott’s Oriole
6. Hooded Warbler
7. Evening Grosbeak
8. Western Tanager

Identifying Yellow and Black Birds in North America

This section provides detailed information about the eight above-selected birds. This information lets you narrow down what bird you are admiring.   

Tips on Identifying Birds

Consider several factors when identifying a bird. Look at:

• Color
• Size
• Wingspan
• Behavior
• Shape
• Song
• Feeding preferences (feed type, location, etc.)

Birding Joy provides a guide that is an excellent resource for learning about bird identification. Access it in the link above!

Why Identify Backyard Birds

Identifying birds helps you better appreciate them. Each bird species comes with its own long list of unique traits and fun facts. Therefore, these factors are used to distinguish one species from another.

For example, the American Goldfinch is the only finch species that molts twice yearly. It has colorful eggs, burrows in the snow, and the paired males and females adapt identical songs. Knowing this makes observing them all the more enjoyable!

Identifying the bird species at your feeder also helps you be a better steward. If you know a bird’s preferences and needs, providing for them is easier. For example, some birds prefer to feed on the ground. Some prefer suet over seed, and so on and so forth. 

Next, we use several of these factors to identify the yellow and black bird you have spotted!

Eight North American Black and Yellow Birds

And finally- your identification guide! Let’s get to it.

American Goldfinch (Yellow with Black Wings)

The American Goldfinch is most often spotted in the winter. The male is a yellow bird with black wings. It adorns white markings on its wings and above and beneath the tail. Females are brown on their uppers and have a dull yellow lower. The American Goldfinch is a small bird, often smaller than a sparrow. 

Now we know what the bird look like, what are its behaviours?

It is an active, bouncy flyer and is often found in groups. This bird enjoys fields and floodplains.

The American Goldfinch has four distinctive calls, yet they are all difficult to learn and, therefore, aren’t effective for identification. However, listen for the identical call of the paired male and female. 

Fun Fact: Goldfinches are strict vegetarians!

Common Yellowthroat (Yellow-throated with a Black Face)

The name gives it away- the easiest way to spot a Common Yellowthroat is looking for a yellow throat! This bird also has a black mask around its eyes, a brown body, and unmarked wings. Females lack the white and black face markings and have duller yellow throats. The bird is roughly five inches in size.

Another great way to identify the Common Yellowthroat is by its loud, fast, and chipper call. Both genders have an easy-to-learn ‘chuck’ note in their song.

It enjoys open marshes and swamp lands, and while it does not linger in backyards, it is known to stop over for a quick snack at provided feeders.

These birds are often solitary but sometimes forage in flocks. 

Fun Fact: Common Yellowthroats perch on a single strand of long grass. Imagine the balance required to do that!

Western Meadowlark (Yellow Chest with Black V-band)

The Western Meadowlark enjoys wide-open spaces west of the Mississippi River. It has a yellow chest marked with a V-shaped band just below its throat. The Western Meadowlark’s back is brown, and it has white tail feathers, which are most noticeable on take-off and landing. It has a blue-grey beak and long, pink legs. This bird is rather chunky and is similar in size to a Robin. The females and males of this species look the same. 

Its song, often described as flute-like, is made up of gurgling notes. This is distinctive from their eastern counterparts. Western Meadowlarks are noisy and often heard before seen.

This ground-feeding bird is solitary, except in the winter when it forms small flocks. 

Fun Fact: Male Western Meadowlarks typically keep two female mates at the same time. 

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Another yellow and black bird is the Yellow-headed Blackbird. The male has a black body, yellow head and chest, and a small white marking on its wings. Females and young males are brown with dull yellow colored heads. Yellow-headed Blackbirds are eight to eleven inches in size. 

This bird breeds and roosts in freshwater wetlands but forages in fields and agricultural areas. It often nests in cattails. Its song is rough on the ears, described by Audubon as a hoarse, harsh scraping.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds are highly social and lives in loose colonies during the breeding season.

Fun Fact: During the winter, Yellow-headed Blackbirds form huge flocks, often including other species of blackbirds. 

Scott’s Oriole (Yellow with Black Head and Chest)

The male Scott’s Oriole is a large, slender, yellow and black bird. It has a black back, head, and breast with a yellow lower body and distinctive white wingbars. Females have dulled yellow lower bodies with olive-green uppers.

Spot this bird in arid foothills and mountains, hopping through tall vegetation, or feeding on nectar with its curved, pointed bill. 

Next, you guessed it, the song! Its song resembles that of the Western Meadowlark containing the same harsh ‘chuck’ note.

Also like the Western Meadowlark, its is a solitary bird. Look for the absence of the V-shaped chest band when differentiating the Scott’s Oriole from the Western Meadowlark.

Fun Fact: Monarchs are toxic to Scott’s Orioles. Does that stop them from feeding on them? Nope! They simply find the least toxic ones and hope for the best.

Hooded Warbler (Yellow with Black Hood and Wings)

The Hooded Warbler is a yellow bird with black wings. It is relatively small with a distinctive black hood around its face topped with a yellow crest. It has a bright yellow belly and noticeably dark wings. Females resemble males except for their patchy hoods. 

This southern tropical species is shifting northward and enjoys spending time alone in shady undergrowth of rich, moist woods and swamp edges.

Its song is a loud, ringing pitch, and, while it feeds on the ground, the males advance to the treetops to sing. 

Fun Fact: In some areas of Tennessee, Hooded Warblers are among the most numerous breeding birds. 

Evening Grosbeak (Yellow with Black Wings)

The Evening Grosbeak is a large, heavyset finch. It is a yellow bird with black wings. The Evening Grosbeak is easily distinguished by its prominent yellow stripe over its eye. It also has a noticeable white patch on its upper wing. Females are mostly grey with white and black wings and a yellowish neck and flank. 

Evening Grosbeaks are social birds found in flocks, often in the treetops where they forage.

This bird loves backyard feeders and high-elevation forests. It periodically migrates south when seed crops are less abundant than usual.

Fun Fact: Evening Grosbeaks are songbirds by nature yet do not actually have a song. In fact, it is a quiet bird that rarely gives short warbles and blurry chirps. When it does call to another Grosbeak, its call is piercing. 

Western Tanager (Yellow with Orange-red Head)

The Western Tanager is known for its colorful plumage and melodic song. It has a yellow body, black wings, and an orange-red head. Females are an olive-yellow color. Birds of this species are six to seven and a half inches long. 

The Western Tanager prefers mixed forests near water. Its home range is between sea level and 10,000 feet in altitude.

It is a social bird and forms flocks during migration. During breeding season, it can be recognized by its noisy, acrobatic courtship displays. 

And finally, your last fun fact of the day…

Fun Fact: Males and females care for their young together- a unique behavior in the bird world!

More Yellow Birds

If you want to see some more yellow birds, check out our guide Yellow Birds: Which Have You Spotted?

The brightest color nearby often catches everyone’s attention, and nothing beats a bold, cheery yellow. Birds can come in nearly any color imaginable, but yellow is by far the most eye-catching.

So, when we spot yellow birds in nature, it’s normal to feel excited and amazed.

Are There Yellow Birds in North America?

If you live in North America, there are lots of native yellow birds.

You might not see them every day, but if you keep an eye out, you’re sure to see birds with yellow feathers now and then. Some of these birds are completely yellow while others have a yellow pattern paired with other colors.

Set up some bird feeders and take more nature walks if you’re hoping to see more of these birds than usual.

North America’s Yellow Birds

There are tons of yellow birds with a range from Canada to Mexico. Below are a few of the most common and distinctive ones native to North America.

American Goldfinch (Yellow & Black Bird)

The American goldfinch is one of the most iconic yellow birds.

The males are bright yellow with a black forehead and wings. Nonbreeding males and females have dull gray-yellow coloring instead.

They’re found across the United States, along with parts of Canada during the breeding season and parts of Mexico during the nonbreeding season.

These birds molt their feathers in the late summer and late winter. After molting in winter, males have brighter yellow feathers than usual to help them attract mates.

Yellow Warbler (Both Sexes Entirely Yellow)

Both male and female yellow warblers are completely covered in bold yellow feathers.

They spend their breeding range across most of North America, and then they migrate down to Central America and Northern South America for their nonbreeding season.

These beautiful yellow birds are great at adapting to new situations. They thrive in all types of environments, even at 9,000-foot elevations in aspen forests.

Prothonotary Warbler (Yellow & Gray Bird)

This warbler species is just as bright as the yellow warbler, but it’s not completely yellow.

These vibrant birds have yellow heads and bodies, but their wings and tails are gray. Males are fluffier with bolder colors than females.

During the breeding season, they’re found across the Eastern United States, but they migrate down to Mexico and Northern South America.

The name “prothonotary” is another name for papal clerks in the Roman Catholic church. So, these birds got their name after the bright yellow robes those individuals sometimes wear.

Western Tanager (Male is Yellow & Black with Red Face)

Male western tanagers have bold yellow coloring with black wings and red/orange faces. The females are harder to spot since they’re a dull gray-yellow color.

They’re found across the Western side of North America. They stay north when breeding and then migrate south.

To attract females, the males tumble past females to show off their colors. When doing so, females will see a flash of yellow, black, and red, which might pique their interest.

Summer Tanager (Female is Yellow-Green)

Male summer tanagers are bright red, but the females have yellow feathers all over instead. So, it’s easy to distinguish between the two.

These birds breed mostly in the Southern United States, and then they migrate to Mexico and Northern South America.

These yellow birds are good to have around because they regularly eat wasps. They eat the larvae but also catch adult wasps in mid-air. They rub them against a branch to remove the stinger before eating.

Evening Grosbeak (Yellow, Black & Gray Bird)

Mature males of this species have gorgeous patterns that include bright yellow with patches of gray, black, and white. The females are mostly gray but still have hints of yellow in their feathers.

They don’t have a regular migration pattern, so they live across most of the United States and Canada.

These birds have large, thick beaks, which can crack through seeds with hard shells. They don’t seem to sing any songs, and the only sounds they make are soft chirps.

Magnolia Warbler (Yellow-bellied Bird)

Magnolia warblers are little gray birds with stunning bright yellow bellies. The males have black streaks on the yellow while females don’t.

These birds typically breed across Canada, migrate across the Eastern United States, and spend the nonbreeding season in Mexico.

These yellow birds got their name after Alexander Wilson found one in a magnolia tree in 1810. The species was first called “black-and-yellow warbler,” but “magnolia warbler” was the name that stuck.

Pine Warbler (Yellow & Gray Bird)

A pine warbler’s feathers are a mix of yellow and gray, with females having slightly duller colors.

They’re mostly found across the Eastern United States. The ones living further north typically migrate south, but the ones living in the Southeastern United States stay there year-round.

These birds may develop differently depending on their diets. Pine warblers that eat mostly seeds have larger gizzards, making their digestion process take longer. Ones eating mostly fruit have longer intestines and can digest food faster.

Hooded Warbler (Mostly Yellow with Black Hood)

Female hooded warblers are mostly yellow, but males have dull yellow bodies with bright yellow around their eyes while the rest of the head is black.

These yellow birds live across the Eastern United States when breeding and eventually migrate down to Mexico and Central America.

Male hooded warblers try returning to the same breeding spot every year. Both males and females can be highly territorial, causing them to scare other birds away from their space.

Audubon’s Oriole (Yellow & Black Bird)

These gorgeous orioles have bright yellow bodies with pitch black heads, wings, and tails.

They only live in parts of Mexico, sometimes reaching Southern Texas. They don’t migrate, so they live in the same area year-round.

Audubon’s orioles are shy and usually keep to themselves, making them harder to spot in their small range. You will usually hear their loud whistles before seeing their bold yellow feathers.

More Yellow Birds in North America

Have you seen yellow birds that don’t match the description of any of the above species? Here are some other popular birds with yellow feathers across the continent:

• Canada Warbler
• Cape May Warbler
• Common Yellowthroat
• Dickcissel
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Lesser Goldfinch
• Nashville Warbler
• Prairie Warbler
• Scott’s Oriole
• Townsend’s Warbler
• Verdin
• Western Kingbird
• White-Eyed Vireo
• Wilson’s Warbler
• Yellow-Breasted Chat
• Yellow-Headed Blackbird
• Yellow-Throated Vireo

Have You Seen These Yellow Birds in North America?

Now that you know some of the stunning yellow birds to look for, keep an eye out as you explore the outdoors. You might be surprised by how many birds with bold yellow coloring are living right by your own home.