Bird watching is an exciting thing to do and the best reward you get from this activity is being able to identify a bird correctly as soon as you see it. This comes with a lot of guidance, tips, and experience. This article will help you greatly in identifying birds with yellow bellies very easily. The tips given in the article are further reinforced with pictures of the birds so that you do not go wrong at all.
There is no scarcity of birds with yellow bellies and they are seen pretty regularly. Most of these yellow-bellied birds turn out to be warblers or orioles, particularly female orioles.
This article will guide you in identifying many types of these birds. These vividly colored and joyful birds frequent backyard feeders, fields, and forests.
The Us and Canada see a big population of these birds. Not all of them stay there. Some of them are migratory birds and so leave after some time.
Here are the valuable tips and pictures that will help you become an excellent bird watcher.
35 Birds With Yellow Bellies
- American Goldfinch
- Common Yellowthroat
- Western Meadowlark
- Lesser Goldfinch
- Prairie Warbler
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Prothonotary Warbler
- Orchard Oriole Female
- Western Tanager
- Canada Warbler
- Cape May Warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Pine Warbler
- Yellow Warbler
- Orchard Oriole Female
- Western Kingbird
- Baltimore Oriole Female
- Altamira Oriole
- Audubon’s Oriole
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Yellow-throated Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- Cedar Waxwing
- Evening Grosbeak
- Scott’s Oriole
- Spot Breasted Oriole
- Baltimore Oriole Female
- Streaked Backed Oriole Female
- Hooded Oriole
- Wilson’s Warbler
- Hooded Warbler
- Williamson’s Sapsucker Male
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
1. American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches are beautiful birds. The males of the species are distinctly different from the females and are more brightly colored. They are a vivid yellow and black during the spring season. The females, however, do not have such lively colors. They are a dull brown. The surprising thing about these birds is that though the males are so brightly colored in spring, they become a dull brown that matches the color of the females during the winter.
- Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm)
American Goldfinches are widely spotted in a majority of places in North America. Their breeding ground is Canada and the Mid-West. Since they are migratory birds, they move to the southern states. Other than this migratory period, they spend all their time in the other parts of the US.
They search for and consume sunflower, thistle, and aster plants. So, they are found very often in places where there are a lot of weeds and also in places with a dense growth of plants. They frequent places like the suburbs, parks, and backyards.
It is very natural to want these birds to visit your backyard and this is not at all difficult. Just have thistles and milkweed growing in your backyard and they are sure to come. However, the easier way to achieve this is to set up bird feeders as they are attracted to them. They will come more willingly if you offer them sunflower seed and nyjer seed.
2. Common Yellowthroat
Common yellowthroats which are gorgeous have an additional attraction. They are songbirds as well! Their appearance is amazing with a brown back and a chest that is a brilliant yellow. Their bellies are also yellow but not as bright as their chests. Added to all this are their long tails. Another distinguishing mark that you can look out for in these birds is the lovely black mask that they have across their faces. There is an amazing fact connected to the yellow that these birds have. The shade of yellow of these birds depends on which part of the world they are in. In some places, they have a more olive color underneath.
- Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.3 oz (9-10 g)
- Wingspan: 5.9-7.5 in (15-19 cm)
The breeding season of these birds is the summer and they choose to breed over a majority of places in North America. However, they avoid Alaska and northern Canada during this breeding period. Some of them prefer to spend all months of the year in the Gold Coast and the Pacific Southwest.
The best season to spot them is spring and summer and the best places to look for them in these seasons is marshy or wetland areas and fields. They also choose to live in areas that have very dense vegetation.
Their staple diet consists of mainly insects. So, they are found in huge backyards with a lot of plants as such areas are bound to have plenty of insects.
3. Western Meadowlark
The Western Meadowlark has a lot of feathers in its cap. It has the distinction of being the state bird of 6 states! That is astonishing but not at all surprising as the bird is amazing. They have brilliantly yellow bellies and they sing incredibly well. The sight of this bird and the sound of its mellifluous voice illuminate our day and lighten our mood. No wonder this bird is well-known!
Though these birds are the cousins of the blackbirds, in size, they are closer to a Robin. Their stunning appearance is due to the tinges of brown and white in the upper areas. There is a black band in the shape of a V that decorates the vivid yellow chest which changes to a gray in winter.
- Length: 6.3-10.2 in (16-26 cm)
- Weight: 3.1-4.1 oz (89-115 g)
- Wingspan: 16.1 in (41 cm)
Their favorite breeding spot is the northern US and Canada. They tend to migrate to the southern states. However, the birds that live in the west and Midwest do not migrate at all. They live in the same place all months of the year.
They love eating insects and seeds and so they will naturally be found where these two things are available freely. So, they are normally spotted in places with weeds. They move around in flocks in grasslands, meadows, and fields. However, some of them are solitary too.
4. Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinches are not very big. They are, in fact, tiny. But the dazzling color combination of brilliant yellow and black makes them look extremely attractive. In addition to a beautiful appearance, they can enthrall us with their songs too. The length of their wings and tails are very different. While the wings are long and pointed, the tail is pretty short. Their yellow bellies and chests are contrasted by the darker color on their backs. In this species also, the females vary slightly from the males. The backs of the females are olive. They also have yellow in their bellies but this yellow is definitely duller than the yellow of the males.
- Length: 3.5-4.3 in (9-11 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-11.5 g)
- Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 in (15-20 cm)
Lesser Goldfinches are found in the southwest and west coast throughout the year. But, during winter, since it gets rather cold, some of them prefer to come down to lesser elevations to beat the cold.
Lesser Goldfinches are not solitary birds and so prefer the company of their own kind. This tendency makes them flock together. They are spotted in large numbers in places that are not closed. Their favorite food is seeds, particularly sunflower seeds. Among fruits, they love to eat elderberry, coffeeberry, buds from cottonwoods, willows, sycamores, and alders.
Luring these birds in your backyard is not very challenging. If you provide their sunflower seeds in tube feeders or platform feeders, they will definitely come to consume them.
5. Prairie Warbler
These birds, which can sing harmoniously, are not very large. Their backs are splendid olive further enhanced by a vivid yellow on the throat and belly. What are the main distinguishing features of these birds? They have black streaks running along the sides. Their eyes stand out as they have a dark portion in the shape of a semicircle under the eyes. The female of the species, as with many other species, are not as colorful as the males.
- Length: 4.3 in (11 cm)
- Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (6.4-8.8 g)
They normally reproduce in the eastern and southeastern states. However, they migrate to Florida, the Caribbean, and other coastal areas in Central America for the winter.
Some of these birds live in Florida all their lives. These birds are slightly different from the regular Prairie Warbler and hence are classified as subspecies. Apart from the difference in not migrating, there is a physical dissimilarity between the regular Prairie Warbler and these birds, These birds are marginally bigger than the regular ones.
Their names can be misleading as it does not really indicate the place that they live in. In reality, they reside in fields and forests.
6. Orange-crowned Warbler
Warblers are known for their brilliant colors but the Orange-crowned warbler is an exception to this. Their colors are not as splendid as the other birds of the same species. They have a yellow-olive coloring. Towards the Pacific coast, this color looks more yellow. Though the name is an orange-crowned warbler, the orange is not visible so quickly.
Their bellies and chests are yellow and the darker color on the back is a contrast.
- Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-11 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5 in (19 cm)
These birds choose to migrate to Canada and the western states. They migrate to the Pacific, East and Gulf Coasts, and Mexico.
They are spotted mostly in shrubs and places where there is no thick growth. They prefer to breed in the open woodland.
Their staple diet includes insects and fuits. They love to eat spiders, caterpillars, and flies among insects and berries and seeds from plants. They come routinely to backyard feeders.
If you want to see more of them in your backyard, the best thing to do is to set up suet and peanut butter. Other than this, hummingbird feeders with sugar water nectar also work very well.
7. Prothonotary Warbler
If you live in eastern US states, then you will have a number of opportunities to see this bird as it breeds in this place. The males and females of this species are different in appearance. There are two bright, contrasting colors that make the males stand out distinctly. These two colors are vivid yellow and blue. The blue is restricted to the wings and the rest of the body is yellow. There is gray also combined with the blue in the tail. Places that make it easy to spot them are streams and wet woodlands. The females, however, are not as attractive as the males as they are not so colorful.
The habits of this variety of warbler are different from that of other warblers. Though the warblers do not breed in eastern and southeastern states, these are the places that the Prothonotary Warblers choose to breed. They migrate to Central and South America.
The places that they choose to breed are different from what the other birds choose. These birds choose places that have a lot of water stagnating, near streams or in swamps.
The staple diet of these birds is spiders, insects, and snails. During the colder months, they change their diet to fruit and seeds.
8. Orchard Oriole Female
There is a large difference between the males and the females of this species. The females are largely greenish-yellow. The color is of different shades in different parts of the body. It is paler underneath and the back and wings are of a darker shade. The wing bars are a completely different color. They are white. The males are, on the other hand, brightly colored. Their heads and backs are black and their undersides are reddish.
- Length: 5.9-7.1 in (15-18 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-1.0 oz (16-28 g)
- Wingspan: 9.8 in (25 cm)
The breeding season for these birds is the summer. The places that they breed in are the central and eastern states. They are in the habit of migrating to Mexico and Central America.
They love a lot of free, open space and hence are found normally in places like the open woodland. This is, however, not the only place that they are found in. They also inhabit open shrubland and farms. The good news for bird watchers is that they also visit backyards. Their nests are very interesting. They build nests in the shape of pouches. These nests do not rest on branches. Instead, they hang down.
What is their diet? They love eating a variety of insects. They are very fond of ants, caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders. Among fruits, they enjoy eating mulberries and chokeberries. A very different component of their diet is that they drink nectar from flowers.
Since we know the diet of these birds, it is not very difficult to lure them into our own backyards and gaze at their beauty. To do this, set up hummingbird feeders or platform feeders with cut oranges or mange. Since they love mulberries and chokeberries, planting these in the backyard is sure to draw them in.
9. Western Tanager
All the three colors that adorn this bird are very attractive and bright. Their heads are orange-red that is fiery. Their bodies are yellow and their wings are black.
- Length: 6.3-7.5 in (16-19 cm)
- Weight: 0.8-1.3 oz (24-36 g)
The western US states and Canada are the ideal breeding spots for these birds. Their migration path takes them to the east and south of this range. During the colder months, they prefer to spend their time in Mexico and Central America.
The captivating orange-red color that they have seems to originate from consuming certain insects. These insects make their own pigment that is responsible for this lovely shade. There is no other explanation for this as the Western Tanagers are not capable of making this pigment on their own. This color is so dazzling that it is difficult to keep it undercover. Yet, these birds manage to hide this brilliant color in canopies of forests. They achieve this though they live in conifer forests that are open.
The description of the bird and the incredible colors must make it really tempting to invite them into your backyard. The good news is that they will visit you if you offer them dried fruit, cut oranges, and other fruits from bird feeders.
10. Canada Warbler
Canada Warblers may be easily mistaken for the Magnolia Warbler as they share a lot of similar features. However, there are some characteristics that distinguish the two. The males of the Canada Warbler have backs that are grayish black. They have a lovely black strip around the neck that looks so like a necklace that they are wearing. The main difference between the two species is that in the Canada Warbler, the necklace is restricted to only the neck. It does not go all the way down to the belly. Their bellies, chests, and throats are predominantly yellow.
The females and the younger ones also have this necklace pattern but it is not as conspicuous as it is in the males. Otherwise, they are pretty identical except for the fact that the backs of the females are not as brightly colored as the males.
- Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-13 g)
- Wingspan: 6.7-8.7 in (17-22 cm)
As the name itself indicates, the Canada Warblers breed in Canada and northeastern Us states. Their migratory path takes them into the eastern half of the US.
The place that they like to inhabit is a forest that is filled with moss. They live on insects and these places are ideal for them to get enough food. Unfortunately, this beautiful bird is vanishing really fast and is not very easy to spot these days.
11. Cape May Warbler
These warblers are entirely different from the others in a couple of ways. The first thing that distinguishes them is the attractive stripes that they have on their chest. Apart from this, their crown is also very different. It is an unconventional, dark color. These features make them stand out very easily. They migrate to the eastern states.
The male of this species, to say the least, is amazingly attractive and a riot of colors. They have very unique-looking heads. The head is surrounded by a strip of yellow that goes around the neck. Their cheeks are a chestnut color. They have spots and stripes running across different parts of their bodies. The yellow-olive spots are on top and as we go down, we notice yellow color streaked with a darker color.
The females and the young ones are not as flamboyant as they are not as colorful. The unique colors on the head of the male are missing in the females and the young ones.
- Length: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
- Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (10.2-15.2 g)
- Wingspan: 7.9-8.7 in (20-22 cm)
These spectacular birds spend the colder seasons in the Caribbean and the coast on the Yucatan Peninsula and Central America. In order to breed, they have to travel to Canada. They fly over the Eastern US states on their way to this place.
Their diet principally consists of spruce budworm in summer. This changes completely during the colder months when they prefer to eat fruit and nectar. They eat from hummingbird feeders most willingly and comfortably.
12. Magnolia Warbler
Generally, warblers are brightly colored and so are easily distinguishable. The Magnolia Warbler does not equal the other warblers in being extremely colorful, but it is still easy to spot. Wondering how? Well, they tend to sit on branches that are not so high and so, during the process of migration, we can catch sight of them without much difficulty.
The males of this species have two contrasting colors – black and yellow. Their backs are black and the underneath is yellow. They have a highly distinguishable black color stretching from their necks to their bellies. This streak looks like a necklace. This necklace, is, however, not there in the females. The females also differ from the males in being gray on the back.
- Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
- Weight: 0.2-0.5 oz (6-15 g)
- Wingspan: 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)
These birds prefer to breed in Canada and the Northeastern US states. They go into the forests to breed. When they migrate, they go to the Eastern US.
They speed off to Central America and the Caribbean during the colder months.
13. Pine Warbler
Pin
Pine Warblers are not very large. They are tiny, stout birds. They have a lot of colors on their bodies and look attractive. The colors on them are distributed all over their bodies. Their backs are olive. Their throats, chests, and upper bellies are yellow. Their lower bellies are white and the wingbars are gray. The females of the species do not have so many colors on their bodies. Very often, they are browner than the males and their bellies are whiter.
- Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-15 g)
- Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)
They breed in Northeastern US states before heading south. Some remain all year in Southeastern US states.
These birds get their names because they live in a pine forest. They are not birds that are found in the lower branches. They like to fly up high on tall trees. Their summer diet includes caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and other insects and larvae. However, during the winter, they prefer to eat fruit and seeds.
These birds visit backyards and they can be lured using tube feeders and platform feeders with their favorite food. The list of their favorites includes millet, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and suet. Since they eat fruits also, growing fruits and vines like bayberry, grape, sumac and Virginia creeper si a good idea.
14. Yellow Warbler
These birds are predominantly yellow with most of their bodies yellow except for a flash of chestnut that runs along with the breast. They are sighted pretty often in summer.
- Length: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-11 g)
- Wingspan: 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)
All birds breed in places that are ideal for them and do not mind traveling far and wide to breed. The Yellow Warbler is also no exception to this habit. They fly over long distances to reach North America to breed. When it is time to migrate, these birds undertake another long journey to go to Central and northern South America during the colder periods.
The distance that they traverse and the efforts they take to migrate are astonishing as they are even found far south during the migration period.
Their usual habitat includes streams and wetlands in thickets. Although they are not in the habit of going deep into the forest, they are seen in the borders of the forest. In all these places, these birds spend time searching for their staple food. They love to eat insects, caterpillars, midges, beetles, bugs, and wasps.
It is unfortunate that these beautiful birds do not come to backyards because they are bashful. However, it is worth trying to invite them to your backyard using suet, oranges, and peanut butter.
15. Orchard Oriole Female
As with many other birds, the males of this species are different from the females. The females are principally greenish-yellow. The back and the underneath are not similarly colored. The back is dark whereas the underneath is not as dark. The wings are not at all light in color. White color is reserved for the wingbars. Males do not have the green color at all. They have heads that are black and backs. Their undersides are of a different color – reddish.
- Length: 5.9-7.1 in (15-18 cm)
- Weight: 0.6-1.0 oz (16-28 g)
- Wingspan: 9.8 in (25 cm)
The best breeding spot for these birds is in central and eastern states. The season that they breed is the hotter months. They head towards Mexico and Central America for migration purposes.
They normally favor open woodland to live in. However, they also seem to be comfortable in places such as the river banks and open shrubland, farms, and backyards. Their nests are of a unique shape. The nests hang down and look like pouches.
Their diet is varied and includes a lot of things. They majorly eat ants, caterpillars, beetles and grasshoppers, and spiders. They also love eating select fruits like mulberries and chokeberries. Nectar from flowers is also part of their diet.
If you offer these birds their favorite food in your backyard, then they are bound to visit you. Try enticing them with hummingbird or platform feeders using oranges or mangoes that are cut. Planting mulberries and chokeberries will also lure them well.
- Western kingbird
16. Western Kingbird
These multi-colored birds are huge and they are basically flycatchers. The colors on their bodies are bright and make them attractive. Their bellies are a vivid yellow. Their chests stand out as they are white. Their heads and wings are gray and grayish brown respectively. Their tails are darker than the other parts of the body.
- Length: 7.9-9.4 in (20-24 cm)
- Weight: 1.3-1.6 oz (37-46 g)The
- Wingspan: 15.0-16.1 in (38-41 cm)
The carefully selected places for breeding these birds are the western US states, the plain areas and Canada.
The best season to spot these birds is the hotter season. This is before they head towards Mexico and Central America in order to migrate.
The way these birds catch their prey, insects, is very interesting. They grab their prey in mid-flight. Living in open places will facilitate this and they are often seen waiting patiently for their prey to come their way.
The place that these birds live in and the place that they look for food are different. They need to build their nests in the trees in the forests and grab their prey in open places. So, to facilitate nesting and finding food, these birds live close to the border of the woodlands. This way, they are close to the trees and the open space also. However, these birds are capable of making their nests in buildings too.
Since these birds love insects, they can be tempted to visit your backyard by making sure that there are insects in your backyard. These birds are fruit lovers so, planting elderberry or hawthorn will also draw their attention.
17. Baltimore oriole Female
The fully grown males of this species have a contrasting splash of two colors – orange and black. Their wings are black and have wing bars. The females are completely different but equally colorful. They are a predominant vivid yellow that covers their underneath and the head. Their wings are grayish brown and their backs are a different combination of colors. They are brownish-yellow.
- Length: 6.7-7.5 in (17-19 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-1.4 oz (30-40 g)
- Wingspan: 9.1-11.8 in (23-30 cm)
These birds prefer to breed in eastern and central North America and the breeding season commences in April. Their migrator path takes them to Florida, Central America, and the Caribbean during the colder months. They are early incredibly talented birds that make unbelievably wonderful nests that are like hanging bags. They make these nests from a simple material – fibers.
These birds do not like to live in low heights. They prefer to live high up and live in open woodland, riverbanks, and forest edges. Their staple diet is insects and fruit and this brings them to parks and backyards.
They will get very tempted by oranges cut in half and this is evident from the picture. You could place the cut orange in a platform feeder or just let it hang from trees. They love sugar water and give us another opportunity to lure them with sugar water in oriole feeders.
18. Atamira Oriole
These brightly-colored birds are a pleasant yellowish-orange all over the body with a contrasting black creating a magical beauty. Their backs, wings, and tails are black and set off the yellowish-orange even more. The black that surrounds the eyes extends down to the throat and makes a beautiful design. The babies of this bird are more predominantly yellow and have backs that are olive in color instead of the black that the adults have.
- Length: 8.3-9.8 in (21-25 cm)
- Weight: 1.7-2.3 oz (47-64 g)
- Wingspan: 14.2 in (36 cm)
These birds are not commonly found in the US and in fact, are sighted pretty rarely. The Rio Grande Valley in Texas is an exception where they are found all months of the year.
They love open woodlands. Fortunately for us, they are in the habit of visiting sunflower or nectar feeders. They are also spotted in wildlife refuges in southeastern Texas and also along the Gulf Coast of Central America.
The beauty of this bird is that they live as couples all through the year. They make astonishing hanging nests that can be up to 2 feet long!
19. Audubons Oriole
This type of bird is slightly different from the others as the male and the female of the species are look-alikes. They also have a splash of contrasting bright colors such as yellow and black adorning their bodies. The black is restricted to their wings, tails, head, and throat.
- Length: 7.5-9.4 in (19-24 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-1.9 oz (31-53 g)
- Wingspan: 12.6 in (32 cm)
They differ from most other birds in the aspect of migration too. They are not migratory birds and live permanently in southeastern Texas and Mexico.
As they are shy birds, they do not like to live in the open. They prefer covered areas such as wooded areas or thickets. They do, however, visit backyards looking for seeds and nectar feeders. Since they do not come out often even in search of food which they look for only in covered areas, you are lucky if you sight one.
The nests that they make with a lot of effort are often used by the cowbird for its own eggs.
20. Eastern Meadowlark
These birds delight us with their mellifluous voices and sweet songs. They are songbirds that have a mixture of three different colors adorning them. Overall, they are a vivid yellow underneath. On their backs, they carry pale brown and black marks. The one distinct feature that will help you identify this bird instantly is the black band that runs across the chest.
- Length: 7.5-10.2 in (19-26 cm)
- Weight: 3.2-5.3 oz (90-150 g)
- Wingspan: 13.8-15.8 in (35-40 cm)
Their place of living is in the eastern US states where they live all months of the year. Their breeding spots include different places, however. They also breed in the northeast and Canada. Since they are migratory birds, they travel south also.
21. Yellow-throated Warbler
They are almost exact replicas of the Common yellowthroat with one exception. They have black streaks running down their sides. Their bodies are a combination of gray and white. There is a contrasting strip of yellow that covers the throat and reaches the belly.
- Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-11 g)
- Wingspan: 8.3 in (21 cm)
They also spend different parts of their lives in different areas of the world. To breed, they head to the southeastern states. They spend the colder season in Florida, the Caribbean and also along the Gulf Coast in Central America. Not all of Florida.
They live-in lofty pine trees and prefer to remain at the top. However, in winter, when they migrate, they have to come down to search for food.
22. Nashville Warbler
The Nashville Warblers are predominantly yellow like many other warblers and their unique heads make them stand apart from the others. Their backs are green their heads are a beautiful gray.
- Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
- Weight: 0.2-0.5 oz (6.7-13.9 g)
- Wingspan: 6.7-7.9 in (17-20 cm)
This bird has slightly different breeding habits. Some of them breed in northeastern US states and Canada while another portion of these birds prefers to breed in northwestern US states and also British Columbia. The latter are smaller in number though. When it is time for them to migrate, they are commonly sighted in almost all states.
The places where they hunt a shabby. They are usually found in low deciduous forests. They search for and eat insects.
23. Palm Warbler
For most parts of the body, the Palm Warbler is a browny olive color except for the head. The head stands out distinctively as it is a rusty red color.
- Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (7-13 g)
- Wingspan: 7.9-8.3 in (20-21 cm)
Their breeding ground is Canada and they head towards the eastern states when they have to migrate.
They can be seen commonly during two seasons – spring and fall in places such as fields that have weeds, forest edges, and shabby areas. They search for insects on the ground. They get along well with other birds and look for insects along with birds like sparrows juncos and the yellow-rumped warbler.
Since they love insects, the best way to lure them to your backyard will be to plant-insect attracting native plants. They also like berries so, growing bayberry or hawthorn also is a good idea to bring them in.
24. Cedar Waxwing
These friendly birds are exquisite. They are a mix of both light and dark colors which lend them a beautiful appearance. The head, chest and crest are a pale brown. This gradually gives way to gray in the back and the wings and tail. Their bellies are mildly yellow whereas the tip is a lovely vivid yellow. The wingtips are a contrasting red and the black on their heads looks like a mask over their eyes.
- Length: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)
- Weight: 1.1 oz (32 g)
- Wingspan: 8.7-11.8 in (22-30 cm)
These charming birds prefer to breed in Canada and they go south in the US during the colder months. They live in the Northern US states.
There is no mistaking their calls as they are too shrill to be missed. If you want to spot them, you should look in berry bushes, woodlands and along streams.
If you want to invite them to your own backyard to gaze at the splendid colors on them, you will have to plant native trees and shrubs that give serviceberry, dogwood, juniper, winterberry and hawthorn. It is worth a try to keep fruit on platform feeders.
25. Evening Grosbeak
The intense yellow, white and black on the males of the Evening Grosbeak make it a picturesque sight. The distribution of the colors on the body is perfect. The bird is a dazzling yellow all over with white and black decorating the wings. The females and young ones are predominantly gray.
- Length: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)
- Weight: 1.9-2.6 oz (53-74 g)
- Wingspan: 11.8-14.2 in (30-36 cm)
These birds live in southern Canada and the Rocky mountains. They thrive in coniferous forests and depend on them for survival. Hence, if for some reason, there is a shortage of pine cone corps, they are capable of moving large distances to reach the southern US states in search of pine cone crops.
In the colder season, there are chances that the pine cone crops may go bad. If this happens, these birds may come to backyards in search of food. To bring them in, set up sunflower seed feeders.
26. Scott’s Oriole
The Scott’s Oriole is a big bird with unique characteristics. The male of the species has plumage that is radiant and eye-catching. The principal colors that go to make up this magic of colors are black and yellow. The whole of the underside is a splendid yellow. The head and the back are contrasting deep black. The females are, however, not as brilliantly colored. They are a milder yellow and their backs are an olive-brown color.
- Length: 9.1 in (23 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-1.4 oz (32-41 g)
- Wingspan: 12.6 in (32 cm)
Scott’s Orioles choose to breed in the southwestern side of the US. Their main diet consists of insects and they are normally spotted in barren, parched areas in Yuccas.
27. Spot Breasted Oriole
The charming Spot-breasted Oriole owes its good looks to two main colors – orange and black. There are black spots on the breast and this is very unique to this bird. It can be used as an identification mark. There is white also on the bird but very little of it is found on the edges of the wings. The black spreads over areas such as the face, chest, back, wings, and tails.
- Length: 8.3-9.4 in (21-24 cm)
- Weight: 1.8 oz (50 g)
Spot-breasted Orioles are normally observed in Florida and the Gulf Coast and can be spotted in these places. Looking for them in the US can be challenging as they are rare in the US. Their areas of residence are normally Mexico and Central America on the Pacific Coast.
They are not birds that live in closed, hidden places. Instead, they prefer woodlands that are open. They do not hesitate to stop over in backyards in order to eat some fruit and nectar.
28. Baltimore Oriole Female
The Baltimore Oriole is something to look out for as it heralds the arrival of spring in the east of North America. The dazzling colors that make this bird so beautiful are vivid orange and black. The fully grown males sport these two colors. The black on the wing is beautifully laced with wing bars that are white.
Though the females cannot boast of such flamboyant colors, they are a beautiful yellow underneath and on the head. Their heads and wings are each combination of two colors. Their heads are a mix of gray and brown while their backs are a fusion of brown and yellow. These birds are not very large. They are comparable to a Robin in size but are slimmer than them. They rightfully belong to the family of the magnificent blackbirds.
- Length: 6.7-7.5 in (17-19 cm)
- Weight: 1.1-1.4 oz (30-40 g)
- Wingspan: 9.1-11.8 in (23-30 cm)
They breed in more than just one place like the Eastern and Central States, the central-southern Canadian provinces. This process also happens along the southern border of the US. The breeding season normally begins in April.
These birds are early migrators and take off for their migration journey to Florida, Central America and the Caribbean as soon as July.
They are talented nest builders and they make fantastic nests that resemble hanging bags. The simple material used to make these extraordinary nests is fiber.
These birds are found in a number of open places like woodland, riverbanks, and edges of forests. They eat insects and fruits and will not hesitate to come to backyards to get some food.
The Baltimore Orioles have a varied diet and this can be both helpful and harmful to us human beings. Since they love various types of insects like beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and snails, they come in handy as birds that help us with pest control. However, they have a voracious appetite for fruits also and eat a large number of fruits such as raspberries, mulberries, cherries, bananas, and oranges. This habit of theirs can be disastrous for us as their appetite damages many crops that yield these fruits.
This habit of theirs is a clue for those who are wondering how to lure them to their backyards. Cutting an orange in half and leaving it on a platform feeder or hanging it from a tree will help. They will also come for oriole feeders with sugar water. Since they love fruits, there is yet another way of attracting them – having plants that yield fruits and nectar. For instance, you could grow raspberries, crab apples, and trumpet vines to bring them in.
29. Streaked Backed oriole Female
Streak-backed Orioles have two flashy colors that give them their beauty. They have a lot of orange and black. While they are principally orange, their heads and undersides are a contrasting black. As their name indicates, they have wings with black streaks running on them. Their tails are completely black. The black is present around the eyes and the chin, giving them a unique distinctive look.
The territory that these birds mainly inhabit in Mexico and Central America. They are not a very common sight in the US with the exception of the southwest.
They love to spend time in tropical woodland, grassland and backyards too.
30. Hooded Oriole
The males of the Hooded Orioles have showy colors that can differ from shiny orange to luminous yellow. Their throats highlight these colors as they are contrasting black. The females and the young ones of the species have more of a yellow tinge with wings that are gray. The black designs on the face are completely absent in the females.
- Length: 7.1-7.9 in (18-20 cm)
- Weight: 0.8 oz (24 g)
- Wingspan: 9.1-11.0 in (23-28 cm)
These birds also make beautifully crafted nests that hang down from the undersides of palm fronds. Their main breeding ground is the southwestern US states.
Fortunately, they are attracted to nectar feeders and fruits and will come to our backyards to consume them.
31. Wilson’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warblers are birds that boast of a splendid yellow in most parts of their bodies. There is a small area in the head that is black in color and it makes it appear like this bird is wearing a black cap! The males wear a black cap whereas the females wear a cap that is olive in color.
- Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
- Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (5-10 g)
- Wingspan: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)
These birds prefer to breed in Canada, Alaska, and the northwestern states. Their migration covers all states actually. Their destination in the colder months is Mexico and Central America. If you would like to see these magnificent birds, you should search for them in thickets bordering streams.
32. Hooded Warbler
The different play of colors in different birds create various designs on them which sometimes resemble things that we use too! For instance, the black patch on the head of Wilson’s Warbler looks like a cap. The Hooded Warbler also has this magic of colors on it. It is an impressive yellow bird with a distinctly yellow face. The black color that surrounds their faces and extends up to the throat looks like a hood that they are wearing and this gives them their name also. The yellow covers the underneath and they have an olive-green above. This black hood is the specialty of only the males though. The females and the young ones do not have the hood and so they have more of their bodies covered in yellow.
- Length: 5.1 in (13 cm)
- Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-12 g)
- Wingspan: 6.9 in (17.5 cm)
They find the eastern states the ideal place to breed and they go away to Central America and the Caribbean during the winter months.
These birds eat insects for food and so are found in places that have plenty of insects. The best place to observe them and enjoy their beauty is forested where there is a lot of thick vegetation.
33. Williamson’s Sapsucker Male
These birds are probably the blackest of all the woodpeckers for they have a lot of black in comparison to the other woodpeckers. Though the predominant color is black, they have two equally strong, contrasting colors to give them an enviable appearance. The black on their backs is a rich, lustrous black. They have vertical wing patches. Their throats are a flaming red and their bellies are yellow. The females of the species are different. They have black and white weaving different patterns on their backs. Their heads are brown while their breasts stand out because of the black patch on them.
- Length: 8.3-9.8 in (21-25 cm)
- Weight: 1.6-1.9 oz (44-55 g)
These birds have different seasons for migration and for breeding like all the other birds. They breed in summer and the place they choose for this is the mountains in the west. They migrate during the colder places to the southern states and Mexico.
Their names give us a broad indication of what they feed on. Their diet mainly consists of sap. They particularly like to feed on the sap from conifer trees and the season that they do this is in spring. The other part of their diet includes things like insects, mainly ants, beetles, and flies. They eat more of these when the weather is hot. In the colder months, they prefer to eat fruit and seeds.
34. Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatchers have four colors on them. Their backs are brown. They have mild yellow bellies and their throats are a completely different color – gray. Their tails are punctuated by flashes of red. The crest, however, is not very significant.
- Length: 6.7-8.3 in (17-21 cm)
- Weight: 0.9-1.4 oz (27-40 g)
- Wingspan: 13.4 in (34 cm)
Their locations for breeding and migration are different. They breed in eastern North America and migrate to Southern Florida, southern Mexico, and Central America.
Their diet also consists of insects like most other birds but they aim for much bigger insects such as butterflies, grasshoppers, moths, wasps, and even spiders. Since these insects fly around and are not commonly found in lower levels, the great crested flycatchers also like to linger at the same level. So, they are seen up high in woodland waiting to grab their prey. However, this is not the only place they are found in. They also frequent mixed woodlands, borders of clearings, parks, and areas where there are a lot of trees. They find it convenient to sit on fenceposts or other buildings too. Their diet also includes berries and small fruit.
It is quite possible to invite these birds to your backyard. They will visit if you have native plants growing in your backyard. Since they love insects, you could also purposefully collect brush piles which are bound to attract insects and consequently these birds also. Their diet includes berries also and this gives us another opportunity to invite them home. Having plants that give berries is a sure-shot way of attracting them. The good news about these birds is that if you set up a nest box for them, they will be more than happy to move in there!
35. Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
Though these birds are as small as robins, they are quite attractive. Most of their bodies are patterned with black and white. The only striking color they have is a flaming red on their foreheads. The males boast of a little more of this flaming red on their throats. They have pale yellow bellies but their bellies are not plain. They have a number of markings on them.
Length: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm)
Weight: 1.5-1.9 oz (43-55 g)
Wingspan: 13.4-15.8 in (34-40 cm)
Their breeding areas include Canada and northeastern US states. Their migratory areas include southeastern US states, Central America, and the Caribbean.
The yellow-bellied sapsuckers love sap from trees like paper birch, yellow birch, red or sugar maple, and hickory which are young. The way they get the sap out of these trees is very interesting. They have tongues suited for this process and their tongues are brush-tipped. They first make holes in the trees and then use their specially designed tongues to reach the sap. The best part of this process is the way they make the holes. They make the holes tidily in horizontal rows. These rows of holes are called sap wells. There is a reason for this. Only if the holes are made in this fashion, the sap will flow easily. Their call is also different and is loud. They like to make their nests in holes in trees. Their eggs are white and they lay about 5 to 6 of these every time.
Where to spot Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers:
These birds depend on the sap well for sap which is a large part of their diet and so they choose young trees in deciduous forests to get the sap. You can find them on birch or maple trees in which they make their signature sap wells to get to the sap.
Best Way To Attract More Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers to Your Backyard
These birds are not regulars at bird feeders. However, at times, they tend to come for suet. So it is worth setting up a suet feeder with mealworm suet or peanut butter suet. Just remember to make the suet feeder squirrel-proof.