From sunshine streaks in the treetops to flashes of gold darting through the underbrush, yellow birds are some of nature’s most dazzling highlights. But we’re not just here to admire the color — we’ve taken on the challenge of digging through all 99 ABA-recognized bird families to find a yellow (or partly yellow) representative from each one. That’s right — one bird per family, carefully chosen, with “golden” birds included, but no ferals, no escapees, no exotic curveballs. Just the boldest, brightest, and most naturally golden the bird world has to offer.
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)
Family – Ardeidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Eastern and south western states
Call
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Family – Bombycillidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Throughout continental United States
Call
Yellow Grosbeak (Pheucticus chrysopeplus)
Family – Cardinalidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Limited sightings in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona
Call
American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)
Family – Charadriidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Across the US, more concentrated in the east, northern Alaska
Call
Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
Family – Corvidae
Status – Vulnerable
Distribution – Northern California
Call
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Family – Cuculidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Across continental United States, concentrated in the east
Call
Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos)
Family – Diomedeidae
Status – Endangered
Distribution – North west Atlantic coast
Call
Yellow-breasted Bunting (Emberiza aureola)
Family – Emberizidae
Status – Critically Endangered
Distribution – Minimal sightings in Alaska
Call
Not available due to endangered status.
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
Family – Fringillidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Widespread across continental United States
Call
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
Family – Icteridae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Widespread across eastern, central and south western continental United States
Call
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)
Family – Icteriidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Across continental United States
Call
Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens)
Family – Laridae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Gulf of California
Call
Eastern Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla tschutschensis)
Family – Motacillidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Northern and western Alaska
Call
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
Family – Parulidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Widespread across continental United States and Alaska
Call
Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
Family – Passerellidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Pacific west coast and throughout Alaska
Call
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)
Family – Picidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Parts of New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma
Call
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Family – Regulidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Widespread across continental United States
Call
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Family – Scolopacidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Widespread across continental United States and southern Alaska.
Call
Yellow-faced Grassquit (Tiaris olivaceus)
Family – Thraupidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Occasional visitor to southern Texas, southern Florida and Hawaii
Call
Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
Family – Tyrannidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Across continental United States with concentration in the west
Call
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
Family – Vireonidae
Status – Least Concern
Distribution – Widespread across eastern continental United States, into the center and some parts of the south west
Call
We found 21 families with yellow or part yellow plumage and have tried to pick the bird with the most yellow in each. The Yellow Warbler or American Goldfinch must be the standard bearers for American yellow birds with their incredible coloring.
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