Yellow Birds in Minnesota: 10 Birds with pictures

Minnesota is situated on the Canadian border in between Wisconsin and North Dakota. It is in a good position for bird watchers as lots of migratory birds pass through on their way to breeding grounds in Canada. With large tracts of forests and 80% of the population living in urban areas, there is plenty of space and habitat for birds to florish. In this post we will be investigating what yellow birds are present in Minnesota.

State of Minnesota

The North Star State is home to thousands of lakes. Because of the abundance of waterways, the Dakota Tribe named the longest river in the area Mnisota, which means sky-tinted water and this is where the modern state name comes from. The environment in most of Minnesota was created by ancient glaciers and you can find mountains and valleys as well as the lakes. This all gives rise to an accessible wilderness in which flora and fauna thrives.

Birds of Minnesota

Minnesota ranks 36th out of 51 states on eBird with the number of reported species at 432. This statistic needs to be considered along with the fact that New York is the first state on the list with over 500 species and it is ranked 11th. So, Minnesota is in good company in the middle rankings.

Minnesota is also on the flight path for many migratory birds heading from the warmer south to their breeding areas in Canada. In particular, summer is a great time to see many species of warbler as they pass through. And several of them have some yellow plumage. Here are 10 birds, including some of those warblers, with yellow coloring.

10 yellow birds of Minnesota

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

Identification and Size

In fall and winter, the American Goldfinch is rather dull with muted yellow, breen and brown coloring and dark wing bars. In spring and summer, the male is a vivid yellow with dark black wing bars and forehead.

Length: 4.3 – 5.1 inches
Wingspan: 7.5 – 8.7 inches
Weight: 0.4 – 0.7 ounces

Distribution

Minnesota is a permanent home for the American Goldfinch. As seen in the range map above and distribution chart below, it can be seen across the state all year round.

Call

Audio by David Liebl

Diet

The American Goldfinch eats predominately seasonal seeds. It will also consume sunflowers as encountered.

Interesting Fact

Unlike most birds, the American Goldfinch really is a vegetarian and will only eat insects on rare occasions.

Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

Identification and Size

The female and male birds are a bright yellow, with the female only slightly less vivid than the male. Only young females lack the black cap.

Length: 3.9 – 4.7 inches
Wingspan: 5.5 – 6.7 inches
Weight: 0.2 – 0.3 ounces

Distribution

The Wilson’s Warbler is a migratory bird and spends winter in Mexico and Panama. When in Minnesota, they are locally common in forested areas and sparse elsewhere.

Call

Audio by Sue Riffe

Diet

Eats a wide range of small creatures including flies, spiders, beetles and caterpillars. The Wilson’s Warbler will occasionally eat berries and honeydew.

Interesting Fact

There could be up to 6 sub-species of Wilson’s Warbler and that should be no surprise as the western birds are brighter than the eastern and those in Alaska and the Rockies are larger than southern populations.

Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Identification and Size

This incredibly colored warbler is a vibrant yellow in both sexes. The yellow blends into an olive color on the back and the wings are a blue/gray.

Length: 5.5 inches
Weight: 0.49 – 0.56 ounces

Distribution

The Prothonotary Warbler is mostly seen in the south-east of Minnesota and only during the summer months. It prefers damp deciduous forests and in winter it migrates to South America.

Call

Audio by Chase M

Diet

During the breeding season, the Prothonotary Warbler primarily eats insects including butterflies, beetles and moths. At other times of the year the diet will include seeds and fruit.

Interesting Fact

This unsually named bird got is moniker from the Catholic church of all places. Prothonotaries were papal clerks and wore bright yellow robes.

Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)

Identification and Size

The male and female Prairie Warbler are similarly colored with the female just a bit muted. A bright yellow belly and breast are marked with black lines, which then make up a very unusual facial pattern. The back is a combination of olive, yellow and black.

Length: 4.3 inches
Weight: 0.22 – 0.31 ounces

Distribution

Wintering in the Caribbean and as far north as Florida, the Prairie Warbler in an infrequent visitor to the south east of Minnesota.

Call

Audio by Jorge de Leon Cardozo

Diet

Usually eats spiders and insects but will also include arthropods and molluscs.

Interesting Fact

The Prairie Warbler has 2 songs. One is for courting and the other is for defending territories.

Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)

Identification and Size

The Yellow-breasted Chat is a very distinctive bird. A bright yellow throat and breast give way to a white belly and a long tail. A white eye ring and brow is bordered by a black nasal patch and the back is an olive brown.

Length: 7.1 inches
Wingspan: 9.8 inches
Weight: 0.8 – 1.1 ounces

Distribution

An uncommon bird in Minnesota, seen in the summer months in the south east. It overwinters in Costa Rica.

Call

Audio by Richard E. Webster

Diet

Usually eats insects and spiders but will also take berries, and fruits when available.

Interesting Fact

The Yellow-breasted Chat is in a family all of its own simply because it might be similar to other birds, but it is different enough to not be related to them.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Photo by Blalonde

Identification and Size

Male Yellow-headed Blackbirds are all black with a bright yellow head and breast. A white wing bar can also be seen. The female is similar but duller.

Length: 8.3 – 10.2 inches
Wingspan: 16.5 – 17.3 inches
Weight: 1.6 – 3.5 ounces

Distribution

More commonly seen in the western parts of Minnesota, the Yellow-headed Blackbird can be seen in the summer and fall months. It winters in Mexico.

Call

Audio by Thomas Magarian

Diet

In non-breeding periods, the Yellow-headed Blackbird will eat grains and seeds. Converts to animal diet in breeding season, primarily aquatic prey to support their young.

Interesting Fact

The male Yellow-headed Blackbird may have up to 8 females in his territory. While he might help feed the chicks in the first nest, the other females will have to feed their young by themselves.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Photo by Imogen Warren

Identification

This warbler has a bright yellow throat and breast with an olive green back. The male has a thick grey and black bar across the forehead and head.

Length: 4.3 – 5.1 inches
Wingspan: 5.9 – 7.5 inches
Weight: 0.3 ounces

Distribution

The Common Yellowthroat is a common bird of North America and can be seen in the summer months across the whole state. In winter, it migrates to the southern states and Central America.

Call

Audio by Ron Overholtz

Diet

The Common Yellowthroat eats insects and spiders exclusively.

Interesting Fact

The Common Yellowthroat was one of the first birds studied scientifically in the Americas with the first record in 1766.

Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)

Photo by Dominic Sherony

Identification

The Yellow Rail is an unobtrusive bird found in thick areas of marshes and wetlands. It is more likely to be heard rather than seen. A pale throat and breast blend into a darker back and head.

Length: 5.1 – 7.1 inches
Wingspan: 11 – 12.6 inches
Weight: 1.4 – 2.4 ounces

Distribution

As a very difficult bird to see, reported sightings may be incomplete. The Yellow Rail can be seen across the state in the right environment and is most active in the summer and fall months.

Call

Audio by Ron Overholtz

Diet

The Yellow Rail eats a combination of small snails, aquatic insects, and seeds.

Interesting Fact

The Yellow Rail has a distinctive clicking call, which is more likely to be heard than the bird is seen. The problem is that it only calls in the middle of the night.

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

Identification and Size

The Yellow-throated Vireo is a small bird with bright yellow throat, blending at the breast and around the head. Gray wings are marked by 2 white wing bars and the back is olive.

Length: 5.1 – 5.9 inches
Wingspan: 9.1 inches
Weight: 0.5 – 0.7 ounces

Distribution

Seen in the summer months, the Yellow-throated Vireo is migratory and spends winter in Central and South America. When present in Minnesota, it can be see across the state with some regularity.

Call

Audio by Christopher McPherson

Diet

When available, the Yellow-throated Vireo eats a range of arthropods. In fall and winter, it will also take fruits and seeds.

Interesting Fact

The male Yellow-throated Vireo is a team player and will help incubate eggs and shares in the feeding of the young.

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Identification and Size

The female Yellow Warbler is a olive green bird with darker wings and pale wing bars. The male has the vivid yellow colour which turns into green on the back. It also has some reddish streaks on the breast.

Length: 4.7 – 5.1 inches
Wingspan: 6.3 – 7.9 inches
Weight: 0.3 – 0.4 ounces

Distribution

A common American bird, the Yellow Warbler is seen during summer months across the whole state of Minnesota.

Call

Audio by Eric Hough

Diet

The Yellow Warbler’s diet consists of insects and other arthropods supplemented occasionally with fruits.

Interesting Fact

The Yellow Warbler nest is often a target for the Brown-headed Cowbird for laying their eggs. If the warbler is suspicious then it will simply create another nest on top. This sometimes results in mutliple layers of nests.

FAQs

How many warblers are there in Minnesota

There are 54 warblers in the U.S. altogether. 32 of those have been recorded in Minnesota. We have included the 4 with the most yellow plumage on our list. Other, partially yellow species, include the Nashville and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Why are birds yellow?

Carotenoids produce yellow feathers. They are pigments that birds get from their diet.

Is Minnesota a good bird watching area?

Absolutely, it has a good number of species resident and visiting. Yellow birds are great to watch (easier to see) and plenty of them spend summers in Minnesota.

There are our picks for yellow birds of Minnesota. I find the yellow warblers all a bit confusing so my favorite would have to be the Common Yellowthroat. Those markings are beautiful and also unmistakable!

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