9 Black-and-Yellow Birds You Can See in North America

Across North America, the most common black-and-yellow birds include the American goldfinch, yellow-headed blackbird, and various western orioles. This guide explains how to distinguish these and other similarly colored species throughout the United States and Canada by their plumage patterns, calls, and seasonal movements, whether you encounter them in forests, wetlands, or backyard habitats.

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

• Identification: Small, slim finch with a short conical bill; spring males bright lemon yellow with a black cap and black wings, females and winter birds olive to brownish yellow with pale wingbars.
• Where found: Widespread across most of the United States and southern Canada in open, weedy habitats, fields, edge thickets, and backyards.
• How to spot: Watch for their buoyant, undulating flight and listen for the distinctive flight call often described as “po-ta-to-chip;” frequently seen at feeders and perched on thistle heads.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); broadly distributed and steady overall, though showing mild long-term declines in parts of North America.

The American goldfinch is probably the most familiar black-and-yellow bird of North America, with males in spring and summer displaying a brilliant lemon-yellow body set against jet-black wings and forehead. It measures 11 to 13 centimeters (4.3 to 5.1 inches) in length and has a small, pointed bill, short notched tail, and long wings for its size. Males transform dramatically between seasons, becoming olive brown above and olive yellow below in fall and winter, while females remain duller year-round, with brownish olive upperparts and subdued yellow tones on the forehead, throat, and rump. Juveniles resemble winter birds with brown above and pale yellow below, and all plumages show two pale wingbars.

In the field, goldfinches are active, vocal, and easy to recognize by their buoyant, dipping flight pattern and constant contact calls. Their flight typically alternates rapid wingbeats with brief glides, producing a distinctive rhythm often accentuated by the “po-ta-to-chip” call. They forage mainly by perching on seed heads or feeder socks, often clinging acrobatically or hanging upside down to reach thistle seeds. Display flights occur in the breeding season: males perform slow, circling butterfly flights over nesting sites, while both sexes use brief moth-like hovering flights during courtship or aggressive encounters. Songs range from long, variable warbles to shorter, repeated phrases given from perches or in flight.

The species occupies open and semi-open habitats across almost all of the United States and southern Canada, with highest densities in areas rich in thistle, aster, and other seed-bearing plants. It breeds from Newfoundland and southern Canada west to British Columbia and south across most of the contiguous United States, excluding the far Southeast and arid Southwest. Northern breeders migrate southward in winter, while many central and southern populations remain year-round. Winter distribution expands into the southern United States and northern Mexico. Although generally common, American goldfinches show mild long-term declines linked to habitat changes, though they remain widespread in weedy fields, floodplains, suburbs, and backyard feeder landscapes.

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

• Identification: Small wood-warbler with a slim bill and long tail; breeding males gray and black above with a white wing patch and bright yellow underparts marked by bold black streaks, females and fall birds duller with faint streaking and a white eyering.
• Where found: Breeds across the boreal forest of Canada and the northeastern United States, migrating widely through eastern and central North America and wintering primarily in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
• How to spot: Look for active foraging on outer branch tips, often gleaning insects from leaf undersides, and note the distinctive tail pattern – white at the base and black at the tip, visible in all plumages.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); overall populations stable to increasing in North America despite migration-related hazards such as building collisions.

The magnolia warbler is one of the most vivid wood-warblers with breeding males displaying a bold black “necklace” across a bright yellow breast. This small species measures 11 to 13 centimeters (4.3 to 5.1 inches) in length and has a slim, pointed bill and a long, narrow tail. Adult males in breeding plumage show a gray head, black mask, black upperparts, a broad white wing patch, and striking black streaks radiating from a solid neck band. Females and immatures are more subdued, with gray heads marked by a white eyering, two narrow wingbars, yellow underparts with lighter streaking, and an overall softer gray-and-yellow palette. Fall birds of both sexes resemble females but are duller, with reduced breast streaking; however, the diagnostic tail pattern – white at the base and black at the tip, is shared across all ages and sexes.

Magnolia warblers are active insectivores that forage by hopping and gleaning along branch tips, especially on the undersides of conifer and deciduous foliage. They often feed at low to mid heights, though during migration they may join mixed-species flocks higher in the canopy. Short, direct flights move them quickly between foraging spots. Their calls include a nasal “clenk” or “wenk,” while males produce two similar song types – clear, bright, and moderately short phrases sometimes confused with chestnut-sided warbler songs. Birds frequently flick their tails while foraging, momentarily flashing the white-and-black pattern that helps distinguish them from other small warblers.

This species breeds broadly throughout the boreal forest from northeastern British Columbia and southeastern Yukon east through central Canada, Newfoundland, and into the Great Lakes region, New England, and higher elevations of the northern Appalachians. It favors young spruces, dense conifers, and mixed forests with abundant low to mid-level cover. During migration it occurs across eastern and central North America in a wide variety of wooded habitats, often concentrating in dense shrubs and forest edges. Magnolia warblers winter primarily from southern Mexico through Central America to Panama and on some Caribbean islands. Populations are stable or increasing across much of the breeding range, though birds face threats from migration hazards, especially collisions with tall buildings and lighted structures.

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

• Identification: Large, thick-bodied blackbird; males striking with a saffron-yellow head and breast, black body, and bold white wing patches, females brownish with duller yellow on the head, breast, and eyebrow.
• Where found: Western and central North America in freshwater wetlands with dense emergent vegetation, often foraging in nearby agricultural fields.
• How to spot: Listen for their harsh, buzzing songs and loud “check” calls from deep within cattails; watch winter flocks rolling across farm fields and scan for bold yellow heads and white wing patches.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); overall stable with fluctuations tied to wetland conditions, rainfall, and drought cycles.

The yellow-headed blackbird is one of the most instantly recognizable black-and-yellow birds in North America, with males displaying a vivid saffron-yellow head, neck, and upper breast contrasted against a black body. It measures 21 to 26 centimeters (8.3 to 10.2 inches) in length and has a stout body, large head, and long, conical bill. Males also show prominent white wing patches visible in flight. Females and immatures are far more muted, with brown and blackish tones, pale yellow on the throat, breast, and sometimes the eyebrow, and subtle streaking blending the yellow breast into the brown abdomen. Both sexes have black bills and feet.

These blackbirds are conspicuous in voice even when hidden deep in cattails or reeds. Their flight is slightly undulating, with wings held close to the body and the tail extended behind. Males deliver two distinct song types: a short, fluid introductory song sometimes ending in a variable trill, and a longer, nasal buzzing song given at close range. Both are often paired with display postures. Females produce a rapid, raspy chatter during aggressive encounters or while leaving the nest. Other calls include loud “check” notes, softer “chuck” calls, guttural two-note flight calls, and a harsh, rattling hawk alarm given primarily by males. Foraging flocks often move in a “rolling” pattern across grain and alfalfa fields, with birds leapfrogging over each other to the front of the group.

Within North America, yellow-headed blackbirds breed across the prairie potholes, mountain meadow wetlands, and marshes of the western and central United States and southern Canada. Their distribution is limited by the availability of dense emergent vegetation over standing water, a requirement for nesting. They breed from British Columbia and Alberta south through the northern Great Plains and into parts of the western United States, including California’s Central Valley and desert river systems. After breeding, they shift into large foraging flocks that move through agricultural landscapes, often mixing with other blackbird species. Wintering occurs mainly from the southwestern United States through western and central Mexico, with small numbers lingering within the breeding range in mild years. Long-term population trends are generally stable, though local numbers vary with wetland water levels, and habitat drainage or pesticide exposure can affect regional populations.

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

• Identification: Tiny finch with a short conical bill; males bright yellow below with a glossy black cap and white wing patches, their backs ranging from green to black, females olive above with dull yellow underparts and smaller white patches.
• Where found: Western and southwestern North America from Washington and Oregon through California, the Southwest, and Texas, mainly in open, weedy, and shrubby habitats.
• How to spot: Look for small flocks feeding acrobatically on seed heads or visiting feeders, and listen for wheezy, variable songs and low, harsh contact calls during flight.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); stable overall, with regional increases tied to habitat changes and suburban expansion.

The lesser goldfinch is one of North America’s characteristic small black-and-yellow finches, notable for its bright male plumage and the striking color variation in its back across the species’ range. It measures 9 to 11 centimeters (3.5 to 4.3 inches) in length, making it the smallest Spinus finch in North America. Adult males have a glossy black cap, bold white patches at the base of the primaries, and bright canary-yellow underparts, with upperparts ranging from olive green in the West to fully black in the interior Southwest. Females are olive green above with dull yellow underparts, two pale wingbars, and reduced white patching in the wings and tail. Juveniles resemble females but are tinged with buff above and below.

Active and vocal, lesser goldfinches move in flocks that chatter with low, harsh contact calls and deliver long, rambling songs made of grating notes, clear warbles, and squeals. Their undulating flight pattern resembles that of other finches, with conspicuous flashes of white in the wings and tail. They forage acrobatically in small groups, clinging to seed heads, bending stems, or hanging upside down to reach buds and fruits. Males sing both from perches and in song flights, displaying the white wing patches and using song to advertise territories and reinforce pair bonds. Females give escalating feeding calls as males approach the nest and produce precopulatory notes during courtship.

Within North America, lesser goldfinches occur mainly in the western and southwestern United States, from southern Washington and Oregon south through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, extending into Mexico and Central America. They occupy weedy fields, brushy edges, riparian corridors, suburban parks, and backyards, often concentrating in areas rich in sunflower-family plants. The species is largely resident, though individuals may withdraw from northern parts of the range in winter, and recent decades have seen northward expansion into the Pacific Northwest and interior West. Overall, populations are stable or increasing in many regions, supported by suburban plantings, backyard feeders, and weedy habitats, though local declines occur where riparian vegetation has been lost.

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a stout, thick-based bill; breeding males show a fiery red head, bright yellow body, and black back, wings, and tail, while females and immatures are yellow-green with dusky wings and far less red.
• Where found: Breeds widely in coniferous and mixed forests across western North America, migrating through varied wooded habitats to winter in Mexico and Central America.
• How to spot: Listen for their hoarse, robin-like song and explosive “pit-ick” calls while scanning upper conifer branches, where they forage methodically among needles and occasionally sally for flying insects.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); populations broadly stable to increasing across most of western North America.

The western tanager is a brilliant black-and-yellow songbird of the West, with adult males in breeding plumage showing a blazing red head set against a bright yellow body and black wings and tail. This species measures 16 to 20 centimeters (6.3 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a compact, heavy-bodied build with a thick-based bill and medium-length tail. Breeding males are unmistakable: their black back, wings, and tail contrast sharply with their yellow rump and underparts, two-toned wingbars, and variable red that may cover part or all of the head. Females are much more subdued, with olive-green to grayish upperparts, yellow to pale underparts, and faint yellowish wingbars; some show a slight reddish wash on the face.

Western tanagers forage slowly and deliberately among branches and foliage, often high in conifers where they pick insects from needles, twigs, and clusters of leaves. They also behave flycatcher-like at times, pausing motionless before darting out to snatch insects in midair. Their song, given mostly by males, resembles that of an American robin but is hoarser, shorter, and more burry, delivered in brief phrases that may trigger countersinging among neighbors. Calls are varied and include explosive “pit-ick” or “pit-er-ik” notes, soft whistles given at close range, and chattery syllables used during foraging, alarm, and interactions with fledglings.

The species breeds broadly across western North America in open coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests, from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia through the Rockies, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada, south into the mountains of the southwestern United States and northern Baja California. It occupies a wide elevational range – from lowland juniper-pine woodlands to mid-elevation Douglas-fir forests and high-elevation spruce-fir near treeline. During migration, western tanagers occur in nearly any wooded or shrubby habitat, and even in open country with scattered trees. They winter primarily in pine-oak and montane forests from Mexico south to Costa Rica. Across North America, the species remains common and appears stable to increasing, benefiting from its ability to use edges and open forest structures more effectively than many interior-forest birds.

Bullock’s Oriole

Icterus bullockii

• Identification: Medium-sized oriole with a slim body and sharply pointed bill; males bright yellow to orange with a black crown, back, eyeline, and throat patch plus a bold white wing patch, females gray-brown above with yellowish underparts and faint wingbars.
• Where found: Western North America from southern British Columbia through the western and central United States, especially in riparian woodlands, open forests, and streamside habitats.
• How to spot: Watch for agile foraging in outer branches, hanging upside down to glean insects; listen for whistled, warbling songs mixed with harsh chatter, given by both sexes.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); widespread but showing long-term declines associated with riparian habitat loss and reduced insect availability.

The Bullock’s oriole is the western oriole most often seen with a combination of black and yellowish to orange-yellow tones, as males range from lemon-yellow to rich orange depending on individual and diet. This species measures 17 to 19 centimeters (6.7 to 7.5 inches) in length and has a slim build, pointed bill, and medium-long tail. Adult males show a glossy black crown, nape, back, and eye-line set against bright orange-yellow underparts and rump, with a black chin and central throat. Their wings are black with a prominent white patch formed by the median and greater coverts. Females and immatures are far duller, with pale gray-brown to yellowish upperparts, whitish or yellowish underparts, and faint wingbars.

Bullock’s orioles are acrobatic foragers, hopping and climbing through trees, hanging upside down to glean insects, and occasionally picking prey from spiderwebs or flying out briefly to snatch insects in midair. Their flight is strong and direct, and both sexes are vocal. Males and females sing, producing whistled, musical phrases punctuated by scratchy notes, often followed by a rattling chatter used in alarm or interaction. Typical calls include sharp “skip” or “kleek” notes, lower begging calls given by females, and chattering notes given on takeoff. Songs vary widely in length and structure but often include a mix of clear whistles, short pulses, and harsher elements. Foraging birds may join small groups, especially when caterpillars or other insects are concentrated, and family groups sometimes gather in loose creches after young fledge.

The species breeds across much of western Canada and the western and central United States, especially in riparian corridors lined with cottonwoods, willows, and other tall trees. It also occurs in open woodlands, orchards, parks, and mesquite or oak savannas, avoiding dense forests and high elevations. Bullock’s orioles migrate to wintering grounds from western and central Mexico south to Chiapas and Guatemala, with small numbers wintering in coastal southern California and the Florida Panhandle. Northern breeders undergo a molt migration, pausing in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico to molt before continuing south. Although still widespread, populations show long-term declines linked to riparian habitat loss, water extraction, and pesticide-driven reductions in insect prey, making the integrity of streamside habitats especially important for the species’ future.

Hooded Oriole

Icterus cucullatus

• Identification: Medium-sized, slender oriole with a long rounded tail and decurved bill; males bright yellow to orange with a black bib, mask, and black back, females olive-yellow with grayish backs and two pale wingbars.
• Where found: Southwestern United States through much of Mexico in open woodlands, riparian corridors, and suburban areas with palms and tall trees.
• How to spot: Look for slow, deliberate foraging high in foliage, frequent hanging upside down, and listen for rapid, nasal warbles and soft chattering; also watch hummingbird feeders where they drink nectar.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); generally stable or increasing in many regions, though declining locally where brood parasitism and habitat loss occur.

The hooded oriole is a slim, long-tailed western oriole whose males show bright yellow to deep orange tones contrasted with a narrow black mask and bib. It measures 18 to 20 centimeters (7.1 to 7.9 inches) in length and has a delicate build and a slender, gently decurved bill. Male plumage includes an orange to orange-yellow head, nape, rump, and underparts, with variation from bright yellow in the Southwest to flame orange in Texas and eastern Mexico. The back is black with olive fringes when fresh, and the wings are black with two white wingbars. Females are olive-yellow with grayish backs and pale underparts, while immature males resemble females but show a developing black throat.

These orioles forage with agility but often move slowly, inspecting leaf undersides, searching through foliage, and frequently hanging upside down to reach insects, nectar, or fruit. They occasionally hop on the ground, but most activity occurs in trees and shrubs. Flight is quick and direct with strong wingbeats. Vocalizations include rapid, nasal warbles and an assortment of “wheet,” “eek,” or “sweet” call notes, interspersed with soft dry chatter. Their song is variable and fast-paced, lacking the pure whistles of some other orioles, and both sexes sing. Chatter and contact notes are common as birds move between trees or forage out of view.

Hooded orioles breed across California, the desert Southwest, and parts of Texas, extending south through much of Mexico and into northern Belize. They favor open woodlands with scattered tall trees, especially cottonwoods, willows, sycamores, and palms – where they famously weave hanging nests attached to the undersides of fronds. They are also common in suburban areas with ornamental palms and flowering trees, and they readily visit hummingbird feeders. The species is a short-distance migrant in the northern portion of its range, wintering mainly in western and southern Mexico, though some individuals remain year-round in coastal southern California, Arizona, and south Texas. Long-term trends are stable or increasing in many regions, supported by the spread of palms and suburban plantings, though populations in the lower Rio Grande Valley have declined due to brood parasitism and habitat pressures.

Scott’s Oriole

Icterus parisorum

• Identification: Medium-sized oriole with a slim, straight bill; adult males show a black hood, back, and breast contrasted with lemon-yellow underparts, while females are olive-gray above with yellowish underparts and faint wingbars.
• Where found: Occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and adjacent northern and central Mexico, especially in habitats dominated by yucca, juniper, pinyon pine, and open desert foothills.
• How to spot: Look for males singing persistently from exposed perches at dawn, and for pairs or small groups climbing through yuccas and other desert vegetation while giving sharp, nasal calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); broadly distributed in the Southwest but showing slow long-term declines linked to habitat degradation.

The Scott’s oriole is one of the Southwest’s most striking black-and-yellow birds, with adult males’ vivid lemon-yellow body set sharply against their velvety black hood, back, and breast. This oriole measures 20 to 23 centimeters (7.9 to 9.1 inches) in length and has a straight, slender bill, long tail, and sturdy legs well suited for climbing through stiff desert vegetation. Males show a white wingbar and a yellow shoulder patch accented by white edges, while the tail is patterned with yellow bases and black tips. Females are far duller, with olive-gray upperparts, yellow to yellow-olive underparts, brownish wings with pale wingbars, and variable black spotting on the head and throat. Immature males resemble females but may show a dark face and throat as they acquire adult plumage, while juveniles of both sexes are uniformly dull olive.

Scott’s orioles are active, strong-legged foragers that move by climbing and hopping along branches rather than fluttering, often disappearing deep into yucca crowns or pinyon-juniper tangles while searching for insects. They frequently stretch or hang upside down to probe crevices, and they also drink nectar directly from flowers or feeders. Their flight is typically low and more undulating than that of many orioles. Males sing throughout the day, including well before sunrise, with fast sequences of clear whistles mixed with more modulated notes, while females produce similar but often softer songs. Both sexes give harsh, nasal “chuck” calls and softer nasal “huit” notes; fledglings use high twittering calls reminiscent of female vocalizations.

This species is characteristic of arid and semi-arid landscapes across the southwestern United States and northern and central Mexico, especially areas with abundant yucca, Joshua tree, pinyon pine, juniper, live oak, or desert foothill woodlands. In the United States, it breeds across southern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and localized parts of Colorado and Wyoming, generally favoring mid-elevation desert slopes, foothills, and oases with palms, cottonwoods, or mesquite. Northern breeders migrate southward to winter in Mexico, though some individuals overwinter in southern California, Arizona, or the Trans-Pecos region. The species has expanded its range northward over the past century, but shows slow long-term declines linked to habitat loss, water extraction, and degradation of desert and montane foothill ecosystems.

Evening Grosbeak

Hesperiphona vespertina

• Identification: Large, heavyset finch with a massive conical bill; adult males yellow-bodied with a dark head and bold yellow eyebrow plus black-and-white wings, females gray-brown with white-and-black wings and subtle yellowish neck tones.
• Where found: Breeds in northern coniferous and mixed forests across Canada, the northern United States, and western mountains, appearing more broadly in winter during irregular southward irruptions.
• How to spot: Listen for sharp, ringing flight calls from flocking birds in treetops or watch for groups visiting feeders where they crack large seeds with powerful bills.
• Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN); widespread but undergoing severe long-term declines in North America, especially in the East, likely due to habitat loss and reductions in insect prey.

The evening grosbeak is one of North America’s most eye-catching finches, with males’ vivid golden bodies, dark heads, and fierce yellow eyebrow stripe giving the species a striking winter presence. This large finch measures 16 to 18 centimeters (6.3 to 7.1 inches) in length and has a thick neck, full chest, short notched tail, and a huge conical bill that turns greenish-yellow in spring. Adult males are boldly patterned in yellow and black with a prominent white wing patch, while females and immatures are grayish brown with paler underparts, white-edged wings, black-and-white tails, and a yellowish wash around the neck and flanks. Juveniles resemble females but are browner overall, retaining narrower, worn juvenile flight feathers.

Evening grosbeaks are social, often forming sizeable flocks that maintain contact with a repertoire of sharp, whistling, or burry call notes. Their most distinctive vocalization is a loud, ringing flight call, variously rendered as “clee-ip,” “cheer,” or “p-teee,” that carries far and is often the first clue to a flock passing overhead. Flight is undulating, and birds are capable of brief hovering while maneuvering among branches. They forage mainly in the upper canopy, cracking large seeds with exceptional force, manipulating cherries and other fruits to remove pulp, and capturing insect larvae high in trees. Trills, chatters, and soft calls supplement the flight call, though true song is rare and seemingly used only at close range.

This species breeds widely in boreal and montane forests across Canada and the northern and western United States, favoring spruce-fir, pine-oak, pinyon-juniper, and mixed conifer forests. It occurs from Yukon and British Columbia east to Newfoundland, and from the Rockies into the mountains of the western and southwestern United States. Evening grosbeaks are classic irruptive migrants: in some years they remain near breeding areas, while in others they move far south into the United States, sometimes reaching the central Gulf states. These movements reflect changes in cone crops and insect availability, especially fluctuations in spruce budworm populations. Across North America, the species has experienced steep long-term declines associated with habitat loss, reduced forest insect outbreaks, and disease pressures, leaving it increasingly uncommon in many regions that once hosted regular winter flocks.

Recognizing Black-and-Yellow Birds in the Field

Identifying black-and-yellow birds can be surprisingly rewarding, revealing species that span forests, deserts, wetlands, and backyards across North America. As you explore these habitats, keep an eye out for flashes of yellow and contrasting dark markings – many of these species are far more common than they appear.