15 Types of Yellow Birds in Massachusetts (with Pictures)

From the vibrant American Goldfinch to the elusive Baltimore Oriole, Massachusetts is home to an array of stunning yellow feathered friends.

With so many varieties fluttering about, it can be tough to keep track of them all.

The Massachusetts Avian Committee reports that over 505 species of birds have been seen in the state.

In this article, we dive into 15 must-see yellow birds found in Massachusetts, each with its own distinct features and habits that make them truly one-of-a-kind.

Image	Name
	Nashville Warbler
	American Goldfinch
	Orchard Oriole
	Common Yellowthroat
	Prairie Warbler
	Yellow-rumped Warbler
	Magnolia Warbler
	Baltimore Oriole Female
	Female Scarlet Tanager
	Cedar Waxwing
	Black-throated Green Warblers
	Yellow Warbler
	Palm Warbler
	Female American Redstart
	Pine Warbler

Types of Yellow Birds in Massachusetts

1. Nashville Warbler

During their spring and fall migrations, May through June and September through October, Massachusetts is a prime location to see Nashville Warblers.

The undersides of Nashville Warblers are mainly yellow, although they have white on their lower bellies.

Their heads are grey, and their eyerings are white, while their backs are a greenish yellow.

Females and young individuals are not as intelligent as adult men.

A small number of Nashville Warblers may be found in the northwest United States and even in British Columbia, although they are mostly found in the northeastern United States and Canada.

During migration, they may be seen throughout the majority of the United States.

Their primary winter location is Mexico.

Nashville Warblers forage in low deciduous woods and scrubby areas.

Nashville Warblers build their nests low to the ground among bushes.

Woven together with grass and moss, the nest’s outside is made of bark, while the inside is lined with a softer substance.

They have a relatively short incubation period (about 10 days for the eggs to hatch and 10 days for the chicks to fledge).

If you live in the southern United States during the winter, you may entice Nashville Warblers toward your garden by putting out some suet.

The first year of a Nashville Warble’s life is spent migrating along the Atlantic coast, but subsequent years are spent solely migrating inland.

2. American Goldfinch

Although American Goldfinches may be seen across Massachusetts year-round, their population swells from April through September, when they are able to nest.

Throughout the state, they may be found on 49 % of summertime and 26 % of winter checklists.

The male American Goldfinch’s flashy springtime yellow and black plumage is a big part of the reason why this bird is so well-liked.

Females, and males in the winter, have a darker brown color.

A common year-round inhabitant, American goldfinches may be spotted over most of North America.

Those that nest across the Midwest and Canada, however, go south to warmer states in the United States during the winter.

The American Goldfinch prefers asters, sunflowers, and thistles, which it may find among weedy meadows and other overgrown places. Suburbs, gardens, and private yards are also frequent locations for them.

Typically found in bushes, American Goldfinches build their nests from rootlets and plant debris that is secured to the branch by spider webs.

Up to seven eggs are laid, and after two to three weeks, the young birds leave the nest.

Planting thistles and milkweed can entice American Goldfinches towards the garden.

They’ll stop by just about any bird feeder, but their favorites are nyjer and sunflower seeds.

The American Goldfinch is unable to successfully rear cowbird chicks because the cowbird chicks cannot survive on the vegetarian diet of the American Goldfinch.

3. Orchard Oriole

Five percent of summer checklists include Orchard Orioles since they breed in the Bay State.

They start showing up around April, with some staying until January.

Female Orchard Orioles have a bluish-green color overall, with a lighter underside and a darker back, including white wing bars and black wingtips.

The males are visually distinct and have striking colors.

Their upper bodies and tops are black, while their bellies are bright crimson.

The eastern United States is home to the breeding grounds of the Orchard Oriole, a species that spends the summer traveling south to Mexico and Central America.

Orchard Orioles are most often seen in open forests, although they may also be spotted in places like farms, open shrubland, riverbanks, and even backyards.

They construct their nests in a pouch-like structure that hangs from the ceiling.

Animals including grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, beetles, and ants, make up the bulk of their food.

They also like eating fruit like chokeberries and mulberries, as well as drinking nectar from flowers.

Typically, their whistles last between three and four seconds and are a disorganized mess.

The nest of an Orchard Oriole resembles a cup woven from long grasses and hung on a tree limb.

Typically, they’ll lay between four and six eggs, and that clutch will hatch approximately two weeks later.

Place sliced oranges or mango in hummingbird feeders or on platform feeders to entice Orchard Orioles toward your garden.

You should also cultivate natural berry plants like chokeberries and mulberries.

4. Common Yellowthroat

Breeding Common Yellowthroats might be seen across the state of Massachusetts from May through November.

Approximately one-third of summer bucket lists include them.

Small songbirds, Common Yellowthroats, have long, brownish heads and vivid yellow underparts.

The men are all hiding their faces with black masks.

The undersides might be more olive in color, depending on the region.

The mating season for the Common Yellowthroat spans the entire continent of North America throughout the summer months, with the exception of Alaska and the far north of Canada.

It’s possible to find year-round residents along Southwest Pacific and the Gulf Coast. After that, they go south for the winter.

Common Yellowthroats like dense, tangled vegetation, such as those found in wetlands, marshes, and brushy meadows.

Female Common Yellowthroats construct their nests on or near the ground within marshy locations, using reeds for structural support.

The grass and sedges that make up the nest sit on a platform of grasses and leaves.

They may produce a maximum of six eggs, each of which takes around 12 days to hatch and fledge.

Common Yellowthroats might be attracted to big back gardens having plenty of native plants and other insect-attracting flora.

Male Common Yellowthroats exploit the absence of a black mask on the face to avoid aggression from females they are courting but will fight if they encounter a false bird.

5. Prairie Warbler

Breeding Prairie Warblers may be seen across the state of Massachusetts from April through September, with some individuals remaining into December.

Five percent of summer to-do lists include them.

The feathers of a Prairie Warbler’s back are olive green, while those of its abdomen and neck are yellow.

They feature a dark semicircle beneath each eye and black bands on the sides.

The female Prairie Warbler is not as brightly colored as the males.

Prairie warblers spend the winter around the Caribbean, Florida, and certain coastal parts of Central America.

Some individuals stay to remain in Florida year-round, and they are recognized as a distinct subspecies due to their bigger size.

Despite the name, these birds are more at home in the woodlands and meadows, where they may feast on a variety of snails, insects, and spiders. 

You may recognize them by their tails bob as they scurry from branch to branch in search of food.

The nests of the Prairie Warbler are concealed in trees and bushes, and they are constructed of plant material and twigs and covered with soft feathers and fur.

They may produce as many as 5 eggs at a time, which require 2 weeks to develop before the young can leave the nest.

6. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Although the Yellow-rumped Warbler has been noticed in Massachusetts throughout all times of the year, it is most often seen during the months of April and May, as well as September and November, when the bird is on its annual migration. Approximately 39 % of migration checklists include them.

Gray with yellowish streaks on the rump, flanks, face, and wings contains a white color, which best describes this bird.

Birds during the winter season are light brown and contain brilliant yellowish sides and rumps; however, during the spring season, they have returned to their grey and bright yellow plumage.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is a bird that mostly breeds in the Canadian and Rocky, and Appalachian highlands.

In the winter season, they might be spotted across the southwestern and southern United States and the Pacific Coast and throughout Central and South America, whereas, during the migration period, they can be seen across the Midwest.

During the summer and spring, Yellow-rumped Warblers species are usually found in coniferous woods.

They spend the colder months of the year in grassy regions containing fruiting bushes.

During the warmer months, they eat mostly invertebrates and migrating birds, but in the winter, they eat fruit like bayberry and wax myrtle.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler’s Nest Nests for female warblers are constructed in conifer trees out of pine needles, grass, and twigs and lined using soft grass, hair, and moss.

They may lay up to 6 eggs at a time, which require about 14 days to hatch and another 14 days to move out of the nest.

Peanut butter, suet, sunflower seeds, and raisins will all help bring Yellow-rumped Warblers toward your garden.

During the winter, Yellow-rumped Warblers gather in flocks numbering in the hundreds, and they might become violent against other species that threaten their territory.

7. Magnolia Warbler

The state of Massachusetts is a good place to look for migrating Magnolia Warblers in the spring and autumn.

In contrast, 22% of checklists include them in May, when they are most often seen during spring migration.

Male Magnolia Warblers have a bright yellow belly and a black back.

They are characterized by a black “necklace” that extends from their heads to their stomachs.

Unlike males, females don’t have the characteristic streaking down their bellies and are instead grayer all over.

Magnolia warblers breed in the northern parts of the United States and Canada.

During their annual spring and fall migration, they may be seen throughout the Eastern United States.

They migrate to Central and South America and the Caribbean during the winter.

During migration, you’re more likely to see Magnolia Warblers since they’re perched on low branches in woods and parks. Insects and spiders make up the bulk of their food.

Magnolia warbler nests are flimsy affairs, made of grass and weeds, and are often constructed towards the base of evergreen trees.

They have an average clutch size of four eggs, which take roughly 12 days to hatch and another 9 days to fledge.

Planting native trees and shrubs in your garden can provide a safe haven for migrating Magnolia Warblers.

8. Baltimore Oriole Female

For the most part, Baltimore Orioles spend their summers in Florida, but in May, they return to their nesting grounds in Massachusetts.

They are seen on 34% of summertime checklists and as many as 54% of springtime migratory checklists.

The arrival of the brightly colored Baltimore Oriole heralds the arrival of spring in the eastern United States and Canada.

Male adults are distinguished by their black and vivid orange coloring and the white wing bands that run the length of their black wings.

Females have brownish-yellow wings and backs and a grayish-yellow underside and head.

They belong to the family of blackbirds and are around the size of a Robin but even thinner.

The breeding range of the Baltimore Orioles extends over the central and eastern United States, into the central and southern Canadian provinces, and across the southern border of the United States.

Starting as early as July, Baltimore Orioles go south to spend the winter in the warmer climates of Central America, the Caribbean, and Florida.

The Baltimore Oriole is a common backyard visitor and may also be seen feeding in parks and other open areas of woodland, along riverbanks, and at the margins of forests.

Beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, snails, and spiders are among their favorite foods.

Crops, including bananas, mulberries, raspberries, oranges, and cherries, are vulnerable to harm, but they also assist in consuming pest species and eating a wide range of fruits.

One of spring’s pleasures is listening to Baltimore Orioles, whose song sounds like a flute.

They produce warning cries that are both acute and chattering.

To entice them, grow some nectar and fruiting plants like trumpet vines, raspberries, and crab apples.

9. Female Scarlet Tanager

During the summer, Scarlet Tanagers may be seen across Massachusetts, where they are now found on 10% of checklists.

Some of them start showing here in April and don’t leave until December.

Females Scarlet tanagers, particularly especially males that have just finished molting, are mostly yellow, having darker tails and wings.

Scarlet tanager males are the only scarlet tanagers; females are brown, having black tails and wings.

They possess short, rather thick tails and small bills.

Scarlet tanagers spend the spring and summer breeding in eastern woodlands before migrating toward western South America.

They migrate across the states of the southern United States, where they may be seen.

Although Scarlet Tanagers prefer to forage high in the forest canopy, they sometimes show their brilliant red plumage as they flit from branch to branch in search of prey.

Female Scarlet Tanagers construct their nests in about 4 days, using a loose weaving of twigs, grass, and other plant matter.

Inside, you’ll find a lovely bed of pine needles, grass, and other natural materials.

They have a two-week incubation period, during which time they deposit roughly four eggs.

10. Cedar Waxwing

Even though Cedar Waxwings may be found across Massachusetts any time of the year, the months of June through November are peak breeding months.

Only 18% of summertime checklists in the state include them, whereas only 3% of wintertime checklists do.

Elegant and sociable, Cedar Waxwings are mostly grey above and below, with brown on the crown, head, and thorax.

Their underside is a light shade of yellow, while their tails are a brighter shade of yellow.

A thin black mask covers their eyes, and the tips of their wings are brilliant crimson.

After successfully breeding across Canada, Cedar Waxwings migrated south to spend the winter in the United States, Central America, and Mexico.

The northern states of the United States are their permanent home. 

Cedar Waxwings are common in a wide variety of habitats, including cities, grasslands, berry bushes, and forests.

During the warmer months, they supplement their diet with insects in addition to their usual fruit fare.

The Cedar Waxwing builds its nest in a tree form of plant stuff, twigs, hair, and grass and lines it with soft grass and pine needles.

They may lay a maximum of six eggs, and it usually takes around 12 days for the eggs to hatch and another 16 days for the juvenile to leave their nest.

Planting natural small-fruited trees and shrubs, like dogwood, juniper, winterberry, serviceberry, and hawthorn, may entice Cedar Waxwings toward your garden.

Fruit on platform feeders is another option.

11. Black-throated Green Warblers

Breeding Black-throated Green Warblers may be found across Massachusetts from April to December.

You may find them on the lists of 9 percent of people who do summer inspections.

Small yellow songbirds, Black-throated Green Warblers have an olive-yellow back and a black neck.

They are white on the underside and have black striping on the wings and sides.

The black markings on the necks of males are much larger than those of females and young.

The best time to see a Black-throated Green Warbler is during its epic spring and fall trek through the eastern United States and into Canada.

Mexico, the Caribbean, and northern South America are their wintering areas.

The Black-throated Green Warbler is a little yellow bird found on treetops across woods.

It may be easily distinguished from other similar species by its black throat.

Black-throated Green Warblers build their nests nearby in tiny trees.

There are spider webs holding the twigs and bark together while animal fur, moss, and feathers line the inside.

Approximately four eggs are laid, and after 12 days, the babies have hatched, and another ten days have passed before they are ready to leave the nest.

12. Yellow Warbler

Throughout Massachusetts, you may find Yellow Warblers on 32% of your summer bird checklists.

The first ones show up in April, and by October, they’re well on their way out.

Male Yellow Warblers possess brown stripes on their breasts and are little, brilliant yellow birds having a yellow-green back. Males have superior intelligence than females and younger generations.

In order to reproduce, yellow warblers travel all the way to the United States and Canada (excluding the southern states), and then they return to South and Central America for the winter.

Nevertheless, during migration, they are often seen in the southern United States.

Yellow Warblers may be seen hunting on insects, including bugs, midges, wasps, beetles, and caterpillars, in thickets and at the borders of fields near wetlands and waterways.

Yellow Warblers build their cup-shaped nests in tiny trees or shrubs out of a combination of grass, bark, and plant material that are held together by spider webs.

Then, softer stuff like feathers, hair, or plant down is used to line it.

They may produce a maximum of seven eggs, which take around a month to develop before hatching, and another week or so before the young are ready to leave the nest.

Use oranges, suet, berry-bearing plants, and peanut butter to entice Yellow Warblers toward your garden.

Plant natural species that entice beneficial insects without resorting to pesticides or excessive tidying up.

You may also try placing birdbaths with fountains next to plants that provide cover near quiet areas.

When Yellow Warblers discover that cowbirds have laid eggs in their nest, they will typically rebuild their nest over top of the previous one and begin the process all over again.

This may happen as many as six times!

13. Palm Warbler

Throughout Massachusetts, you may see Palm Warblers in April, May, September, October, and November as they migrate through the state.

Approximately 17% of checklists include them during these periods.

While some go south for the winter, others remain.

The palm warbler is mostly brownish-olive in color, with a rusty red spot on its head.

Although they are primarily a Canadian species, they may be seen in the eastern states during migration and throughout the year in the extreme south and across Florida.

The majority of Palm Warblers’ breeding range is Canada; however, they sometimes migrate across the eastern United States.

Florida and the southeastern coast are winter homes for many.

During the spring and autumn months, Palm Warblers may be seen migrating across scrubby habitats, weedy fields, and woodland borders.

As they search for food, birds like juncos, sparrows, and yellow-rumped warblers may frequently be seen foraging alongside them along the ground.

Ground nests of Palm Warblers are constructed of ferns, grass, and sedge, braided into a cup form, and lined with soft grass, feathers, and animal hair in bogs and boreal woods.

About five eggs are laid in every clutch.

Planting natural plants that lure insects, such as hawthorn or bayberry, can bring Palm Warblers to your garden.

14. Female American Redstart

Commonly seen during autumn and spring migration, American Redstarts complete the mating season in the Bay State.

During migration, they may be found on approximately 34%  of checklists, but in the summertime, they only appear on 15%.

The male American Redstart is mostly black with brilliant orange spots and a white belly.

Males are typically black, while females are olive-gray with many yellow spots.

The range of the American Redstart includes the northern United States and eastern Canada, where it breeds.

On their way north or south, they can stop in the central or western US.

The American Redstart is a little songbird that may be found in both deciduous forests and suburban thickets and backyards, where it feeds on berries like magnolia and serviceberry.

The American Redstart builds its nest of grass, bark, and other plant material near the trunk of a tree or a big shrub.

They may lay a maximum of 5 eggs at once, and it takes just under 2 weeks for the eggs to hatch and another week or so for the youngsters to leave the nest.

15. Pine Warbler

Although Pine Warblers have been seen across Massachusetts at other times of the year, they are typically seen between the months of April and July, appearing on 16% of summertime checklists.

Pine warblers have olive-colored backs, white underbellies, and grey wing bars on their short, chubby bodies.

Women might have more white on their bellies and a browner overall appearance.

After breeding in the northern United States, Pine Warblers migrate to the southeast.

In the southern United States, some people stay throughout the year.

Pine warblers may be found in pine woods, as its name implies, usually in the upper levels of the tree canopy.

During the warmer months, their diet consists mostly of insects and insect larvae, but as the weather becomes cooler, they switch to eating fruit and seeds.

You guessed it; Pine Warblers build their nests in pine trees. Sticks, grass, bark, and pine needles are used to construct these, which are then wrapped with spider silk and lined with plumage or animal hair.

They may lay a maximum of 5 eggs at a time, and it takes 2 weeks for the eggs to hatch and then another 10 days for the larvae to leave their nest.

Tube feeders and platform feeders filled with peanut hearts, broken corn, millet, suet, and sunflower seeds can entice Pine Warblers toward your garden.

Bayberries, Virginia creeper, grapes, and sumac are just some of the natural fruits and vines you should cultivate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the diverse range of yellow birds found in Massachusetts adds to the state’s rich natural beauty and biodiversity.

Again, These are the 15 Types of Yellow Birds in Massachusetts:

1. Nashville Warbler
2. American Goldfinch
3. Orchard Oriole
4. Common Yellowthroat
5. Prairie Warbler
6. Yellow-rumped Warbler
7. Magnolia Warbler
8. Baltimore Oriole Female
9. Female Scarlet Tanager
10. Cedar Waxwing
11. Black-throated Green Warblers
12. Yellow Warbler
13. Palm Warbler
14. Female American Redstart
15. Pine Warbler

Whether you’re a seasoned bird-watcher or simply enjoy nature, taking the time to observe and appreciate these yellow feathered friends is a must for anyone living in or visiting the Bay State.

So grab your binoculars and head out to discover the wonder and diversity of yellow birds in Massachusetts.

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Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by Lily Aldrin