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Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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Posted by terryincs z5 CO (My Page) on Sat, May 17, 08 at 19:07
| I just saw a gorgeous bright yellow/gold bird of medium size in my yard. It is not a finch or chickadee (I don't think) cause it looks larger. Not as big as a robin tho. Downtown Colorado Springs-- any ideas? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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- Posted by skybird z5, Denver, CO (My Page) on
Sat, May 17, 08 at 23:01
| Hi Terry, I checked Birds of Denver and the Front Range quickly, and here are some possibilities. In the book they all look quite yellow, and are all between finch and robin size—and they’re all shown in this area at this time of the year. I just got home from the swap, and I don’t have the energy to live link them, so you’ll need to copy and paste the url’s. Western Tanager
http://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/196/_/target.aspx Western Meadowlark
http://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/147/_/target.aspx Cedar Waxwing
http://whatbird.wildbird.com/obj/159/_/target.aspx The only yellow birds I’ve seen in my yard are goldfinches, but they’re about the same size as house finches. Skybird |
Here is a link that might be useful: Birds of North America
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| We've had goldfinches in our birdbath in downtown CS |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| An evening grosbeak perhaps? I've not seen one in CO, but apparently they're nationwide. Ian |
Here is a link that might be useful: Evening Grosbeak
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| Some of the orioles look pretty yellow, and would be about the size you describe. Look at the Bullock's Oriole: |
Here is a link that might be useful: Bullock's Oriole color variety
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| I see something like this every year about this time, a bright yellow bird zipping around for a few days, and I think they're building a nest or sumpin. Then I don't see them again all summer. I was just watching something on TV this afternoon about several billion song birds that migrate at night between the boreal forests of Canada and places south. Since they migrate at night, no body notices. |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| A yellow warbler was zipping about in some evergreens while I was having lunch today. I claim they are chartreuse but no one else seems to think so. He even looked chartreuse against those evergreens. These warblers aren't really any larger than house finches. For larger, but not as large as a robin - I'd say that Ian's evening grosbeak is a good guess. I always think of the Minnesota Vikings helmet with the eye stripe. The big patch of white on the wings is rather noticeable. Bullock's oriole is a little orangy but I also think "black and" with them - pretty things. 'Course, the evening grosbeak is also "black and" . . . so is the gold finch. For yellow, yellow, seems like the gold finch, er, uh well isn't he a little more yellow than gold? Wasn't there another color, Terry? If not, I'll go back to the yellow warbler idea. digitS' |
Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell's Bird Guide
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| I'm betting it's an oriole. I have a few around my yard this year. Last year, I was pretty upset when the cat killed one. |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| Thanks for all the guesses. I have not seen the bird since that one sighting and it was pretty fleeting (the bird was in my bright rose crabapple blossoms most of the time). I think it was an oriole. I sure hope it comes back and I can get a better look at it or even a photo. I didn't know we had all those lovely birds in this area! Time to get out the binoculars. |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| I was just informed by an ornithologist that that the ones I'm seeing, 4 in the tree, are Western Tanagers. |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| We have a Bullock Oriole here too. It showed up yesterday and has been haning out in our tree by the house. Almost acts like it has a stranded baby somewhere nearby but I haven't seen any sign of one. Keeping an eye on the dogs though. |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| David, we have had a couple of western tanagers hanging around our neighborhood the last couple of weeks. Not sure if they are passing through, or staying for the summer. This picture was taken through the kitchen window, so I apologize for it being blurry. 
Bonnie |
RE: Bright yellow bird-- what is it?
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| That's cool, Bonnie! I used to see tanagers in the evergreens around a tiny lake in North Idaho. There were also wood ducks. I spent so much time looking at birds from my seat in the boat, I never caught any fish! digitS' |
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