Pennsylvania is home to a wide variety of birds, and this article is your go-to guide for red, orange, and yellow birds in the state. With over 450 species to choose from, the article narrows down the most common ones and provides not only their names but also photos and identification tips based on color. While color can be helpful in bird identification, the article reminds readers that shape and size are often more reliable factors. Delving into the world of red, orange, and yellow birds, the article explores the fascinating connection between their vibrant feathers and the carotenoids found in their diet. From the striking Northern Cardinal and the American Robin to the elusive Scarlet Tanager, the common red birds are a sight to behold in Pennsylvania. In addition, the article highlights the Eastern Towhee, Barn Swallow, Wood Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, and American Redstart as some of the common orange birds, while the American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow Warbler represent the splendor of yellow birds in the state. With insights into their habitats, behavior, and seasonal presence, this guide is a valuable resource for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers exploring the colorful avian world of Pennsylvania.
Red Birds
Red birds add a vibrant splash of color to the landscape with their brilliant feathers. Pennsylvania is home to several species of red birds, each with their own unique characteristics and behaviors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common red birds found in the state.
Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal is perhaps one of the most recognizable birds in Pennsylvania. The male cardinal is a striking sight with its bright red plumage, contrasting black mask, and distinctive crest on its head. The female cardinal has a more subdued appearance, with a reddish-brown color and slight hints of red on its wings and tail.
Cardinals are year-round residents in Pennsylvania and can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, suburban backyard gardens, and parks. They are known for their beautiful songs, which can often be heard throughout the day.
American Robin
While the American Robin is commonly associated with the color red due to its reddish-orange breast, its overall appearance is more of a rusty brown with hints of gray and black. This well-known bird is a symbol of spring, as it is often one of the first to return to Pennsylvania after the winter months.
Robins can be found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, meadows, and suburban areas. They are known for their distinctive song and their habit of hopping on lawns, searching for worms and insects.
House Finch
The House Finch is a small, medium-sized bird with a reddish coloration on its head, breast, and rump. The rest of its body is a mixture of brown, gray, and white feathers. Males have brighter red plumage, while females have a more subdued coloration.
These finches are commonly found in urban and suburban areas, where they feed on seeds, berries, and insects. They are known for their cheerful song and can often be seen perched on tree branches or feeding at bird feeders.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The Ruby-throated Hummingbird is a tiny bird with vibrant red plumage on its throat, known as the “gorget.” The rest of its body is green, which allows it to blend in with foliage. These small birds have a distinctive hovering flight pattern and are often seen feeding on nectar from flowers.
Hummingbirds are summer residents in Pennsylvania, arriving in the spring and leaving in the fall. They can be found in gardens, wooded areas, and parks where there are ample nectar sources. Their rapid wing beats and unique buzzing sounds make them a delight to watch.
Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager is a stunning bird with bright red plumage and black wings. Unlike other red birds, the male Scarlet Tanager only displays its dazzling red feathers during the breeding season. Outside of the breeding season, both males and females have a more muted yellow-green color.
These tanagers are primarily found in deciduous forests, where they forage for insects and fruits. They are known for their melodious song, which can be heard echoing through the trees during the spring and summer months.
Orange Birds
Orange birds bring a touch of warmth and vibrancy to Pennsylvania’s bird population. Here are some of the common orange birds found in the state.
Eastern Towhee
The Eastern Towhee is a medium-sized bird with striking black and orange plumage. The male has a black head, back, and tail, with vibrant orange sides and white markings on its wings. The female has similar markings but with a browner coloration.
These birds can be found in dense shrubs and thickets, where they search for insects, seeds, and berries. The Eastern Towhee is known for its distinct call, often described as a loud “drink-your-tea.”
Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow is a medium-sized bird with long, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. Its back and wings are a beautiful shade of steel-blue, while its underparts are a warm orange-buff color.
These swallows are commonly found near bodies of water, such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. They are exceptional aerial acrobats, catching insects on the wing with their agile flight. Their mud nests under eaves and bridges are a familiar sight in Pennsylvania during the nesting season.
Wood Thrush
The Wood Thrush is a medium-sized songbird with a sweet, flute-like song that fills the forests of Pennsylvania. Its plumage is a combination of warm colors, including orange-brown on its back and wings, and a creamy white breast with dark spots.
These birds prefer moist woodlands with a dense understory, where they forage for insects and berries. Their beautiful song can be heard in the early morning and late evening, adding a peaceful melody to the natural surroundings.
Baltimore Oriole
With its vibrant orange plumage and contrasting black wings, the Baltimore Oriole is a sight to behold. Males have a solid orange coloration, while females have a more mottled appearance with grayish undersides.
These orioles can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, parks, and suburban areas. They primarily feed on insects, nectar, and fruits. The Baltimore Oriole has a distinct and rich, flute-like song, adding a touch of beauty to its surroundings.
American Redstart
The American Redstart is a small warbler with a striking black and orange plumage. Males have deep black feathers with bright orange patches on their wings, tail, and sides. Females have a similar color pattern but with more muted tones.
These active birds can be found in a variety of habitats, including forests, wetlands, and even urban parks. They are known for their unique foraging behavior, flicking their wings and tails as they search for insects. The American Redstart has a high-pitched song that can often be heard during the breeding season.
Yellow Birds
Yellow birds bring a sunny and cheerful presence to Pennsylvania’s bird population. Let’s explore some of the common yellow birds found in the state.
American Goldfinch
The American Goldfinch is a small songbird with bright yellow plumage, making it easily recognizable. The male has a vibrant yellow color during the breeding season, while the female has a more muted yellowish-green color.
These finches are commonly found in open fields, meadows, and gardens where they feed on seeds from various plants, especially thistles. They are known for their distinctive undulating flight pattern and cheerful songs.
Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a unique combination of yellow and brown plumage. Its underparts are a warm creamy beige color, while its wings and back have a combination of brown and black feathers. The male has a black mustache.
These woodpeckers are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, open fields, and urban areas. They primarily feed on ants and insects, often foraging on the ground or on tree trunks. Their distinctive “wick-a-wick-a-wick” call and drumming sounds can be heard during the breeding season.
Common Yellowthroat
The Common Yellowthroat is a small warbler with a predominantly yellow plumage and a distinctive black mask across its face. Males have a bright yellow throat, while females have a more muted pale yellow coloration.
These warblers can be found in marshes, wetlands, and thickets, where they forage for insects and spiders. The Common Yellowthroat is known for its distinctive “witchity-witchity” call, often heard in dense vegetation.
Cedar Waxwing
The Cedar Waxwing is a beautiful medium-sized bird with sleek plumage. Its body is a mixture of pale yellow and gray, with a black mask on its face and bright yellow tips on its tail feathers. These birds have a unique hairstyle, with a crest of feathers on top of their heads.
Waxwings can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, orchards, and suburban areas. They primarily feed on fruits, berries, and insects. Cedar Waxwings are often seen perched in flocks, passing berries from one bird to another.
Yellow Warbler
The Yellow Warbler is a small songbird with bright yellow plumage, making it instantly recognizable. The male has a vibrant yellow color, while the female has a more muted yellow-green coloration. Both genders have rusty reddish streaks on their breasts.
These warblers favor habitats such as wetlands, shrubby areas, and forests with dense foliage. They primarily feed on insects, often gleaning them from leaves and branches. The Yellow Warbler has a sweet, melodic song that can be heard during the breeding season.
Identification by Shape and Size
While color can be a useful characteristic for identifying birds, shape and size are often more reliable factors. Birds come in various shapes and sizes, and paying attention to these attributes can help narrow down their identification.
For example, cardinals are medium-sized birds with a distinctive crest and a strong beak. Robins are larger birds with a plump body, long legs, and a slender bill. Woodpeckers, like the Northern Flicker, have a sturdy build, a large head, and a strong chisel-like beak.
Observing the shape of a bird’s wings, tail, and overall body structure can also provide clues to its identity. Swallows, like the Barn Swallow, have long, pointed wings and a deeply forked tail, which aid in their swift and agile flight. Warblers, such as the Yellow Warbler, are small birds with slender bodies, short wings, and thin, pointed beaks.
By considering both shape and size in conjunction with color, bird enthusiasts and nature lovers can enhance their ability to identify the wide variety of bird species found in Pennsylvania.
Description and Characteristics of Red Birds
Red birds, such as the Northern Cardinal, American Robin, House Finch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and Scarlet Tanager, display various shades and patterns of red plumage. The Northern Cardinal is known for its bright red color, contrasting black mask, and distinctive crest. The American Robin, although predominantly brown, has a reddish-orange breast. The House Finch features red plumage on its head, breast, and rump. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird has a vibrant red throat, while the Scarlet Tanager impresses with its bright red and black feathers during the breeding season.
Apart from their striking appearance, red birds have distinct behaviors and habitats. Cardinals are year-round residents in Pennsylvania, often found in woodlands, suburban gardens, and parks, and are known for their beautiful songs. Robins are a symbol of spring, returning to Pennsylvania after winter and can be spotted in forests and meadows, hopping on lawns to search for worms and insects. House Finches are commonly found in urban and suburban areas, feeding on seeds, berries, and insects, and are known for their cheerful songs. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer residents, arriving in the spring and leaving in the fall, and can be found in gardens, wooded areas, and parks, where they feed on nectar from flowers. Scarlet Tanagers, with their stunning red plumage, can be seen in deciduous forests, foraging for insects and fruits, and their melodious song echoes throughout the trees during the breeding season.
Description and Characteristics of Orange Birds
Orange birds, like the Eastern Towhee, Barn Swallow, Wood Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, and American Redstart, bring warmth and beauty to Pennsylvania’s bird population. The Eastern Towhee stands out with its black and orange plumage, searching for insects, seeds, and berries in dense shrubs and thickets. Barn Swallows, with their steel-blue backs and orange-buff underparts, frequent bodies of water, catching insects on the wing with their exceptional aerial agility. Wood Thrushes, known for their flute-like song, have warm orange-brown backs and creamy white breasts with dark spots and are typically found in moist woodlands with a dense understory. Baltimore Orioles, with their vibrant orange and black wings, can be found in woodlands, parks, and suburban areas as they feed on insects, nectar, and fruits. American Redstarts showcase their striking black and orange plumage, foraging in various habitats such as forests, wetlands, and urban parks, with their unique flicking flight pattern and high-pitched song during the breeding season.
Description and Characteristics of Yellow Birds
Yellow birds, including the American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow Warbler, bring a cheerful presence to Pennsylvania’s natural landscapes. The American Goldfinch, a small songbird with bright yellow plumage, feeds on seeds in open fields, meadows, and gardens. Northern Flickers, medium-sized woodpeckers, boast a unique combination of yellow and brown feathers and can be found in various habitats, foraging on ants and insects both on the ground and on trees. Common Yellowthroats, small warblers with a predominantly yellow plumage and a distinctive black mask, inhabit marshes, wetlands, and thickets, feeding on insects and spiders. Cedar Waxwings, with their sleek mix of pale yellow and gray feathers, flock together in woodlands, orchards, and suburban areas, feasting on fruits, berries, and insects. Yellow Warblers, small songbirds with a bright yellow color, thrive in wetlands, shrubby areas, and forests with dense foliage, where they search for insects among leaves and branches.
Carotenoids and Bird Feathers
The vibrant red, orange, and yellow feathers of birds in Pennsylvania are a result of carotenoids. Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments found in certain fruits, seeds, and plants that birds consume as part of their diet. The birds’ bodies efficiently metabolize the carotenoids and deposit them into their feathers, resulting in their beautiful and distinctive colors.
The red color seen in birds like the Northern Cardinal and Scarlet Tanager comes from carotenoid pigments such as astaxanthin and canthaxanthin. These pigments are present in the berries and fruits that these birds consume. Similarly, the orange color seen in birds like the Baltimore Oriole and Eastern Towhee comes from carotenoids such as beta-carotene, which are found in fruits, insects, and nectar. Yellow-colored birds like the American Goldfinch and Cedar Waxwing obtain their hue from pigments such as xanthophylls, which are also obtained through their diet.
The presence of carotenoids in bird feathers not only provides vibrant colors but can also be an indication of the bird’s overall health. Carotenoids have been linked to antioxidant and immune system benefits, and the intensity of color can reflect the bird’s access to high-quality food sources. Therefore, the colorful plumage of red, orange, and yellow birds serves both as a visual spectacle and as a potential indicator of the bird’s physiological well-being.
Habitat of Red Birds
Red birds in Pennsylvania can be found in a variety of habitats, ranging from woodlands to suburban areas. However, each species often has specific preferences when it comes to their preferred habitat.
Northern Cardinals can adapt to a wide range of habitats, including forests, thickets, and residential areas with well-established trees and shrubs. They are often observed near bird feeders, taking advantage of the additional food source. American Robins prefer open areas with short grass for foraging, such as lawns, fields, and meadows. They are also commonly found in woodlands that have adequate open spaces. House Finches are well-suited to urban and suburban areas, where they nest on buildings, in hedges, and utilize bird feeders as a food source. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds thrive in gardens, wooded areas, and parks where there is an abundance of flowering plants for nectar. Scarlet Tanagers favor deciduous forests with a mixture of mature trees and understory vegetation.
While each red bird species has its own habitat preferences, the common thread among them is the availability of suitable food sources, nesting areas, and sufficient coverage to hide from predators. Providing a variety of habitats with diverse vegetation and food sources can help attract and support these beautiful red birds in Pennsylvania.
Seasonal Presence of Yellow Birds
Pennsylvania’s bird population experiences seasonal shifts, and the presence of yellow birds varies throughout the year. Understanding the patterns of migration and breeding can help bird enthusiasts anticipate the arrivals and departures of different species.
For many yellow birds, such as the American Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Cedar Waxwing, and Yellow Warbler, Pennsylvania is part of their breeding range. They arrive in the spring to build nests, lay eggs, and raise their young, taking advantage of the abundance of food and resources during the warmer months. These birds often depart in the fall or winter, seeking more favorable conditions and food sources in other regions.
The Common Yellowthroat, another yellow bird species, is a neotropical migrant. It spends the summer breeding season in Pennsylvania before embarking on a long migration to its wintering grounds in Central and South America. Their distinctive “witchity-witchity” call can be heard during their breeding season stay.
Observing the seasonal presence of yellow birds can provide valuable insights into the natural cycles and dynamics of bird populations. It also allows for the appreciation of their unique behaviors and contributions to Pennsylvania’s rich birdlife. By creating welcoming habitats and providing resources throughout the year, it is possible to support and attract these delightful yellow visitors.
