In “Identifying Birds by Shape and Size in Wisconsin,” readers will gain valuable insights on identifying birds based on their shape and size, rather than solely relying on color. Focusing on the captivating and vibrant red, orange, and yellow birds commonly found in Wisconsin, this article sheds light on how these colors are derived from carotenoids in the birds’ diet. By providing descriptions of various bird species, including their distinct characteristics, habitats, and behaviors, readers will gain a deeper understanding of Wisconsin’s avian residents. Additionally, the article highlights that many yellow-plumed birds feature striking black or white markings. Whether readers are year-round residents or visitors to Wisconsin, this article proves invaluable in birdwatching endeavors. To further enhance this experience, the article directs readers to a YouTube video and recommends visiting the author’s blog for additional information.
Birds with Red Plumage
Cardinal
The Cardinal is a popular bird known for its vibrant red plumage. It is a medium-sized songbird with a distinctive crest on its head. Male Cardinals are bright red all over, while females have a more subtle combination of gray and red. Cardinals have a strong, conical beak that is perfect for cracking open seeds. They have a melodic song that can be heard throughout their habitat.
Cardinals are commonly found in woodland areas, gardens, and parks. They are also known to visit bird feeders, where they enjoy sunflower seeds and other types of birdseed. Cardinals build their nests in shrubs or trees, and the female lays a clutch of eggs that hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings.
Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager is another bird with striking red plumage. Male Scarlet Tanagers are bright red with black wings and tail, while females have a more drab olive-yellow color. Scarlet Tanagers have a unique song that is often described as a robin with a sore throat. They can be found in deciduous forests, where they forage for insects in the tree canopy.
Scarlet Tanagers are neotropical migrants, meaning they spend the winter months in Central and South America and migrate to North America for breeding. During the breeding season, they build cup-shaped nests in the forks of tree branches. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns feeding the chicks until they fledge and become independent.
Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker species that can be identified by its red or pinkish underwing feathers. This species has a brownish back and a black chest, with a white rump that is visible in flight. Male Northern Flickers have a black mustache, while females do not. They have a distinctive call that sounds like a loud “wick-a-wick-a-wick”.
Northern Flickers can be found in woodlands, forests, and even urban areas with mature trees. They have a diet that consists mainly of insects, which they find by drumming on trees and probing the ground. Flickers nest in tree cavities, and both parents take turns excavating the nest hole. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. The parents continue to care for the young until they are ready to leave the nest.
Birds with Orange Plumage
Baltimore Oriole
The Baltimore Oriole is a striking bird with vibrant orange plumage. Male Baltimore Orioles have bright orange underparts and black wings, while females have a more subdued combination of yellow and gray. They have a beautiful, flute-like song that can be heard in their habitat of deciduous forests, shade trees, and even suburban areas.
Baltimore Orioles are migratory birds, spending the winter months in Central and South America and returning to North America for breeding. They build hanging nests that are woven from plant fibers and suspended from the ends of tree branches. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which both parents take turns incubating. Once the eggs hatch, the parents work together to feed and care for the nestlings.
Orchard Oriole
The Orchard Oriole is a small songbird with a bright orange breast and black wings and tail. Male Orchard Orioles have a black head and back, while females have a more dull coloration. They have a warbled song that is similar to the sound of a robin. Orchard Orioles can be found in open woodlands, orchards, and parks.
Like their Baltimore cousins, Orchard Orioles are migratory birds. They spend the winter in Central and South America and return to North America for the breeding season. They build a pouch-shaped nest that hangs from the end of tree branches, similar to Baltimore Orioles. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns caring for the nestlings until they fledge.
American Robin
The American Robin is a familiar bird with a reddish-orange breast and a gray-brown back. While robins are known for their red-orange coloration, it should be noted that not all individuals have the same intensity of color. Robins have a melodious song that is often associated with the arrival of spring. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including fields, forests, and suburban areas.
American Robins are not migratory birds and can be seen year-round in Wisconsin. They build cup-shaped nests that are made of mud and lined with grass. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings until they fledge.
Birds with Yellow Plumage
American Goldfinch
The American Goldfinch is a small songbird with bright yellow plumage. Male Goldfinches are a vibrant yellow during the breeding season, while females have a more dull yellow coloration. They have a bubbly, warbling song that is often described as “per-chick-o-ree”. Goldfinches can be found in open fields, meadows, and gardens.
American Goldfinches are often associated with thistles, as they feed on their seeds. They also eat insects during the breeding season to provide protein for their young. Goldfinches build cup-shaped nests made of plant fibers and down, and the female lays a clutch of eggs that hatch after about two weeks. Both parents share in the incubation and care of the nestlings.
Yellow Warbler
The Yellow Warbler is a small songbird with bright yellow plumage and distinctive black breast streaks. It has a sweet, musical song that is often described as “sweet-sweet-sweet, I’m so sweet”. Yellow Warblers can be found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, forests, and even urban areas.
Yellow Warblers are migratory birds, spending the winter months in Central and South America and returning to North America for breeding. They build cup-shaped nests that are woven from plant fibers and spider silk. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents contribute to feeding and caring for the nestlings until they are ready to fledge.
Eastern Meadowlark
The Eastern Meadowlark is a medium-sized songbird with a bright yellow breast and a brownish back. It has a beautiful, fluting song that is often heard in open grasslands, meadows, and agricultural fields. The Eastern Meadowlark is known for its distinctive “mellow-yellow” song.
Eastern Meadowlarks are year-round residents in Wisconsin and can be seen throughout the year. They build nests on the ground, hidden among the vegetation. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings until they fledge.
Red Plumaged Birds: Cardinal
Description
The Cardinal is a medium-sized songbird with vibrant red plumage. Male Cardinals are bright red all over, with a black face mask and a distinctive crest on their heads. Their beak is conical in shape and perfectly suited for cracking open seeds. Female Cardinals have a more subtle combination of gray and red, with less pronounced crests and no face mask.
Characteristics
Cardinals are known for their melodic song, which can be heard throughout their habitat. They have a strong, bounding flight and can often be seen perching in trees or shrubs. Cardinals have a varied diet that includes seeds, fruits, and insects. They are also frequent visitors to bird feeders, where they enjoy sunflower seeds and other types of birdseed.
Habitat and Behavior
Cardinals can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, gardens, and parks. They are often seen in shrubs and trees, where they build their nests. Cardinals are monogamous birds, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings. They are territorial birds and will defend their nesting area from intruders.
Red Plumaged Birds: Scarlet Tanager
Description
The Scarlet Tanager is a bird with striking red plumage. Male Scarlet Tanagers are bright red all over, with jet-black wings and tail. Females have a more dull coloration, with olive-yellow feathers. Scarlet Tanagers have a stout, conical beak and a prominent crest on their heads.
Characteristics
Scarlet Tanagers have a unique song that is often described as a robin with a sore throat. They have a bounding, undulating flight and can be found high in the tree canopy. Scarlet Tanagers mainly eat insects, but they also consume fruits and berries during the breeding season.
Habitat and Behavior
Scarlet Tanagers can be found in deciduous forests, where they forage for insects among the treetops. They are neotropical migrants, meaning they spend the winter months in Central and South America and migrate to North America for breeding. During the breeding season, they build cup-shaped nests in the forks of tree branches. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings.
Red Plumaged Birds: Northern Flicker
Description
The Northern Flicker is a woodpecker species with a unique plumage. It has a brownish back, a black chest, and a white rump that is visible in flight. The undersides of its wings are red or pinkish in color. Male Northern Flickers have a black mustache, while females do not.
Characteristics
Northern Flickers have a loud, distinctive call that sounds like a loud “wick-a-wick-a-wick”. They have a strong, downward flight and can be seen flying between trees or foraging on the ground. Northern Flickers mainly eat insects, which they find by drumming on trees and probing the ground.
Habitat and Behavior
Northern Flickers can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, forests, and even urban areas with mature trees. They nest in tree cavities, which they excavate themselves or take over from other woodpeckers. Both parents take turns excavating the nest and incubating the eggs. They continue to care for the young until they are ready to leave the nest.
Orange Plumaged Birds: Baltimore Oriole
Description
The Baltimore Oriole is a bird with vibrant orange plumage. Male Baltimore Orioles have bright orange underparts and black wings, while females have a more subdued combination of yellow and gray. They have a slender body, a long, pointed beak, and a small crest on their heads.
Characteristics
Baltimore Orioles have a beautiful, flute-like song that can be heard in their habitat of deciduous forests, shade trees, and even suburban areas. They have a strong, agile flight and can often be seen hanging upside down from branches. Baltimore Orioles primarily eat insects, nectar, and fruit.
Habitat and Behavior
Baltimore Orioles are neotropical migrants, meaning they spend the winter months in Central and South America and migrate to North America for breeding. They build hanging nests that are woven from plant fibers and suspended from the ends of tree branches. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which both parents take turns incubating. Once the eggs hatch, both parents work together to feed and care for the nestlings.
Orange Plumaged Birds: Orchard Oriole
Description
The Orchard Oriole is a small songbird with a bright orange breast and black wings and tail. Male Orchard Orioles have a black head and back, while females have a more dull coloration. They have a slender body and a pointed beak.
Characteristics
Orchard Orioles have a warbled song that is similar to the sound of a robin. They have a swift, direct flight and can often be seen flitting among the branches of trees. Orchard Orioles primarily eat insects, but they also consume nectar, fruit, and berries.
Habitat and Behavior
Orchard Orioles can be found in open woodlands, orchards, and parks. They are neotropical migrants, spending the winter months in Central and South America and returning to North America for breeding. They build pouch-shaped nests that hang from the end of tree branches, similar to Baltimore Orioles. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns caring for the nestlings until they fledge.
Orange Plumaged Birds: American Robin
Description
The American Robin is a familiar bird with a reddish-orange breast and a gray-brown back. It has a slender body, a medium-sized beak, and a round head. While robins are known for their red-orange coloration, not all individuals have the same intensity of color.
Characteristics
American Robins have a melodious song that is often associated with the arrival of spring. They have a strong, bounding flight and can often be seen hopping on the ground or pulling up earthworms from the grass. American Robins have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, and berries.
Habitat and Behavior
American Robins can be found in a variety of habitats, including fields, forests, and suburban areas. They build cup-shaped nests that are made of mud and lined with grass. The female lays a clutch of eggs, which hatch after about two weeks. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the nestlings until they fledge.
Visit Author’s Blog
For more information about birds and wildlife, make sure to visit the author’s blog. There you can find articles, photographs, and videos of various bird species. The blog is a great resource for bird lovers and provides additional information about the birds mentioned in this article. Be sure to check it out and enhance your knowledge of these beautiful creatures.
In addition, the author recommends watching the accompanying YouTube video about birds with red, orange, and yellow plumage. The video offers a visual demonstration of the birds and their characteristic colors, making it a great supplement to the article.
Thank you for reading this comprehensive article on birds with red, orange, and yellow plumage. Remember, while color can be helpful, it is often the shape, size, and behavior of the bird that truly help in identification. Happy birdwatching!