20 Birds That Start With Y: Names, Types & Facts

Finding Birds That Start With Y can feel like opening a small door into a surprisingly diverse world of birds. Although Y isn’t the most common starting letter, several fascinating species carry names beginning with it. From bright yellow warblers to striking penguins, these birds live across forests, wetlands, coastlines, and mountains. This guide explores Y bird names, their scientific names, habitats, appearances, diets, and interesting behaviors. 

You’ll discover familiar species such as the Yellow Warbler and Yellow-Rumped Warbler, along with unusual birds found in Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Whether you’re a birdwatcher, student, parent, or curious nature lover, this collection makes learning about bird species starting with Y simple, engaging, and enjoyable.

What Bird Starts With Y?

A bird that starts with Y is simply a bird whose common name begins with the letter Y. Some of the best-known examples include Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and Yellow-Headed Blackbird.

Many birds beginning with Y have names describing a visible feature. “Yellow” often refers to yellow feathers, a yellow bill, yellow legs, or a yellow patch. Others, such as Yellowhammer and Yellow-Eyed Penguin, have names with different origins.

20 Birds That Start With Y: Complete List

The table below gives you a quick look at 20 interesting Y bird names. It includes species from North America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and New Zealand. Habitat and region are especially useful when you’re trying to connect a bird’s name with its natural environment.

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Habitat	Region
1	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	Songbird	Wetlands, thickets	North America
2	Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Woodpecker	Forests	North America
3	Yellow-Throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	Songbird	Deciduous forests	North America
4	Yellowhammer	Emberiza citrinella	Bunting	Farmland, woodland edges	Europe, Asia
5	Yellow-Rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	Songbird	Forests, shrubland	North America
6	Yellow-Eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	Sparrow	Mountain forests	Mexico, southwestern USA
7	Yellow-Billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	Cuckoo	Woodlands near water	Americas
8	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Nyctanassa violacea	Heron	Wetlands, coasts	Americas
9	Yellow-Fronted Canary	Crithagra mozambica	Finch	Woodland, grassland	Africa
10	Yellow-Headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	Blackbird	Marshes	North America
11	Yellow-Legged Gull	Larus michahellis	Gull	Coasts, wetlands	Europe, Africa, Asia
12	Yellow-Naped Amazon	Amazona auropalliata	Parrot	Dry forests	Central America
13	Yellow-Rumped Thornbill	Acanthiza chrysorrhoa	Thornbill	Woodland, shrubland	Australia
14	Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus funereus	Cockatoo	Forests, woodlands	Australia
15	Yellow-Breasted Apalis	Apalis flavida	Songbird	Woodland, forest	Africa
16	Yellow-Billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Stork	Wetlands, savannas	Africa
17	Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris	Flycatcher	Boreal and moist forests	North America
18	Yellow-Browed Warbler	Phylloscopus inornatus	Warbler	Forests, woodland	Eurasia
19	Yellow-Billed Magpie	Pica nuttalli	Magpie	Open woodland	California, USA
20	Yellow-Eyed Penguin	Megadyptes antipodes	Penguin	Coastal forests, shores	New Zealand

20 Birds That Start With Y

1. Yellow Warbler

Scientific Name: Setophaga aestiva

Family: Parulidae

The Yellow Warbler is one of the best-known Birds That Start With Y in North America. It has bright yellow plumage, with males often showing reddish streaks across the breast. This small songbird lives around shrubs, woodland edges, streams, and wetlands. It mainly eats insects and spiders, making it helpful for natural pest control. During migration, it travels between North America and wintering areas farther south. Its cheerful song and vivid color make it a favorite among birdwatchers.

2. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Scientific Name: Sphyrapicus varius

Family: Picidae

The Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is a striking woodpecker with black-and-white plumage and yellowish underparts. Males usually have a red forehead and throat, adding a splash of color. This Bird That Starts With Y drills neat rows of holes called sap wells into trees. It then feeds on flowing sap and insects attracted to the wells. Its sap wells also provide food for hummingbirds and other wildlife. This highly migratory woodpecker breeds across much of Canada and the eastern United States.

3. Yellow-Throated Vireo

Scientific Name: Vireo flavifrons

Family: Vireonidae

The Yellow-Throated Vireo is a small songbird recognized by its olive-green upperparts, yellow throat, and distinctive yellow spectacles. It prefers deciduous forests, woodland edges, and mature trees across eastern North America. This Y bird feeds mostly on insects and other small invertebrates. Its clear, repeated song can be surprisingly loud for such a small bird. The species builds carefully constructed nests and strongly defends its breeding territory.

4. Yellowhammer

Scientific Name: Emberiza citrinella

Family: Emberizidae

The Yellowhammer is a colorful bunting found across Europe and parts of Asia. Males develop a bright yellow head and underparts with chestnut and brown markings across the body. Unlike some other yellow-named birds, this species isn’t a woodpecker or warbler. It usually inhabits farmland, hedgerows, scrub, and open countryside. Seeds form much of its diet, while insects become important during breeding. Its distinctive song has made it a familiar countryside bird in Britain.

5. Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata

Family: Parulidae

The Yellow-Rumped Warbler is among the most widespread and familiar birds that start with Y in North America. Its gray, black, white, and yellow plumage creates a distinctive pattern, especially around the rump and sides. It occupies forests during breeding season and uses open woodland, shrubs, coastal areas, and residential habitats during migration. Unlike many warblers, it can digest waxy berries. That unusual adaptation helps it survive when insects become scarce.

6. Yellow-Eyed Junco

Scientific Name: Junco phaeonotus

Family: Passerellidae

The Yellow-Eyed Junco is a small sparrow-like bird named for its striking golden-yellow eyes. Its plumage varies across different populations, often showing gray, brown, rufous, and white shades. This bird name that starts with Y lives mainly in mountain forests of the southwestern United States and Mexico. It spends considerable time foraging on the ground for seeds, insects, and other small foods. Its bright eyes make identification easier than expected.

7. Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Scientific Name: Coccyzus americanus

Family: Cuculidae

The Yellow-Billed Cuckoo is a long, slender bird with a slightly curved yellow-and-black bill. It often lives in woodland habitats near rivers, streams, and other water sources. This Y bird is especially famous for eating caterpillars, including hairy species that many other birds avoid. It may also consume insects, frogs, lizards, and berries. In some regions, people call it the “rain crow” because its calling can increase before storms.

8. Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Scientific Name: Nyctanassa violacea

Family: Ardeidae

The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is a medium-sized wading bird with a dark body, pale face, and yellow crown. It commonly appears around marshes, swamps, estuaries, coastal wetlands, and shallow waters. This Bird That Starts With Y often feeds at night, searching for crabs, crayfish, fish, and other aquatic prey. Its long legs help it move through shallow water while its powerful bill handles hard-shelled prey.

9. Yellow-Fronted Canary

Scientific Name: Crithagra mozambica

Family: Fringillidae

The Yellow-Fronted Canary is a lively African finch with bright yellow plumage and darker streaking across its back. Its yellow forehead and underparts give the species its memorable name. It occupies grasslands, woodland edges, gardens, and cultivated areas across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Seeds make up much of its diet, while insects supplement its food during breeding. Its attractive appearance and pleasant vocalizations have also made it popular in aviculture.

10. Yellow-Headed Blackbird

Scientific Name: Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Family: Icteridae

The Yellow-Headed Blackbird is hard to overlook because of its brilliant yellow head and contrasting black body. It commonly breeds in freshwater marshes across western and central North America. This Y bird often nests colonially among reeds and other wetland vegetation. It eats seeds, grains, and insects while moving between wetlands and surrounding grasslands. Its rough, raspy call sounds quite different from the melodies of many songbirds.

11. Yellow-Legged Gull

Scientific Name: Larus michahellis

Family: Laridae

The Yellow-Legged Gull is a large coastal gull with a gray back, white body, black wing tips, and bright yellow legs. It occurs mainly around the Mediterranean region, western Europe, and parts of North Africa. This adaptable bird name that starts with Y feeds on fish, marine invertebrates, discarded food, and carrion. It readily uses beaches, ports, cliffs, cities, and other human-modified environments. Its versatility helps it thrive in varied coastal landscapes.

12. Yellow-Naped Amazon

Scientific Name: Amazona auropalliata

Family: Psittacidae

The Yellow-Naped Amazon is a colorful parrot native to parts of Central America. Its mostly green body is contrasted by a distinctive yellow patch on the back of its neck. It lives in dry forests, woodlands, and agricultural landscapes. This intelligent Y bird is an excellent mimic and can produce remarkably varied vocalizations. Habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade have placed pressure on wild populations, making conservation especially important.

13. Yellow-Rumped Thornbill

Scientific Name: Acanthiza chrysorrhoa

Family: Acanthizidae

The Yellow-Rumped Thornbill is a small Australian bird with olive-brown upperparts and a noticeable yellow rump. It occurs in forests, shrublands, gardens, grasslands, and other open habitats. This Bird That Starts With Y often searches the ground for insects and seeds. It can also join mixed-species feeding groups, especially outside the breeding season. Its quick movements and compact body help it navigate dense vegetation with ease.

14. Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo

Scientific Name: Calyptorhynchus funereus

Family: Cacatuidae

The Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo is a large Australian cockatoo with mostly black plumage and bright yellow markings on its tail and cheek. It lives in forests, woodlands, and open areas across southeastern Australia. This impressive Y bird uses its powerful bill to open cones, seeds, and woody plant material. Its slow wingbeats and distinctive calls make it recognizable even before it comes into view.

15. Yellow-Breasted Apalis

Scientific Name: Apalis flavida

Family: Cisticolidae

The Yellow-Breasted Apalis is a tiny African songbird with an olive-green back and bright yellow breast. It inhabits woodland, forest edges, gardens, and scrubby vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa. This bird name that starts with Y feeds primarily on insects and other small invertebrates. Pairs may communicate through soft calls and coordinated vocal exchanges. Its small size lets it forage among leaves where larger birds struggle to maneuver.

16. Yellow-Billed Stork

Scientific Name: Mycteria ibis

Family: Ciconiidae

The Yellow-Billed Stork is a large African wading bird with a long yellow bill, white body, and dark flight feathers. It prefers wetlands, floodplains, shallow lakes, rivers, and seasonally flooded grasslands. This Y bird uses its sensitive bill to locate fish and other aquatic prey in muddy water. It often breeds in colonies and may gather in large groups when food becomes plentiful.

17. Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

Scientific Name: Empidonax flaviventris

Family: Tyrannidae

The Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher is a small North American insect-eating bird with olive-green upperparts and a yellowish belly. It favors damp forests, mossy areas, and dense vegetation during breeding. This Bird That Starts With Y catches insects from perches using quick aerial flights. Its subtle plumage can make identification tricky because it resembles other Empidonax flycatchers. Listening to its call is often more useful than relying on appearance alone.

18. Yellow-Browed Warbler

Scientific Name: Phylloscopus inornatus

Family: Phylloscopidae

The Yellow-Browed Warbler is a tiny Eurasian songbird with greenish plumage and a prominent yellow eyebrow stripe. It breeds across northern Asia and migrates southward during winter. This Y bird spends much of its time moving through foliage while searching for small insects. Despite its tiny body, it can travel impressive distances during migration. Its bright eyebrow makes it surprisingly easy to recognize in good viewing conditions.

19. Yellow-Billed Magpie

Scientific Name: Pica nuttalli

Family: Corvidae

The Yellow-Billed Magpie is a striking California bird with glossy black-and-white plumage and a distinctive yellow bill. It occurs mainly in open woodlands, grasslands, farms, and oak-dominated landscapes. This bird name that starts with Y belongs to the crow and raven family, so it’s highly intelligent and adaptable. It feeds on insects, seeds, fruit, and small animals. Unfortunately, diseases and habitat changes have affected some populations.

20. Yellow-Eyed Penguin

Scientific Name: Megadyptes antipodes

Family: Spheniscidae

The Yellow-Eyed Penguin is a rare penguin native to New Zealand. It has a pale yellow band around its eyes and a yellowish head, while its back remains dark. Unlike many penguins, it often lives and nests in secluded coastal vegetation rather than dense colonies. This Y bird feeds at sea on fish and other marine prey. Its restricted range and conservation challenges make it one of the most distinctive birds on this list.

Most Common Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Habitat	Region
1	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	Songbird	Shrublands, wetlands, woodland edges	North America
2	Yellow-Rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	Songbird	Forests, shrubs, coastal areas	North America
3	Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Woodpecker	Forests, orchards, woodland edges	North America
4	Yellow-Headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	Blackbird	Freshwater marshes, wetlands	North America

Small Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Approx. Size	Main Habitat	Region
1	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	4.7–5.1 in	Shrubs, wetlands, woodland edges	North America
2	Yellow-Eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	5–6 in	Mountain forests	North America & Mexico
3	Yellow-Breasted Apalis	Apalis flavida	4–5 in	Woodlands, forest edges	Africa
4	Yellow-Rumped Thornbill	Acanthiza chrysorrhoa	4–5 in	Gardens, forests, shrublands	Australia
5	Yellow-Fronted Canary	Crithagra mozambica	4.5–5 in	Grasslands, gardens, woodland	Africa

Yellow Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Main Yellow Feature	Main Habitat	Region
1	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	Bright yellow body	Shrublands, wetlands	North America
2	Yellow-Headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	Yellow head and breast	Marshes, wetlands	North America
3	Yellow-Throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	Yellow throat and spectacles	Deciduous forests	North America
4	Yellow-Fronted Canary	Crithagra mozambica	Yellow forehead and underparts	Grasslands, gardens	Africa
5	Yellow-Breasted Apalis	Apalis flavida	Bright yellow breast	Woodlands, forest edges	Africa
6	Yellow-Rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	Yellow rump and sides	Forests, shrubs	North America
7	Yellow-Billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Yellow bill and facial skin	Wetlands, floodplains	Africa

Colorful Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Main Colors	Distinctive Feature	Habitat
1	Yellow-Naped Amazon	Green, yellow	Yellow neck patch	Tropical forests
2	Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo	Black, yellow	Yellow tail panels	Australian forests
3	Yellow-Headed Blackbird	Black, yellow	Bright yellow head	Wetlands
4	Yellow-Billed Magpie	Black, white, blue, yellow	Yellow bill	California woodlands
5	Yellow-Eyed Junco	Gray, brown, yellow	Bright yellow eyes	Mountain forests
6	Yellow-Breasted Apalis	Olive, yellow	Yellow breast	African woodland

Rare Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Region	Notable Feature
1	Yellow-Eyed Penguin	Megadyptes antipodes	Penguin	New Zealand	Yellow eye band
2	Yellow-Billed Loon	Gavia adamsii	Waterbird	Arctic regions	Large yellow bill
3	Yellow-Billed Magpie	Pica nuttalli	Corvid	California	Yellow bill
4	Yellow-Capped Pygmy Parrot	Micropsitta keiensis	Parrot	New Guinea	Tiny body and colorful crown
5	Yellow-Collared Lovebird	Agapornis personatus	Parrot	Tanzania	Bright yellow collar
6	Yellow-Crested Cockatoo	Cacatua sulphurea	Cockatoo	Indonesia	Yellow crest

Endangered and Threatened Birds That Start With Y

Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Region	Conservation Concern
Yellow-Eyed Penguin	Megadyptes antipodes	Penguin	New Zealand	Highly threatened

North American Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Habitat
1	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	Warbler	Shrublands, wetlands
2	Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	Woodpecker	Forests
3	Yellow-Throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	Songbird	Deciduous forests
4	Yellow-Rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	Warbler	Forests, shrubs
5	Yellow-Eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	Sparrow	Mountain forests
6	Yellow-Billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	Cuckoo	Woodlands near water
7	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Nyctanassa violacea	Wading bird	Wetlands, coasts
8	Yellow-Headed Blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	Blackbird	Freshwater marshes
9	Yellow-Billed Magpie	Pica nuttalli	Corvid	Open woodland, grassland

Note: Yellowhammer should not be included here because the true Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella, is native to Europe and parts of Asia.

Australian Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Habitat
1	Yellow-Rumped Thornbill	Acanthiza chrysorrhoa	Thornbill	Gardens, forests, shrublands
2	Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus funereus	Cockatoo	Forests, woodlands

African Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Habitat
1	Yellow-Breasted Apalis	Apalis flavida	Songbird	Woodlands, forest edges
2	Yellow-Billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Wading bird	Wetlands, floodplains
3	Yellow-Fronted Canary	Crithagra mozambica	Finch	Grasslands, gardens, woodland

Birds That Start With Y by Habitat

Habitat	Birds That Start With Y
Forests	Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-Throated Vireo, Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Wetlands	Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Coastal Areas	Yellow-Legged Gull, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Woodlands	Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Yellow-Billed Magpie, Yellow-Breasted Apalis
Grasslands	Yellowhammer, Yellow-Fronted Canary, Yellow-Billed Stork
Mountains	Yellow-Eyed Junco
Urban Areas	Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Legged Gull, Yellow-Fronted Canary

Songbirds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Family	Main Region
1	Yellow Warbler	Setophaga aestiva	Parulidae	North America
2	Yellow-Rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	Parulidae	North America
3	Yellow-Throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	Vireonidae	North America
4	Yellow-Eyed Junco	Junco phaeonotus	Passerellidae	North America & Mexico
5	Yellow-Fronted Canary	Crithagra mozambica	Fringillidae	Africa
6	Yellow-Breasted Apalis	Apalis flavida	Cisticolidae	Africa

Water Birds That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Habitat
1	Yellow-Crowned Night Heron	Nyctanassa violacea	Heron	Marshes, swamps, coasts
2	Yellow-Billed Stork	Mycteria ibis	Stork	Wetlands, rivers, floodplains
3	Yellow-Legged Gull	Larus michahellis	Gull	Coasts, beaches, ports
4	Yellow-Billed Loon	Gavia adamsii	Loon	Arctic lakes and coastal waters
5	Yellow-Billed Tern	Sternula superciliaris	Tern	Rivers, wetlands, freshwater areas

Parrots and Cockatoos That Start With Y

No.	Bird Name	Scientific Name	Type	Main Region
1	Yellow-Naped Amazon	Amazona auropalliata	Amazon Parrot	Central America
2	Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo	Calyptorhynchus funereus	Cockatoo	Australia
3	Yellow-Capped Pygmy Parrot	Micropsitta keiensis	Pygmy Parrot	New Guinea
4	Yellow-Collared Lovebird	Agapornis personatus	Lovebird	Tanzania
5	Yellow-Collared Macaw	Primolius auricollis	Macaw	South America
6	Yellow-Crested Cockatoo	Cacatua sulphurea	Cockatoo	Indonesia
7	Yellow-Chevroned Parakeet	Brotogeris chiriri	Parakeet	South America

Birds That Start With Y by Number of Letters

Letter Count	Bird Name
6 Letters	Yuhina
8 Letters	Yellowfinch
9 Letters	Yellowhammer
10 Letters	Yellow Warbler
11 Letters	Yellow-Billed Loon
12 Letters	Yellow-Eyed Junco
13 Letters	Yellow-Billed Stork
14 Letters	Yellow-Billed Magpie
15 Letters	Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
16+ Letters	Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo

Interesting Facts About Birds That Start With Y

The world of Y birds contains some remarkable adaptations. Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers create organized sap wells that other animals can use. Yellow-Rumped Warblers can digest waxes from bayberries and wax myrtles. Northern Yellow Warblers can make long seasonal migrations across the Americas.

Another fascinating detail involves behavior and habitat. Yellow-Throated Vireos can share incubation duties between males and females. Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos can live for many years. Yellow-Eyed Penguins show how a distinctive bird species can become highly vulnerable when its habitat and breeding environment are under pressure.

Conclusion

Exploring birds that start with Y reveals far more variety than you might expect. The list includes tiny warblers, clever parrots, powerful cockatoos, unusual penguins, woodpeckers, gulls, and large wetland birds. Many names even describe their most noticeable physical features.

For USA birdwatchers, species such as Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, and Yellow-Billed Magpie are especially interesting. Yet the worldwide list goes much further. Once you start exploring these Y bird names, you’ll see how habitat, migration, feeding habits, and conservation shape the lives of birds around the world.

FAQs

What bird starts with the letter Y?

Yellow Warbler is one of the best-known examples. Other bird names beginning with Y include Yellow-Rumped Warbler and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.

What is the most common bird that starts with Y?

Yellow Warbler is among the most familiar Y birds in North America. Yellow-Rumped Warbler is also widespread and commonly encountered.

Is there a bird that starts with a Y?

Yes. There are many species with common names beginning with Y. Most notably, several names begin with the word “Yellow.”

What is a rare bird that starts with Y?

Yellow-Eyed Penguin is a memorable example of a less familiar and conservation-sensitive Y bird. It is native to New Zealand.

Are there yellow birds that start with Y?

Yes. Yellow Warbler, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Yellow-Fronted Canary, Yellow-Throated Vireo, and Yellow-Breasted Apalis all have noticeable yellow coloring or markings.