Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Greg Gillson
Did you see a brightly-colored red bird, orange bird, or yellow bird in Arkansas and wonder what it was?
This page is for you!
This article shows you photos and identification of some of the most common birds in Arkansas based on color.
The list of birds found in Arkansas includes over 420 species. So, I can’t show you all of them. I’m going to assume that you saw a common bird of this color, but you certainly could have seen something less common, or even rare!
Shape (including the shape of the bill) and size are often more helpful in starting to identify a bird than the color. In fact, most birds in North American can be easily identified with a black-and-white photo!
Many birds are multi-colored, so that it may be hard to pick out a dominant color. Males and females may be colored quite differently. And some color patterns are similar among otherwise dissimilar species.
Nevertheless, I’m going to try to pick out some of the birds that you are most likely to see in backyards or towns. And I’ll show a few others that I get asked about a lot.
The birds with a noticeable amount of red on them in Arkansas covered in this article are:
- Northern Cardinal
- American Robin
- House Finch
- Purple Finch
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Summer Tanager
- Red-headed Woodpecker
The birds with a noticeable amount of orange on them in Arkansas covered in this article are:
- Brown Thrasher
- Barn Swallow
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Eastern Towhee
- American Kestrel
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Orchard Oriole
- Wood Thrush
The birds with a noticeable amount of yellow on them, including lots of yellow and black birds, in Arkansas covered in this article are:
- American Goldfinch
- Northern Flicker
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Pine Warbler
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Cedar Waxwing
- Northern Parula
- Common Yellowthroat
- Dickcissel
- Pine Siskin
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- Yellow-throated Vireo
- Kentucky Warbler
Red birds of Arkansas
Birds get the red, orange, and yellow in their feathers from carotenoids in the fruit, seeds, and plants they eat (source).
These carotenoid colors combine with melanin to form an infinite range of red feathers–pink, rusty, scarlet, violet, red-orange.
The following are red birds that you are most likely to see in Arkansas.
Northern Cardinal
These are one of the most common backyard birds in the eastern United States. Their bright red color and unique head profile makes them instantly identifiable to most people–whether they are bird watchers or not!
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| Northern Cardinal. GeorgeB2 from Pixabay. |
Males of these large seed eaters are bright red with a black face and red crest.
Females replace most of the red with brown, The bill is large and orange.
These birds are found in woodlands, stream edges, residential areas.
Northern Cardinals are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
American Robin
These are familiar lawn birds with red breasts.
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| American Robin. Greg Gillson. |
Male American Robins are brownish-gray above with a brick red breast. Females are paler orange below and paler gray above.
They are widespread in open country with scattered deciduous trees, residential areas.
American Robins are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
House Finch
When people ask about a bird with a red head at their feeder, it is usually this bird.
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| Male House Finch. Greg Gillson. |
Males of this dusty brown striped finch have red limited to the head (specifically the forehead and eyebrow), breast (chest), and rump. The red coloration tends toward orangish, and may rarely be yellowish.
Females are streaked, similar to the males but without red. They lack any strong pattern on the face and head.
Note the small round head and curved upper ridge on the bill.
Some people call these red-headed sparrows. Sparrows and finches are similar, but in general, male finches are brighter than the females and tend to hang out more in trees. Sparrow genders are usually quite similar in coloration and tend to feed mostly on the ground.
These birds are common in residential areas, especially at bird feeders. In the West more widespread in arid regions near water.
House Finches are year-round residents in northern and eastern Arkansas, absent in southwestern Arkansas.
Purple Finch
Forest finches of the foothills, delicately frosted in pinkish-red.
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| Male Purple Finch. Greg Gillson. |
Told from more common House Finch by bigger square or peaked head, bigger bill, lacks sharp striping below, deeply notched tail. Red covers all plumage.
Females lack red color, shows strongly patterned dark ear patch outlined all around with a pale stripe, is heavily streaked below.
Found in foothills and damp mountains conifers and mixed woods. Visit feeders, but less frequently than House Finches.
Purple Finches are winter visitors throughout Arkansas.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
These red-throated birds are the only hummingbird nesting in the eastern United States.
Males are dark green above and on the belly. They have a white upper chest. The throat is ruby-red.
Females are green above, white below, including white throat.
These birds are found in woodland edges, residential yards. Readily come to hummingbird feeders.
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Summer Tanager
These bright red birds are found toward the tops of tall trees in the southern United States.
Males are rose red with fairly heavy bill.
Females are yellowish or mustard-colored, some with a faint reddish wash.
In the East these birds are found in pine-oak woodlands. In the West they prefer tall cottonwood trees.
Summer Tanagers are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Red-headed Woodpecker
These well-known woodpeckers with red heads have a fitting name.
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| Red-headed Woodpecker. Public domain. |
These birds have the entire head bright deep red. Back and tail black. Underparts white, as are inner secondaries and rump.
They are found in a variety of wooded habitats. They prefer to have oak and beech trees available. Sometimes come to feeders in winter.
Red-headed Woodpeckers are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Orange birds of Arkansas
True orange-colored birds are not that common. Many birds that I have here are paler rusty.
The common pattern is an orange body and black or brown wings and tail. Another common pattern is for the orange to be restricted to the under parts.
The following are orange birds that you are most likely to see in Arkansas.
Brown Thrasher
These are rather large rusty-orange songbirds.
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| Brown Thrasher. Linda Jones CC0. |
The upper parts of these birds is colored rusty-brown to orange. They show two white wing bars. Under parts are buff with heavy reddish-brown streaking.
These birds live in woodland edges and mature backyard landscaping.
Brown Thrashers are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Barn Swallow
These orange-bellied birds are a familiar sight across North America in summer.
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| Barn Swallow. Greg Gillson. |
These birds are purple-blue above with orange under parts and long forked tails. The color of the underparts in winter or on females are often cinnamon or buff-colored, but breeding males can be brighter orange-red.
These birds swoop low over fields and wetlands at lower elevations. They may build their mud nests in rafters on porches, garages, or other out-buildings.
Barn Swallows are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Okay, the shoulders are reddish. But the rusty-orange breast and wing linings are barred red too.
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| Red-shouldered Hawk. Greg Gillson. |
The upper parts are barred black and white. The tail is banded black and white. In adults the breast is barred orange.
Immature birds are streaked with brown on the breast.
These birds like woodland edges, residential edges, riparian groves.
Red-shouldered Hawks are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Eastern Towhee
These birds with rusty-orange sides like to hide in dense bushes.
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| Female Eastern Towhee. Skeeze. Pixabay. |
Males are black above with white wing patch, white tail corners. The sides are rusty. The belly white. Eyes variable: brown, red, orange, white, tending toward whiter southward.
Females are similar, but upper parts brown.
These birds are found in forest understory, dense brush, backyard hedges. Come to feeders.
Eastern Towhees are year-round residents in eastern Arkansas, winter visitors only in western Arkansas.
American Kestrel
These are the familiar small rusty-orange falcons sitting on power lines on the edge of the highway, or hunting and hovering over the median strip.
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| Female American Kestrel. Greg Gillson. |
Females are rusty orange barred with black on their back wings and tail. The under parts are buff with black spots. The head shows two facial stripes.
Males have blue-gray backs and rufous tail is unmarked except for black tail band.
These birds are found in open country, farms, pastures with perches.
American Kestrels are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
These active little red-breasted birds crawls all around on the trunk and big branches of conifers. They search crevices in the bark for insect food.
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| Red-breasted Nuthatch. Greg Gillson. |
These tiny birds have blue-gray backs and a black line through a white face. Some males can have quite bright rusty red under parts. Some females can have quite pale buff-colored under parts. Most birds show an orange-cinnamon breast color.
Found nearly exclusively in conifers. Readily come to feeders.
Red-breasted Nuthatches are winter visitors throughout Arkansas.
Orchard Oriole
Males of these orioles are darker rustier-orange than most other orioles in the United States.
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| Orchard Oriole. Dan Pancamo. Flikr. CC BY-SA 2.0 |
Males have a black hood and back, black wings and tail. The under parts are rusty-orange or even chestnut-brown.
Females are greenish above, lemon yellow below. They have 2 thin white wing bars. The bill is thinner than many other orioles.
They are found in orchards and residential shade trees.
Orchard Orioles are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Wood Thrush
These spotted birds with the orange-brown upper parts tend to hide in understory trees and on the forest floor.
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| Wood Thrush. Tony Castro. CC BY-SA 4.0 |
These birds are reddish brown on the upper parts, especially rusty orange on the crown and upper back. White eye ring. Large heavy black spots on the under parts.
They live in deciduous and mixed woods. Spend much time on the ground, shuffling through the leaf litter.
Wood Thrushes are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Yellow birds of Arkansas
Yellow is a common bird color! Often it is mixed with black and white plumage in birds.
Many birds with darker upper parts have yellow breast or belly.
The following are yellow birds you are most likely to see in Arkansas.
American Goldfinch
These small little birds are bright yellow and black.
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| American Goldfinch. Greg Gillson. |
Males are bright lemon yellow with black and white wings and tail, black cap. White under tail coverts. Pink bill.
Females are duller yellow below and brownish above. Lack black cap.
Winter birds are pale brown or gray, a touch of yellow on the throat of males.
These are birds of open country, fields with saplings, clear cuts, residential areas. They avoid dense forests, mountains, deserts. They visit feeders.
American Goldfinches are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Northern Flicker
These woodpeckers spend much time eating ants on the ground.
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| Northern Flicker. Greg Gillson. |
These birds are larger than robins with brown and black barred upper parts. The underparts are pink with round black spots. There is a black crescent across the chest. When they fly away from you they reveal a large white rump.
Western birds have salmon-red under wings and under tail. Those in the East are colored yellow. The male face differs between the two populations–black whisker on the eastern birds, red whisker on western birds. Intergrades from overlap on Great Plains common. These may show male facial characteristics of both populations, or yellow-orange flight feathers.
These birds live in open woods with bare ground for foraging, residential yards.
Northern Flickers are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
These are abundant warblers across North America. Affectionately called “butter butts” by many birders, because of their bright yellow rumps that flash in flight.
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| Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler. Greg Gillson. |
Western form (Audubon’s) with bright yellow throat and yellow rump. Large white wing patch.
Northern and Eastern form (Myrtle) with white throat, yellow rump, and two white wing bars.
Winter birds are dull gray brown, with bright yellow rump. Throat may be cream colored or white. Often difficult to tell the two forms apart in winter.
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| Winter Yellow-rumped Warbler. Greg Gillson. |
Breed in mountain or boreal conifers. Widespread in migration. Winter in low river bottoms, open weedy deciduous areas. Rarely come to feeders in winter.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are winter visitors throughout Arkansas.
Eastern Meadowlark
These pale brown birds with the brilliant yellow breasts are home on the ground in prairies. They sing from perches on isolated trees, power poles, fence posts.
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| Eastern Meadowlark. Mike’s Birds from Riverside, CA, US [CC BY-SA 2.0] |
The upper parts are streaked black, white, brown, so they blend into the dried grass where they live. The under parts are bright yellow with a black necklace across the chest. Very similar to Western Meadowlark, best told apart by spring song.
These birds live in prairies and extensive pasture lands.
Eastern Meadowlarks are year-round residents throughout Arkansas.
Pine Warbler
This yellow and gray bird is one of the few warblers to visit feeders–and the only one to eat seeds!
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| Pine Warbler. Nikolaus Schultz. Pixabay. |
These birds are yellow-green on head, back, and breast. Wings blue-gray with wide white wing bars. Yellow split eye ring.
Strongly associated with pine forests. Usually high in tree tops.
Pine Warblers are year-round residents in southwestern Arkansas, summer residents in northern Arkansas, and winter visitors in southeastern Arkansas.
Great Crested Flycatcher
These flycatchers have long tails and big heads with big bill and bright yellow belly.
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| Great Crested Flycatcher. Simard Francois. Pixabay. |
These birds are gray on the face and breast, brownish on rest of upper parts. Bright lemon yellow belly. The under side of the tail and some feathers of the wing are cinnamon colored.
These birds stay in the canopy of open woods.
Great Crested Flycatchers are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Cedar Waxwing
These crested birds with yellow band on the end of the tail are often found in flocks. They eat flying insects in summer, fruit and berries the rest of the year.
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| Cedar Waxwing. Greg Gillson. |
These birds are fawn-brown above, with dark gray wings and tail. They have a black mask and wispy crest. The belly is yellow. The wings have waxy red drops on the end of the tertials. The end of the tail has a brilliant yellow tail band.
They are found in open habitats with berries, including juniper woodlands and towns in winter.
Cedar Waxwings are year-round residents in northwestern Arkansas, winter visitors throughout.
Northern Parula
This is a handsome blue and yellow warbler.
Males are blue on the hood and shoulders. Back green. Yellow throat and breast with a dark red spot mid-chest. Broken white eye ring. Two wide white wing bars.
Females are similar, but paler.
They are found along streams and in swampy forests with willows, maples, birches, hemlocks and other trees.
Northern Parulas are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Common Yellowthroat
These buttery yellow birds are abundant in the marsh vegetation.
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| Male Common Yellowthroat. Greg Gillson. |
These skulkers have bright yellow throats and yellow undertail coverts. Males have a black domino mask edged broadly in white, which females lack. Upperparts are dull olive-green.
Immature males in fall show a shadowed black mask.
Found in damp situations and heavy deciduous brambles following clear cuts.
Common Yellowthroats are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Dickcissel
These yellow birds often flock together in weedy roadside edges.
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| Dickcissel. RebelAT. CC By-SA 3.0 |
These are gray birds with yellow breast and eyebrow.
Males have a black band across the lower throat. They have a large chestnut patch on the shoulder.
Females paler, lack black chest band.
They are found in prairie grasslands and weedy patches.
Dickcissels are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Pine Siskin
These small brown-streaked birds are relatives of the goldfinches. But you would never know it until they fly and sport yellow wing stripes and tail base. Usually in flocks.
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| Pine Siskin. Greg Gillson. |
These birds are streaked brown. In flight they have a yellow stripe down the length of the wing. The sides of the base of the tail is also yellow. Some birds are paler, some darker, others brighter yellow, others duller.
These birds are found in summer in northern conifer woods. Irregularly irrupt hundreds of miles southward. Frequent at feeders.
Pine Siskins are winter visitors throughout Arkansas.
Yellow-breasted Chat
These unique larger yellow birds may sing day and night, and include whistles and crow-like cawing, often given in a display flight.
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| Yellow-breasted Chat. Greg Gillson. |
These birds are greenish above with bright yellow breast and white belly. They have a dark mask bordered with white.
These birds live in tangles and wet woods.
Yellow-breasted Chats are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Yellow-throated Vireo
Vireos are slow moving small birds that sing throughout the day. These yellow-headed vireos are one of the most colorful of their clan.
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| Yellow-throated Vireo. MDF. CC BY-SA 3.0 |
These birds are blue-gray above, white below. Two white wing bars. Their head is olive yellow with yellow spectacles around the eye, and bright yellow throat.
These birds like large tracts of unbroken deciduous or mixed woodlands. Interestingly, however, they are often found on forest edges.
Yellow-throated Vireos are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Kentucky Warbler
These birds with the yellow eyebrow and underparts are usually found low to the ground.
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| Kentucky Warbler. Tony Castro. CC-BY-SA 4.0 |
These birds are green above and yellow below.
Males have a black cap and mask below the eye, forming a bright yellow eyebrow.
Females are similar, but the black on the head is not as dark.
They are found in dense understory in hardwood forests, often near streams.
Kentucky Warblers are summer residents throughout Arkansas.
Wrapping Up
Arkansas boast a diverse selection of colorful birds, adding vibrant splashes of color to the state’s landscapes. Here are some other species with bright plumages:
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis): Vibrant blue upperparts with a rusty breast, a common sight in open fields and woodlands.
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia mexicana): Similar to the Eastern Bluebird but with a deeper blue back and a white breast. Found in mountainous regions.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata): Striking blue plumage with a white chest and black neckband, known for its loud and varied calls.
Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens): Smaller than the Blue Jay, with a bright blue head and neck, white breast, and a long, blue tail. Found in scrubby woodlands and thickets.
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea): A stunning blue warbler with a white belly and black face mask. Found in mature deciduous forests.
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea): A small, bright blue songbird with a black face mask. Found in fields and open woodlands.
Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius): A gray-green warbler with a blue head and white spectacles. Found in mature deciduous forests.
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca): A small duck with a green wing patch and a reddish-brown head. Found in ponds, marshes, and lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bird looks like a sparrow but has a reddish head?
The most likely candidate in many parts of North America. Males have a bright red head, breast, and rump, while females have streaked brown plumage. They are common in backyards, fields, and open woodlands.
Are there Orioles in Arkansas?
Yes, there are definitely Orioles in Arkansas! In fact, Arkansas is home to two species of Orioles:
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Baltimore Oriole: This brightly colored bird with its orange body, black head, and white wing bars is a common sight in Arkansas during the spring and summer months. They breed in deciduous forests and open woodlands, readily visiting backyards with feeders stocked with their favorite foods like grape jelly and oranges.
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Orchard Oriole: Slightly smaller and less brightly colored than the Baltimore Oriole, the Orchard Oriole has a chestnut and black body with a white wing bar. They prefer open woodlands, fields, and edges of rivers and swamps. They also visit feeders but are less commonly seen than Baltimore Orioles.
Both species of Orioles migrate south to Central and South America for the winter, typically returning to Arkansas in April or May. However, with changing environmental conditions, occasional individuals may linger into the winter months in mild southern parts of the state.
What is the small bright yellow bird in Arkansas?
Determining the specific small bright yellow bird you saw in Arkansas depends on several factors, like the time of year and the bird’s size and other features. However, here are some possibilities:
Summer Visitors:
- American Goldfinch: This common backyard bird is quite small, with a bright yellow body (males in breeding season), black wings with white wing bars, and a short, conical beak. They frequent fields, open woodlands, and gardens, readily visiting feeders for sunflower seeds.
- Yellow Warbler: Slightly larger than the goldfinch, the Yellow Warbler has a bright yellow body (males in breeding season), olive streaks on the back, and white wing bars. They prefer open woodlands, edges of forests, and thickets.
Year-round Residents:
- Yellow-throated Vireo: This small green warbler has a bright yellow throat and breast, a white eye ring, and two white wing bars. They inhabit open woodlands, parks, and gardens, often singing a distinctive “hello-dolly” call.
Related Articles:
See photos and learn about the most common backyard birds in Arkansas, regardless of color.
Here’s a quick tutorial of how I would teach you to identify birds: 7 Steps to Identify Birds!
Birds with red heads in North America.
Yellow-and-black birds in North America.
Little Brown Birds at your Feeder.
