Hello From Kentucky Yellow bird (2 Viewers)

[Bluesong]

Hello everyone. I am a business owner and operate as an internet service provider. My favorite past times are playing guitar and songwriting. I love the great outdoors and study bushcraft.

I started feeding wild birds about 3 years ago. I am amazed at how many varieties are in my area. I had no idea until I started watching them. Many are used to me now and they let me get very close to them. Two days ago, I saw one I have never seen before. It looked like a female cardinal but it was blonde, almost yellow in color. That’s why I joined here. To learn more about this and birds in general. I will look for the appropriate thread to post this sighting in.

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Bluesong
and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators. I'll move your post to the ID forum to see if they've any ideas for you on what this "yellow" bird could be. I'm sure there's a red bird with a yellow variation, but for the life of me can't put a name to it. Can you advise where abouts in Kentucky you are (well type of habitat really) and what time of the year you have seen it, or is it always around?

This is our Opus encyclopaedia page on the Northern Cardinal, which you might like to look at. From there you can go to any other bird you're interested in: Northern Cardinal - BirdForum Opus

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[nartreb]

It's possible you saw a cardinal with a rare color mutation, like this one: pale cardinal seen in Shively (Louisville area), KY

Female cardinals do vary in color and can be ochre or yellowish with more or less dull-reddish areas (eg wingtips), but a really blonde one is rare.

There's not much else that comes to mind as a possibility, other than an escaped cagebird (e.g., a cockatiel is kind of the right shape...)

 

[gsimonel]

The only other possibility that I can think of is a cedar waxwing. They are mostly gray on the back, but they often have a lot of yellow on their sides, and they have a crest similar to a cardinal's.

 

[nartreb]

Excellent suggestion. A lone cedar waxwing is a bit unusual, but certainly more likely than a yellow cardinal.

Your post reminded me that there are a couple of flycatchers with yellowish bellies (eg great crested, which has a crest and can be found in Kentucky in summer), but most are completely out of range and even great crested shouldn't be seen in winter.

 

[Bluesong]

Thank you for the warm welcomes. Im looking forward to learning from you all. Or as we say in Kentucky… Ya’ll

 

[Merlin]

Hi Bluesong

You are most welcome here.
regards
Merlin