Birds come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. When trying to identify a specific bird, focusing on distinctive physical traits like coloration can be very helpful. You mentioned a bird that is predominantly gray, but has yellow coloration on the tips of its tail feathers. With over 10,000 species of birds in the world, narrowing it down based on these visual cues is an excellent start!
Gray Birds with Yellow Tails – Initial Possibilities
There are a few different bird species that have the gray and yellow coloration you described. Here are some of the top possibilities:
- Gray Catbird
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- American Pipit
- Cape May Warbler
Below I will go through each of these birds in more detail, outlining their key identification features and range to determine which is most likely to match the bird you observed.
Gray Catbird
The gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) is a medium-sized songbird belonging to the mimid family. True to its name, it has predominantly gray plumage on its head, wings, back and tail. Its most distinctive feature is its black cap and black tail feathers. The undertail coverts are a rich rusty-orange color. The bill, eyes and legs are all black.
Gray catbirds are found throughout much of North America during the spring and summer months. Their breeding range extends across the United States and southern Canada. In winter, they migrate to the southeastern United States, Mexico and parts of Central America. They frequent dense thickets, forest edges and gardens. While the undertail is rusty-orange, the tail tips are not yellow.
Key Identifying Traits
- Medium size (8-9 inches long)
- Gray upperparts
- Black cap and tail
- Rusty-orange undertail coverts
- Found in dense, low vegetation
Based on the description of a yellow-tipped tail, the gray catbird does not match the sighting.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
The yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) is a small songbird measuring 4.7-5.5 inches. As their name suggests, these warblers have a patch of yellow feathers on the rump. There are two major subspecies – the myrtle warbler with white throats and the Audubon’s warbler with yellow throats. The male myrtles have blue-gray heads, black streaking on the back and white bellies. Females lack the same extent of blue-gray and black coloration. The undertail coverts are white.
Yellow-rumps breed across Canada and the mountainous northwestern and northeastern US. They migrate south to the southern US and Mexico for winter. During migration and winter, they frequent open woodlands, fields, parks and gardens. They regularly visit bird feeders.
Key Identifying Traits
- Small size (4.7-5.5 inches)
- Blue-gray back with black streaks (males)
- White or yellow throat
- Bright yellow rump
- White undertail coverts
The yellow-rumped warbler exhibits many of the described traits – gray back and upperparts, along with yellow on the rump and undertail coverts. This makes it a very likely candidate for the observed bird.
Palm Warbler
The palm warbler (Setophaga palmarum) is another small North American wood-warbler. Adults have an olive-brown back with dark streaking, a red cap, yellow underparts with black streaking, and a brownish-olive tail and wings. Undertail coverts are yellow with dusky streaks. There are two subspecies – the eastern palm warbler has a rusty brown cap, while the western palm has a brighter yellow cap.
Palm warblers breed in bogs and fens of Canada and the northeastern United States. They winter in the southeastern US and Caribbean. During migration, they stopover in weedy fields and marshes. Unlike the previous two species, their tail tip is not distinctly yellow.
Key Identifying Traits
- Small size (5-6 inches)
- Olive-brown upperparts with streaks
- Rusty or yellow cap
- Yellow underparts with dark streaks
- Olive-brown tail
With its olive-brown tail that lacks yellow tipping, the palm warbler does not match our mystery bird.
American Pipit
The American pipit (Anthus rubescens) is a medium-sized songbird with an overall drab, grayish-brown appearance. The upperparts are grayish-brown with heavy dark streaking. The face is unstreaked gray and there is a dark eyeline. Underparts are buff-colored with dark streaks on the breast and flanks. The legs are black. The tail is dark gray-brown with white outer tail feathers.
American pipits breed in the tundra and alpine meadows of northern Canada and Alaska. In winter, they migrate to open fields, beaches and mudflats across the southern half of the United States into Mexico. While their plumage can appear vaguely similar, their tail lacks any yellowish coloration.
Key Identifying Traits
- Medium size (6.5-7.5 inches)
- Grayish-brown upperparts with streaks
- Plain gray face
- Buff underparts with breast streaks
- Black legs
- Brown tail with white outer feathers
With its plain brown tail, the American pipit does not match the description of a gray bird with yellow-tipped tail.
Cape May Warbler
The Cape May warbler (Setophaga tigrina) is a small, colorful wood-warbler. Males have a yellow face with chestnut cheek patches, yellow-olive upperparts with black streaking, and yellow underparts with black streaks. Females are duller overall, with gray rather than yellow faces. Their tails are olive-yellow with yellow tips.
Cape May warblers breed across Canada and the northern United States. They winter in the West Indies and Central America. During migration, they are found in dense vegetation along forest edges, swamps and thickets. This species does have yellow tail tipping, but lacks the predominantly gray plumage described.
Key Identifying Traits
- Small size (5 inches)
- Yellowish face
- Yellow-olive upperparts
- Yellow underparts
- Olive-yellow tail with yellow tips
With its bright yellow plumage across the body, the Cape May warbler is likely not the mystery bird.
Most Likely Candidate: Yellow-rumped Warbler
Based on the analysis above, the bird species that best fits the description of gray overall plumage with yellow tail tips is the yellow-rumped warbler. A few key points supporting this conclusion:
- Male yellow-rumps have gray heads, blue-gray upperparts, black streaking on the back and white underparts – aligning with the “predominantly gray” description.
- They have a prominent yellow rump patch and yellow undertail coverts, matching the “yellow tipped tail” descriptor.
- Their range during migration and winter puts them in suitable locations across the southern US.
- They frequent open areas including gardens and parks – prime sighting locations.
In summary, the yellow-rumped warbler’s combination of gray, black and white plumage accented by splashes of yellow on the rump and tail make it the strongest match for the observed bird based on the details provided.
Confirming Yellow-rumped Warbler Identification
To confirm the identification of a yellow-rumped warbler, there are a few key factors worth noting:
- Size and shape: About 5 inches long with a slender body and short, thin bill characteristic of warblers.
- Movement: Constantly active, frequently flitting and fluttering between perches while foraging.
- Behavior: Will hover briefly to pick insects off vegetation; frequents tree canopies and lower branches.
- Song: A buzzy “twee, twee, twee” and short, fast warble.
- Field marks: In addition to plumage already described, look for strong white wing bars on otherwise gray wings.
Use a field guide that illustrates the species’ various plumages and compare the bird in question to visual depictions. Take note of key field marks that match up with the species’ description. Observing the bird’s behavior and getting an audio recording of any vocalizations can also help cement the ID.
Conclusion
The yellow-rumped warbler is the most likely species matching the description of a gray bird with yellow-tipped tail feathers. Its distinctive plumage features, common winter range and habitat preferences make it a prime candidate. To confirm the identification, pay close attention to size, shape, behavior, song, and look for key field marks like wing bars and the namesake yellow rump patch. With good observation skills and use of visual and audio references, the yellow-rumped warbler can be confidently identified by bird enthusiasts of all skill levels.