Over 300 bird species live in Germany, which can be recognized by their shape and plumage color. Yellow-chested or yellow-bellied birds are particularly easy to identify and identify.

In a nutshell

  • only a small proportion of native bird species present a yellow breast or yellow belly
  • the hues are most pronounced in songbirds
  • only a few seabirds and birds of prey adorn different yellow variations
  • the yellow coloration allows easy identification of the species during bird watching

12 songbird species presented

Types from A - E

Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

  • 11cm to 12cm
  • distinctive yellow breast, rest of the plumage blue, black markings on the head
  • lives everywhere with sufficient wood, conifers less often
  • Diet: Seeds, grains, apples, berries, insects, spiders, larvae
  • Voice: zizi, zizizi, titi

Notice: Due to their low weight, blue tits are real climbing artists. This makes it possible for them to even hang onto fat balls or other feeding points and eat at the same time.

Siskin (Spinus spinus)

  • 10cm to 12cm
  • Green-yellow breast and upper surface, yellow belly, striped pattern on upper and lower surface, grey-green or black cap
  • Coniferous forests, mixed forests, gardens, parks, alders and birches preferred
  • Food: seeds
  • Voice: distinctive singing, tilö
  • partial puller

Types of F - J

Gray wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

  • 18cm to 20cm
  • Yellow-white breast and abdomen, green-yellow rump, gray upperparts and head, black-brown wings with white stripes, black throat (males)
  • Mountain lakes, streams or rivers (fast-flowing)
  • Food: aquatic insects, spiders, small fish
  • Voice: ziss-ziss, ze-ze-ze, zit-zitt
  • Migratory bird: no or short-distance migrants

Yellow Warbler (Hippolais icterina)

  • 12cm to 13.5cm
  • lemon-yellow underside, grey-green upperside, yellow overeye stripe
  • Alluvial forests, free-standing shrubs, deciduous forests, gardens, parks
  • Food: Arachnids, snails, insects, berries (rare), fruits (rare), earthworms (rare)
  • Voice: tä, hiäh, imitations of other songbirds, whining, nasal
  • long-distance

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)

  • 16cm to 17cm
  • yellow belly and chest area, yellow head, tawny (females)
  • open to semi-open areas, no preference
  • Food: Seeds, less often arachnids and insects
  • Voice: zig, zürr, si-si-si, düüh
  • Migratory bird: no or short-distance migrants

Serin (Serinus serinus)

  • 12 cm
  • Whole body bright yellow, females with a slight shade of green, wings darkly striped
  • urban areas, sparse accumulations of trees, open landscapes
  • Food: seeds, buds
  • Voice: squeaks, trills
  • smallest finch species in Europe

Types of K - R

Great tit (Parus major)

  • 13cm to 15cm
  • intense yellow belly with black longitudinal stripes, black head with white markings, green mantle, grey-blue wings
  • no preference, commonly found in deciduous forests and urban areas
  • Food: insects, aphids, caterpillars, larvae, spiders, seeds
  • Voice: similar to other tits, zi tuhi
  • Migratory bird: no or short-distance migrants

Orpheus mocker (Hippolais polyglotta)

  • 13 cm
  • yellow underside, brown-green upperside, yellow overeye stripe
  • prefers sunny areas, gardens, wild hedges, loose forest edges
  • Food: arachnids, insects, fruits
  • Voice: similar to yellow mocker, much more varied
  • long-distance
  • Likelihood of confusion: yellow mocker

Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus)

male specimen
  • 20cm to 25cm
  • Appearance Male: bright yellow body, black wings, tail and reins, intense red beak
  • Appearance Females: white belly, faded yellow body, black wings and tail, gray reins
  • prefers sunny areas, loose forests, parks, bodies of water, gardens (rarely)
  • Diet: Insects, caterpillars, larvae, berries, fruits
  • Voice: fluting didlioh
  • long-distance
  • very rarely observed bird

Types from S - Z

Sleeping wagtail (Motacilla flava)

male specimen
  • about 17 cm
  • yellow breast, yellow belly, light green back, black tail, dark wings
  • Meadows and fields near the water
  • Food: Insects, worms, arachnids
  • Voice: barely audible
  • short-distance migrants

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)

  • 11cm to 13cm
  • light yellow breast and throat, white belly, green top, yellow eye-stripes, dark green face
  • Deciduous forests, mixed forests, more rarely in coniferous forests with solitary deciduous trees
  • Food: berries, insects, arachnids
  • Voice: melancholy djü, zip singing
  • long-distance

Lemon Canary (Carduelis citrinella)

  • Synonym: lemon siskin
  • 11cm to 13cm
  • Belly and face yellow, green-yellow back, neck and head grey, lightly striped
  • mountain forests with spruces
  • Food: seeds, insects (rare)
  • Voice: short dyit, ziet, dit-dit
  • found in Germany only in the southern mountains

Yellow breast or yellow belly: 2 species of seabirds

Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus)

  • 40cm to 55cm
  • white chest and neck, slightly yellow tint, otherwise brown-grey, black cap
  • open sea, coastal areas
  • Food: small mammals, small birds, eggs, berries, crabs, fish
  • Voice: kriip, kju, glii-eh (courtship), kir (courtship)
  • long-distance
  • only seen on the Baltic Sea or North Sea in autumn or spring

Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)

  • Synonym: Spoonbill
  • 80cm to 100cm
  • golden-yellow breast, rest of the plumage white, head decorated with ornamental feathers, black beak with a yellow tip
  • Wadden Sea, bushes (rare), trees (rare)
  • Food: crustaceans, small fish, insects, mussels
  • Voice: Rare grunts or howls
  • short-distance migrants

Yellow Belly: 1 raptor species

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

  • 25cm to 33cm
  • Appearance Males: orange-yellow belly and nape, blue-grey upper side, black band on the tail
  • Appearance Females: Underside beige, striped brown, upper side grey-brown, banded tail
  • open areas, fields, coastal areas
  • Small birds, voles and other small mammals, insects
  • Voice: shrill kikiki or jijiji
  • Short-distance migrants (hibernates in Germany)

Notice: The Merlin is the smallest falcon species in Europe. Due to its wingspan of 60 cm (males) to 67 cm (females), it is nevertheless quite conspicuous.

frequently asked Questions

How can native birds be attracted?

Native bird species are best attracted if you provide them with food sources and shelter. If you have enough space in the garden, you can plant trees such as hawthorn (Crateagus monogyna), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) or black elder (Sambucus nigra). Bird houses, drinking troughs and wild corners are also suitable to make your property attractive for the animals.

What helps to determine the exact species?

If you're still not sure which bird it is, bird identification apps and books can help. When making your selection, make sure the book or app lists our native species. They present more pictures of the plumage and even provide sound files with the bird calls and songs.

Are the female birds yellow as well?

This is highly dependent on the species. In most cases, the females are colored less conspicuously, since males want to attract attention with their plumage during courtship. For this reason, you should not only pay attention to the color, but also to the other characteristics and the reputation of the animals. There are only a few exceptions, for example the yellowhammer, which is also yellow in colour.

Category:

Animals in the garden