What midwest bird has bright yellow at the bottom tip of it's feathers?

Question

I just saw him this afternoon flying away, and all I could tell is that maybe it was a somewhat brownish bird, but all I really saw was the bright yellow on the tips of the tail when he flew away. Have no idea about the beak, or anything. Is there a bird expert out there that has an idea what kind of bird this could be?

Answer 1

It was a t*t Swallow.

Answer 2

Your best bet is to visit a local Audubon Society site or find a local field guide and look through the images.  If you can remember or figure out the size of the bird, and where it was before it flew, that could help you in making a positive identification.

After birding for years, I still get excited sometimes and forget to check all the field marks when I see an interesting bird.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Yellow Warbler's are all yellow underneath.  Small birds, about 5" long.  In woods, brush and the edges of the two.

A Northern Flicker (I heard the powers that be are thinking of changing the name back to Yellow-Shafted Flicker, don't know if that was done yet) has yellow on the underside of the tail.  It's a bigger bird about 12.5" long.  If you saw the top of the bird, where the tail meets the body is a very noticeable white spot which you would have remembered.

Usually near open water where it feeds, the all white bodied Snowy Egret has black legs and bright yellow feet.  When flying, the feet can easily be seen sticking out the back under the tail.  Maybe that is what you saw.