Welcome to our visual list of things that are YELLOW in nature!
From the bright yellow of a sunflower to the more dangerous golden tone of the eyelash viper, the color yellow is found everywhere in nature.
No matter where you live or what kind of natural habitats you see around you, there are bound to be at least a few yellow things wherever you look.
Here are some examples of things that are naturally yellow:
1. Acacia Blossoms
Acacia shrubs are the favorite of many at-home gardeners, with their tough branches, olive-colored leaves, and their long, draping clusters of flowers in either a golden yellow or a bright white shade.
2. Amber
Amber isn’t a true gemstone, but rather fossilized tree resin. Nevertheless, it’s a popular choice for jewelry makers around the world thanks to its soft golden glow and translucent, highly reflective qualities.
3. American Goldfinches
As the name suggests, the American Goldfinch is a bright yellow and black bird. However, during the summer, the male bird’s feathers change to an olive green color during the winter months.
4. American Yellow Warblers
Native to North America, South America, and the Caribbean, the American yellow warbler is also known as the “yellow summer bird” both for its cheerful yellow coat and for its summer migratory habits.
5. Apple Snails
Large freshwater snails with both gills and lungs, apple snails are underwater snails, considered a delicacy in some cuisines, with a lemony yellow color along their bodies and a light brown shell.
6. Asian Golden Weavers
The Asian golden weaver takes its name from its golden color as well as from its nests, which it typically weaves out of grasses and other natural or man-made fibers it finds.
7. Banana Slugs
Although they can come in other colors, banana slugs are most often seen with a bright yellow hue. They grow up to nearly ten inches in length and secrete a numbing slime.
8. Bananas
As they get older, they may start to develop some nasty brown spots, but while they’re perfectly ripe, bananas are bright yellow on the outside and a pale yellow beneath their peel.
9. Begonias
Another extremely popular houseplant, the blossoms of the begonia shrub range in color from blue to pink to a vivid red, but the soft and bright yellow flowers are often most popular.
10. Bird-of-Paradise Flowers
The most obvious color on these striking, bird-shaped plants would probably be orange or blue, but part of the “beak” portion of the flower’s shape is a pale, almost white, yellow color. The bright yellow variant above is called “Mandela’s Gold”.
11. Black-Crested Bulbuls
One look at a black-crested bulbul is enough to know where this little bird got its name. Most of its body is yellow, except for a striking black crest on its head.
12. Burmese Pythons
Burmese pythons, typically some of the largest snakes in the world, are massive snakes that can grow up to twenty-three feet in length and have yellow and brown patterned scales. The albino Burmese pythons are bright yellow and white.
13. Canaries
While the wild Atlantic canary is gold and brown in color, it’s the domestic canary that gives rise to the idea of “canary yellow” as a color, thanks to its bright plumage.
14. Cape Weavers
The cape weaver is native to South Africa. The male of the small yellow and brown species builds the nest out of natural fibers, and the female birds test them for quality.
15. Carolina Jessamine Vine
A climbing vine native to the American South, the Carolina Jessamine vine produces large, bright yellow flowers that grow heavily along the vine and give off a sweet, relatively subtle perfume.
16. Chicks
Soft, fuzzy, and oh-so-cute, baby chickens come in a lot of different colors. However, when asked to picture a chick, most of us will immediately picture a little ball of yellow fluff.
17. Chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl is not a form of the beryl mineral. Instead, it’s a different mineral that still contains some beryllium. It has a pale yellow color, is nearly translucent, and is extremely hard.
18. Chrysanthemums
Originally native to East Asia, chrysanthemums or “mums” are cheerful yellow flowers. Despite their sunshine-y appearance, however, in many cultures, yellow chrysanthemums are heavily associated with death, despair, mourning, or slighted love.
19. Citrine
Citrine quartz is actually the result of structural impurities, as “true” quartz will have a cloudy white appearance. The much rarer Citrine quartz, on the other hand, is a pale, smoky yellow.
20. Clouded Sulfur Butterflies
A common butterfly found throughout the United States, the clouded sulfur butterfly can come in yellow or white “forms” although the yellow is the standard, with brown spots on the lower wings.
21. Cockatiels
A small parrot that usually has a gray, white or pale yellow body with a bright yellow head, the cockatiel is the second most popular pet bird in the world, prized for its intelligence.
22. Coreopsis Blossoms
Sometimes referred to as “tickseed” flowers, the flowers of the Coreopsis genus usually have several small, relatively thin petals, which often have a bright yellow or golden yellow hue.
23. Corn
Whether it’s canned, creamed, or just straight off the cob, corn is one of the most noticeably yellow vegetables on the face of the planet with its white silk and yellow kernels.
24. Corydalis
Mildly toxic, these woodland flowers by the name of Corydalis come in many colors, including yellow and purple.
25. Craspedia Blossoms
They may look like dandelions, but craspedia blossoms are native to Australia and New Zealand and grow at nearly every elevation found in those countries.
26. Blond-Crested Woodpeckers
With its striking black and yellow plumage, the blond-crested woodpecker is an instantly recognizable bird.
27. Cucumbers
Most of the cucumbers we see at the store are green, but there are certain varieties called lemon cucumbers that have a bright yellow tone.
28. Daffodils
Daffodils are available in either white or yellow varieties, but the sunshine yellow color of the golden variety is far more iconic.
29. Dahlias
Native to Mexico and Central America, dahlias come in many different colors, including a bright, cheerful yellow.
30. Dandelions
They may have a bit of a bad reputation, but dandelions, with their cheerful yellow blossoms, are actually packed with nutrients in addition to being tough, resilient, and truly beautiful little plants.
31. Daylily Blossoms
The daylily isn’t actually a lily at all, but rather the member of a different flower family. However, its large yellow flowers closely resemble lilies, which is how it got its name.
32. Dutch Yellow Hyacinths
Hyacinth blossoms grow on a spike, which means that several of these small, pale yellow blossoms grow close enough together that they may appear as a single tall, slim, and yellow flower.
33. Egg Yolks
If you’ve ever cracked an egg open to make your breakfast, you know the golden yellow color of an egg yolk, the part of the egg meant to nourish the growing chicks.
34. Eyelash Vipers
A small, venomous viper native to South and Central America, the eyelash viper is named for the scales that grow up and out over its eyes, giving it the appearance of eyelashes.
35. Fire Salamanders
Fire salamanders, small black and yellow amphibians found throughout Europe, typically prefer to live in damp, wooded areas. They secrete a toxin from the skin around their head that can be lethal.
36. Fire
Depending on the fuel source used and the gases present during the blaze, the flames of regular fires will often take on a bright yellow color.
37. Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera daisies are often considered one of the “go to” flowers for floral arrangements. The red, orange, or bright yellow blossoms have large, thin petals and relatively small centers for extra color.
38. Gold
One of the most valuable minerals in the world, gold has long been treasured by ancient civilizations and modern cultures alike, prized for its malleability and its bright, golden color.
39. Golden Palm Weavers
A small bird that lives in Eastern Africa, the golden palm weaver is a bright yellow bird that weaves its nest out of palm fibers, usually while hanging carefully beneath its perch.
40. Golden Poisonous Frogs
They may look awfully cute, but these tiny yellow frogs are lethally poisonous. Touching the frog’s skin can lead to heart failure as the body just stops transmitting signals.
41. Golden Retrievers
One of the most popular breeds of dogs around the world, golden retrievers have changed color over time. While they used to be almost reddish-orange in color, today they’re a pale tan yellowish color.
42. Golden Shield Lichen
Often found growing along sea cliffs due to the wealth of minerals left behind by the waves and various birds, golden shield lichen grows in bright yellow sprays across rocky, sunny areas.
43. Golden Trumpet Trees
The flowers of the golden trumpet tree are often considered to be the national flower of Brazil. During the spring, the tree produces large yellow flowers that are extremely rich in nectar.
44. Goldenrod Blossoms
“Goldenrod” is a colloquial term that usually refers to a wide range of flowers. However, most of these flowers are bright yellow blooms typically native to the United States or Africa.
45. Goldenrod Crab Spiders
Goldenrod crab spiders, like all other crab spiders, crawl sideways like a crab. They are either yellow or white in appearance, and can actually change between these two colors for better camouflage.
46. Graham Thomas Roses
Also known as English climbing roses, Graham Thomas roses are large yellow blossoms that grow along a climbing vine and are a popular choice for gardeners who want to cover a bare trellis.
47. Hellebores Flowers
An evergreen plant that flowers during the winter, the hellebore plant produces star-shaped blossoms that can be pink, white, purple, green or yellow. The plant itself is usually extremely poisonous to most mammals.
48. Hollyhock Flowers
Hollyhock flowers are found throughout Europe and Asia, although they’ve spread to gardens around the world. The purple or red varieties are the most common, but they’re available in a soft yellow.
49. Honeycombs
The hexagonal structure of natural honeycombs provides bees with an efficient way of storing their honey and their larvae.
50. Honeydew Melons
Depending on when you harvest them, the outer rind of a honeydew melon may be green, yellow, or white. The inside, however, should always be yellowish-green.
51. Hoverflies
Sometimes called “flower flies”, hoverflies may look like bees, with their black and yellow segmented bodies and habit of feeding on nectar and fruit juice, but they’re stinger-less and mostly harmless.
52. Lemons
Probably the most famous yellow fruit in the world, lemons are a bright, cheerful fruit with a sour taste and a thick rind covering the pale yellow flesh on the inside.
53. Loquats
Loquats are yellow-orange fruits that originated in China before Japanese scholars during the Chinese Tang Dynasty began to export it back to Japan for study. From there, it spread throughout the world.
54. Mangoes
The outside of these rich, sweet fruits may be yellow or turn from green to red, but the inside of a mango should always be an orange-yellow color.
55. Marigolds
With large, round blossoms that look like soft tufts of fabric or paper, marigolds have always been popular. In the Victorian era, they symbolized grief and despair, despite their cheerful color.
56. Melons
Honeydew melons may be some of the rare “true yellow” melons, but a lot of melons (including watermelon) will develop a yellow-white rind as they mature before darkening to their true color.
57. Mexican Yellow Grosbeaks
The Mexican yellow grosbeak is actually part of the same family as the cardinal, but where those birds are usually red and black, these warbling, seed-eating birds are bright yellow and black.
58. Neotropical Parrots
Neotropical parrots are any one of 150 different species of parrots. They’re usually referred to as “new world parrots” and are found throughout tropical Central and South America.
59. Noble Gases
Some gaseous elements and other chemicals on the periodic table give off a yellow, orange, or reddish-orange glow as they burn, which can explain why some gas fires have a yellow tone to them.
60. Pacific Parrotlets
A small parrot native to Central America and South America that live in the tropical forests. Parrotlets are so-called true parrots. Although they differ in size, their closest relative is the Amazon parrot.
61. Pacific Sea Nettles
A large type of jellyfish, the Pacific sea nettle is technically called the Chrysaora fuscescens and is named after Chrysaor, the son of Medusa and Poseidon in Greek mythology.
62. Panamanian Golden Frogs
Panamanian golden frogs are bright yellow frogs with black spots. They are extremely endangered and may actually be extinct in the wild, although they are often bred in captivity for conservation purposes.
63. Passion Fruits
Passion fruits are actually a type of berry. Depending on the specific variety, their outer rinds may be dark purple or bright yellow, although the yellow varieties tend to be slightly larger.
64. Pears
Pears can be either green or yellow, but no matter what their color, there are more than three thousand varieties of this sweet, mellow fruit being grown around the world.
65. Pineapples
Long a symbol of tropical luxury, the pineapple originally grew in Brazil and Paraguay, but it was brought to Europe in the 1550s and, from there, it spread all over the world.
66. Potatoes
One of the most popular root vegetables around the world, potatoes often have a soft white or golden yellow tint to their flesh, even if there are several darker varieties found worldwide.
67. Primroses
Primroses typically grow in wooded areas, and while the outer parts of the petals may take a wide range of different colors, the centers are almost always a bright golden yellow color.
68. Pyrite
Often known as “fool’s gold”, pyrite is a sharp and brittle crystal that looks a lot like pure gold but is actually a far less valuable blend of iron and sulfur.
69. Ranunculus Blossoms
Ranunculus is the name given to a large family of flowering plants. While the flowers may have many different colors, perhaps the most famous is the bright yellow hue.
70. Saturn
One of the large “gas giant” planets in our solar system, the swirling gases like hydrogen and helium in Saturn’s atmosphere give off a dusty yellow glow that’s clearly visible at night.
71. Siriguela
Also known as “hog plums”, these small fruits range in color from red to different shades of yellow. They taste a lot like plums except for their characteristic slightly acidic aftertaste.
72. Squashes
We’ll talk about some more specific squashes later, but like melons, many different varieties of squash have a pale yellow rind or outer layer as they’re just starting to mature and develop.
73. Starfruits
Technically Carambola, starfruits get their name from their unusually shaped fruits. When you look at a starfruit from the end, the different lobes of the fruit resemble a star.
74. Summer Squashes
Summer squash is actually the name given to several squashes, usually part of the Cucurbita pepo plant group, that are harvested much earlier than traditional squashes, hence their “summer” designation.
75. Sun Conure Parrots
Sun conure parrots, like many other birds in the same family, have orange and yellow feathers that give them a tropical appearance and contrast nicely with the green feathers of their wings.
76. Sunflowers
Sunflowers take their name both from their cheerful, sunny color and from the fact that they turn throughout the day to follow the light that the sun provides.
77. The Sun
Obviously you should never look directly at the sun, but most of us draw the sun in yellow for a reason. The mix of gases that provide the sun’s heat give off a bright yellow glow.
78. Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies
One of the most famous butterflies in the world, the tiger swallowtail butterfly has a striking black and yellow pattern on its wings. The female butterfly may also have several blue spots.
79. Tulips
Tulips, like many of the flowers on this list, can come in a wide range of colors. Nevertheless, the bright yellow tulip blossom is one of the most iconic yellow flowers available.
80. White Asparagus
It may be called white, but white asparagus is usually a very pale yellow in color, since it’s a variation of the typically yellowish green strain of traditional asparagus.
81. White-Tailed Bumblebees
The white-tailed bumblebee is found in many regions throughout Europe and Asia. Its name comes from the distinctive tuft of white fuzz that lies right above the base of this bee’s stinger.
82. Yarrow Blossoms
Native to Europe, Asia, and North America, the yarrow plant used to be a popular choice for stopping bleeding in early medicine. Its white flowers have small yellow centers and pale seeds. They also exist in a pure yellow form.
83. Yellow Anacondas
Found in Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay, the yellow anaconda can grow up to fourteen feet long. It has a yellow and black pattern along its scales and few natural predators.
84. Yellow Aphids
Aphids are small insects that drink the sap of various plants. They come in a wide range of colors, from green to brown to yellow, and are usually considered to be pests.
85. Yellow Armadillos
Otherwise known as the six-banded armadillo, the yellow armadillo is native to South America. It has terrible eyesight, but it’s a super strong digger with a fantastic sense of smell and hearing.
86. Yellow Bell Peppers
Whether they’re green, red, or yellow, bell peppers actually aren’t peppers at all. Instead, they’re a form of berry that were called “pepper” by Europeans who were startled by their spicy nature.
87. Yellow Budgerigars
No one really knows where the budgerigar got its name. What we do know is that with its bright yellow and green coats, the budgie is a beloved pet bird.
88. Yellow Butterfly Bushes
Yellow butterfly bushes are named after their flowers. Because of the slightly drooping petals and the way they seem to hang off the plant, the bright yellow flowers closely resemble resting butterflies.
89. Yellow Common Seahorses
One of the larger seahorses in the world, the yellow common seahorse can grow up to a foot in length with a bright yellow skin. It’s typically very peaceful and somewhat shy.
90. Yellow Diamonds
Clear diamonds are far more valuable, but yellow diamonds are the result of certain contaminants that accumulate during the formation process, resulting in a diamond with a soft, almost golden, light reflection.
91. Yellow Dragon Fruits
Technically the fruit of a type of cactus, dragon fruits often have a tough yellow rind. The inside of the fruit is a creamy white flesh with lots of little black seeds.
92. Yellow Figs
Depending on how long they’re left to mature, yellow figs may actually look a little closer to green figs, but their flesh will still have a golden brown color once they’re opened.
93. Yellow Golden Pheasants
With a pale brown tail and brown wings, the striking plumage of the yellow golden pheasant actually developed as the result of a mutation of the more common red golden pheasant’s plumage.
94. Yellow Irises
With its long, slim leaves and its bright yellow flowers, yellow irises are a popular garden plant. However, they’re also tough enough that they’re actually an invasive species in many non-native areas.
95. Yellow Kiwis
Kiwi fruits are usually fuzzy and brown on the outside and green on the inside, but yellow kiwis or “golden kiwis” are a popular variation that’s full of vitamin C and potassium.
96. Yellow Pansies
Pansies are a hybrid plant that have been a popular mainstay in gardens around the world since their 1812 introduction, with their petals in shades of yellow, purple, red, or white.
97. Yellow Roses
We’ve already looked at some specific breeds of roses that are always yellow, but there are actually several different species of rose that have been bred for that cheerful color.
98. Yellow Sapphires
Sapphires are typically a deep, rich blue in color. However, these semiprecious gems come in other colors, including pink and yellow, with the yellow stones typically being found in parts of Montana.
99. Yellow Tangs
While blue tangs, popularized by Disney’s Finding Nemo, may be more well-known, yellow tangs are members of the same fish family and are common residents in many at-home aquariums.
100. Yellow Tomatoes
You may think of tomatoes as only coming in red and green, but there is a special yellow variety that has a sweeter taste but is still a member of the family.
101. Yellow Topazes
In ancient Roman and Medieval European times, topazes were believed to enhance mental powers, ward off mental illness, or protect against evil intentions. They were often worn as amulets or warding talismans.
102. Yellow-Throated Martens
A small, furry animal that resembles a weasel, the yellow-throated marten has a long, powerful tail and a bright gold and black coat. Its habitat is distributed throughout East and Southeast Asia.
103. Zircon
Zircon is a silicate mineral that has several natural colors, including yellow, blue, red, orange, and brown. The orange, red, and yellow varieties are often referred to as jacinth, after the hyacinth flower.
104. Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos are one of the most popular pet lizards in the world. They are native to Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. They get their name from their eye-catching patterns as many leopard geckos are a pale to bright yellow with darker spots. Leopard geckos are gentle and friendly, and if cared for well, they can live over 20 years in captivity. Like some other lizards, leopard geckos can drop their tail if they are at risk of being eaten or seriously harmed. The tail can grow back after this, but it often doesn’t look quite the same.
105. Wax Beans
If you’ve ever enjoyed a cooled three-bean salad on a hot summer day, you’re familiar with wax beans. They look a lot like a yellow version of green beans, and their mild flavor makes them suitable for use in a wide variety of dishes. For a spicier combination, try them with chorizo. If you prefer a lighter, sweeter flavor, you might enjoy pickled wax beans.
106. Palomino Horses
Palomino horses are sometimes described as being golden, but lighter-colored palominos often have a yellowish appearance. These horses were named after conquistador Juan de Palomino, and the Spanish nobility rode palominos in the 1500s. And more recently, these golden horses found media representation in the form of Roy Rogers’s mount, Trigger. Nearly every horse breed has the capability to produce a foal with palomino coloring. But interestingly enough, half of all registered palominos are Quarter Horses.
107. Golden Delicious Apples
This is probably one of the most recognizable apple varieties, and it’s also known as Yellow Delicious. But it wasn’t deliberately cultivated at first. In the early 1900s, a family farmer found a tree with yellow apples in the orchard. He didn’t remember planting the tree, but he was so impressed with the sweet, crisp flavor of the apples. These apples are sweet enough that they’re pleasant to eat on their own, but they also do well baked into pies or even made into apple cider. Thanks to their popularity, they have also been used in the development of other apple varieties, including Gala and Pink Lady apples.
108. Western Tanagers
These stunningly bright birds are native to the western part of North America. They look somewhat similar to the Scarlet Tanager found in the eastern United States. But while Scarlet Tanagers have red bodies and dark wings, male Western Tanagers have bright yellow bodies, red heads, and dark wings. Females have duller yellow bodies and deep brownish-olive wings. They usually nest in mountain forests where they forage at the tops of trees.
109. Black-Eyed Susans
Though black-eyed susans originated as wildflowers in North America, they’re a popular choice for gardens, too. They look a bit like a cross between a sunflower and a daisy. They get their name from their deep-brown centers, and their delicate petals are a deep golden yellow. They grow well in full sun, and in nature, they can cover entire fields. They can sometimes be found in other color varieties as well. The black-eyed susan is the state flower of Maryland, where the Preakness Stakes is run every year. The winning horse receives a blanket of black-eyed susans in the winner’s circle.
110. Anianiaus
This tiny yellow bird with an unusual name is native to Hawaii, where it inhabits the island of Kauai. As a type of honeycreeper, the anianiau feeds on nectar and on some insects. These birds are facing a decline in population largely due to diseases carried by mosquitos. Mosquitos often carry avian malaria, a deadly disease affecting birds. Rats and house cats also prey on the anianiau, further reducing the population. Organizations including the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation are currently undergoing efforts to control rat and mosquito populations and help protect these birds and other threatened and endangered populations.
111. Crocin
If you like to cook, you probably already know that dishes flavored with saffron tend to have a bright yellow glow, even though saffron itself is red in color. That’s because of the pigment crocin. Crocin is a carotenoid that is deep red on its own. When mixed into a solution with water, it turns bright orange, which is why it turns so many foods a sunny yellow. Crocin has also been shown to have antioxidant effects on the body.
112. Sulfur
As a pure mineral, sulfur is often a beautiful crystalline yellow in color. Unfortunately, its smell doesn’t match its beauty. Sulfur is known for its highly unpleasant, rotten-egg odor. That odor becomes even stronger if the sulfur melts, which it does quite easily. In many cases, sulfur specimens will start to melt even if exposed to body heat. Even warm water can dissolve larger sulfur crystals, and that’s usually how natural sulfur is mined. Miners melt underground sulfur with water, pump it to the surface, and then evaporate the water, leaving only pure sulfur. Interestingly enough, even though its crystallized form is so unpleasant, sulfur is present in all kinds of living tissue and is the third most abundant mineral in the human body.
113. Great Kiskadees
This bird’s unusual name comes from its distinctive call – it seems to sing “kis-ka-dee.” The great kiskadee has a particularly striking appearance. The head is black with two white stripes, the wings are a deep chestnut brown, and the belly is a radiant yellow. These versatile hunters and foragers will dive into water to catch fish, fly to catch insects midair, and move from tree to tree in search of berries. You can find great kiskadees in southern Texas and in South America.
114. Carnotite
Carnotite is an interesting-looking mineral with radioactive properties. It’s not hugely common, but it’s a valuable source of uranium. It typically forms what looks like a crust over sandstone. That crust can be anything from a very bright lemon yellow to a paler yellow-green. Carnotite is an especially strong coloring agent. Even a one-percent concentration on sandstone will still turn it yellow. This mineral is often found in the western United States, and it also appears in Australia, Morocco, and the Congo.
115. Prothonotary Warblers
Plenty of warblers are yellow, but few are as brilliantly yellow as the prothonotary warbler. Even its name is a nod to its incredibly bright color. Papal clerks in the Catholic church are known as prothonotaries, and they wear bright yellow robes. And even though it may seem like a very bright bird would attract predators, brightly-colored male Prothonotary Warblers actually seem to have advantages in the wild. One study found that more colorful birds gained access to better nest sites compared to birds with duller colors.
116. Sleepy Orange Butterflies
The name of these beautiful butterflies suggests that they’re orange, but many sleepy orange butterflies are bright yellow to a deep orange-yellow. And in the summer, the underside of its wings is almost always a very bright yellow. It’s thought that this butterfly got its name from the small dark spots on its upper wings that look a bit like a pair of sleepy eyes. The sleepy orange butterfly has an impressive range, too. You can find these bright insects across much of the southern United States, and they’re also found in Mexico and other parts of South America. They tend to prefer living near waterways or in swampy areas, but you can also find them in fields and valleys.
117. Hardy Yellow Ice Plants
The hardy ice plant has a very descriptive name, but it’s not descriptive in the way you might think. It sounds like it’s a plant that can stand up to very cold temperatures. But in reality, “ice plant” is meant to describe the way that the leaves and flowers shimmer as if they’re covered in ice. The plant is hardy, though. It’s a succulent that lasts throughout the year, and it blooms through the fall. Hardy ice plants come in a range of colors. And while the most common one is purple, the yellow variant is especially beautiful. Its center and petals are all a deep, sunny yellow. Ice plants make great ground covers, and the hardy yellow ice plant is a great way to add a shock of color to any landscape.
118. Yellow Tree Monitors
Many lizards in the wild are dull in color, but the yellow tree monitor is an exception. These fantastically bright, dinosaur-like lizards are native to Indonesia, but they are sometimes kept as pets by advanced reptile hobbyists. They can grow to be over 2.5 feet long, and with good care, they can live for 15 years in captivity. Many monitor lizards are known for being wary of people, but captive-bred yellow tree monitors tend to be good-natured and curious if they’re handled gently and treated well.
119. Leucanthemums
These beautiful, star-like flowers are commonly called “Shasta daisies.” And though they come in a variety of colors, one of the most stunning is the “goldfinch” variety, which is the deepest yellow leucanthemum. These flowers look almost like a mix of a daisy and a dandelion. They have bright yellow centers and slightly less bright petals. The ends of the petals are uneven, making each bloom look like a shining star. Leucanthemums grow well in full sun, and the long-lasting blooms make them a great plant to add to a garden.
120. Bananaquits
Plenty of birds have humorous, unusual names, and the bananaquit is definitely one of them. Bananaquits are part of the tanager family (even though they look a lot like warblers), and they live in the warmer parts of South America. They are also part of the bird subfamily of Coerebinae, which includes the famous finches studied by Darwin. Bananaquits are very small birds, and since they cover a wide range, their colors may vary slightly depending on their locations. Most have very bright yellow bellies with softer, muted-gray backs. They all have slender, sharp beaks with a slight curve – perfect for their mostly-nectar diet.
121. Little Yellow Butterflies
These aptly-named small yellow butterflies are even bright yellow in caterpillar form. You can find little yellow butterflies in the southern U.S. and parts of Costa Rica. They commonly fly in open areas, feeding on nectar. Although their wings are almost entirely yellow, you’ll be able to see a few darker spots on the undersides when the wings are closed. Adult butterflies only live up to 10 days, and they lay eggs one at a time on plants, preferably partridge peas.
122. Saffron Finches
These bright, exotic-looking finches are members of the tanager family. They can be found in many parts of South America, where they are sometimes colloquially called “canaries.” Male saffron finches are a bright saffron yellow all over, with females being a slightly duller yellow with olive-colored wings. Saffron finches tend to be very comfortable around people and will frequently build their nests under roofs or otherwise near houses. They are sometimes kept as caged birds, too.
123. Yellow Lupine
Yellow flowers can add a burst of energy and cheer to any situation, and yellow lupine certainly does so. This striking plant is native to parts of southern Europe. Its flowers grow in a swirl-like fashion around a tall stalk that can reach up to 30 inches in height. But even though it’s beautiful, lupine is also useful for a couple of reasons. Its flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects, and its nitrogen-fixing properties can improve the fertility of poor soil. In fact, in some cases, lupine is used on a larger scale to improve soil quality.
124. Anatolian Shepherds
If you live in the United States, you probably refer to these large, yellow-white dogs as Anatolian Shepherds, but they have a different name in their native Turkey. Kangal Shepherd dogs are named after the town of Kangal in eastern Turkey. Starting in the 1960s, the American Anatolian Shepherd has developed as a distinct breed from the Turkish shepherd and guard dogs that originally gave them their names. There’s still plenty of debate as to whether the US or Turkey has the “real” breed, but either way, the end result is a hardworking, loyal, and yellow-gold dog.
125. Blond Hair
There are lots of different shades of blond or blonde hair, but all the different shades have one thing in common: a distinctly yellow undertone that differentiates truly blond hair from pale brown hair. To the ancient Greeks, blond hair was a symbol of youth and strength, and many of the beautiful young men in Greek mythology are described as having blond or red-blond hair. To the ancient Romans, blond hair was associated with the Germanic tribes, and while it still was considered highly attractive, it carried an air of the danger or wild strength of the Northern “barbarians”.
126. Blood Plasma
The blood that pumps through our veins is red, no doubt about it. However, blood plasma is a key component of our blood that contains all of the blood cells and some important blood proteins, and it has a definite yellowish color to it. When it comes to donating blood, O- is the most valuable blood type, as every other blood type can receive a transfusion from an O- donor. The most valuable plasma type, on the other hand, is usually AB, since AB plasma doesn’t have any antigens that might react badly with the recipient’s bloodstream.
127. Cheetahs
Well-known and admired for centuries due to their incredibly fast pace, cheetahs have long captured humanity’s attention with their spots as well as their speed. While cheetahs tend to have dark spots over most of their body, the underlying coat can range in color from a deep golden color to a yellow so pale that it almost looks white. “King cheetahs” have larger spots and thick black stripes running down their backs, but their undercoat is still a creamy yellow-brown color that clearly marks these strange-looking cats as part of the cheetah family.
128. Chihuahuas
Named after the Mexican state with the same name, Chihuahua dogs are some of the smallest dogs in the world. Although they can come in many colors, the most common coloring for these little dogs is some shade of yellowish brown, often described as “buff” or “tawny”. Due to their small size and their constant popularity, Chihuahuas are sometimes prone to various health conditions, although they aren’t any more at risk than any other line of purebred dogs. They’re also known for being very tough for their size, willing to stand up to much larger dogs in order to protect their family.
129. Climbing Mantellas
The climbing mantella is a small frog endemic to Madagascar, which means that it’s found only in Madagascar and nowhere else. It likes to live in tropical forest regions, and its coloring provides a unique form of camouflage for that environment. The climbing mantella has a dark underbelly, arms and legs, but its dark appearance is marred by a bright splash of yellow on its back and head. Rather than expose the frog, this actually helps it blend in with the fallen leaves and vegetation that make up its home.
130. Yellow Eyes
Only about five percent of humans have amber eyes, which means that the golden-brown or golden-green shade is pretty rare in humans. Human eyes rarely, if ever, are found with a true “yellow” shade, but amber is about as close as we can get to that bright color. In animals, however, yellow eyes are far more common. Several breeds of dogs and cats have dark yellow eyes, and birds like owls and pigeons often have yellow eyes that reflect the light and help them to see better.
131. Gram Flour
Gram flour is made from a special type of chickpea that has been dried and ground into a fine flour. It’s an extremely popular ingredient throughout the Indian subcontinent, featuring heavily in Indian, Nepali, Burmese, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan foods. Gram flour is gluten free and higher in proteins than most flours, but it is also slightly higher in carbohydrates when compared to many different processed flours. Regardless of its nutritional content, however, gram flour earns its spot on this list due to the bright golden color that sets it apart from the more iconic bleached flour that some of us are more familiar with.
132. Hormuz Island
Hormuz Island is located off the Iranian coast and is renowned for the reddish iron oxide compounds, called ochre, that are found throughout the island and on its many beaches. While the ochre itself has a distinctive red-orange tint, the beaches and some of the surrounding waters tend to show an orange-yellow hue. In addition to its unique mineral composition, Hormuz Island is known for the “Valley of the Statues”, where water and wind have carved a series of rock formations into bizarre and strangely familiar shapes.
133. Land Iguanas
As the name may suggest, the Galapagos land iguana is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and can live up to nearly seventy years in the wild. They were originally described by Charles Darwin as “ugly animals” with “a singularly stupid appearance”, but these yellow and black lizards are actually relatively intelligent and social animals. Land iguanas are primarily herbivores, and they particularly enjoy the yellow flowers of the Portulaca family, which grow in abundance among their rocky burrows. Overall, land iguanas are docile, relatively friendly animals that have been heavily endangered for years but are slowly starting to recover from their losses.
134. Lesser Yellownapes
The lesser yellownape is actually a type of woodpecker that lives throughout most of Southeast Asia and India. While most of its body is a cheerful green color that helps it blend in with its jungle surroundings, the lesser yellownape takes its name from its crest. Both males and females of the species have a bright yellow crest that runs from the top of the head to the base of the neck, like a mohawk. They also have a white stripe beside their eyes and a blackish tail.
135. Mustard Flowers
If you’ve ever spread mustard on a sandwich or a hot dog before, you’re probably pretty familiar with the sharp yellow color, but that color can be found in the mustard plant as well, not just in the seeds that are used to make the popular condiment. Most varieties of mustard plants have bright yellow blossoms that are actually a cluster of tiny flowers growing close together. While the seeds may look black or dark brown, they show that same bright yellow shade when cracked open.
136. Pattypan Squashes
The pattypan squash may have a strange name, but all of its alternative titles are equally unusual. Sometimes known as the scallop squash, peter pan squash, sunburst squash, or schwoughksie squash, this small squash has a flat, frilled appearance that makes it look a little bit like a flying saucer. Technically, pattypan squashes can be found in a wide range of colors. They’re “summer squashes”, which means that they’re harvested before they get a chance to fully develop their color. However, the most common shade is a pale yellow that ranges towards white or green.
137. Petrol
We’re using the Commonwealth name “petrol” here, but depending on where you live, you may be more familiar with the names “gasoline”, “premium motor spirit”, or “benzin”. No matter what you call it, the fuel source that powers most of our engines is actually a pale shade of green-tinted yellow. Petrol is relatively lightweight and extremely flammable, both of which combine to make it an excellent fuel source for most internal combustion engines. However, this same liquid is widely acknowledged to have a serious impact both on the human body and the greater climate in which we all live.
138. Turmeric
With its pungent, almost bitter flavor and its bright golden orange or yellow coloring, turmeric is a staple spice in many different types of cuisine around the world. It has also long been used as a source of color for making various dyes, and continues to be used in this manner even today. The largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world is India. In fact, India exports turmeric every year at a value of 100-200 million U.S. dollars.
139. Yellow Ladybugs
When you picture a ladybug, you probably imagine the classic black, white, and red beetle that’s most often described by that name. However, red isn’t the only option for these tiny insects. Many ladybugs can be found in some shade of red-orange or even yellow. For many years, people believed that the spots on a ladybug’s back were a marker of how old the bug was. Ladybugs are actually born with all of their spots already in place, but they tend to be the same color as the rest of their wings at first and only darken with age.
140. Yellow Leaves
Depending on where you live, you may be lucky enough to enjoy the seasonal sight of fall foliage. As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, the leaves of many deciduous trees turn from green into a brilliant red, orange, or yellow hue. Although the leaves may seem to be changing color, what they’re actually doing is revealing their color. During the spring and summer, chlorophyll is the most abundant pigment in most plants, but it starts to break down in the winter due to a lack of sunlight. As the chlorophyll breaks down, the yellow xanthophylls and orange beta-carotene pigments are revealed, and the leaves take on their typical fall colors.
141. Yellow Pulse
Yellow pulse is sort of a catch-all term. The word pulse refers to any collection of edible seeds, including many different types of grains, peas, or beans. As a result, the phrase yellow pulse refers to any of these groups with a yellow shade. These can include lentils, chickpeas, lupins, pigeon peas, or cowpeas.
142. Yellow Tabby Cats
Like “chestnut” in horses or “blue” in dogs, “tabby” isn’t a breed of cat so much as it is a pattern or color found in cats of many different breeds. Typically, tabby is used to refer to a striped, speckled, spotted, or banded cat with an m-shaped marking on its forehead. The tabby coat pattern is one of the oldest coat varieties in the world, with records of tabby cats dating back to well before the medieval period. Any cat with a yellow undercoat (as with yellow tabby cats) and a darker collection of stripes and spots is proudly carrying on that historical tradition.
143. Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets aren’t actually native to the United States, but they’ve quickly become the dominant wasp species in that nation. Known for their aggressive nature and ability to repeatedly sting any attackers, yellowjackets are part of the wasp family and share their characteristic yellow and black coloring. While a yellowjacket sting might be painful, it doesn’t actually pack that much venom and is really only dangerous to individuals who are allergic or who have been unlucky enough to be stung repeatedly.
Yellow in the Natural World
Next time you’re out on a walk or just driving around your neighborhood, keep your eyes peeled for some extra examples of one of the happiest colors found in nature. Unlike other colors like blue or purple, yellow is relatively plentiful in nature, so there’s a high chance you may spot something that we missed. If that’s the case, we’d love the opportunity to add more yellow things to our list.
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