Yellow birds come in many varieties. The common canary is a type of finch and goldfinches particularly have had many spiritual meanings from ancient times. Spirituality is a personal process of finding meaning in one’s life. Yellow birds symbolize the sun, good luck, and protection. They have much meaning for many faith traditions. Christians associate them with Jesus’ death and rebirth. Yellow birds also symbolize springtime and new beginnings.
Spiritual Things
Spirituality is a personal process to find meaning in one’s life.
“Religion” is sometimes seen as more organized, part of some institution with a bunch of rules. Some will find spiritual satisfaction with religion as well. But, spirituality is more open-ended.
Many things have spiritual significance. Birds often have sacred meanings, including gods taking the form of birds. Yellow birds specifically have much spiritual meaning.
Types of Yellow Birds
Birders will tell you that there are lots of yellow birds out there. One website lists twenty-five varieties, including yellow warblers, summer tanagers, and yellow-throated vireos.
The yellow bird that often comes to mind is the canary. They are named after the Canary Islands. Canaries are finches. Goldfinches are often very symbolic.
Christian Symbolism
Birds have special meanings in the Bible, including the dove that symbolizes the baptism of Jesus. The goldfinch often symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus.
The story goes that a goldfinch flew over Jesus while he marched to his death wearing a crown of thorns. The bird, which normally seeks food among thistles and thorns, tried to take the thorns away from the suffering Jesus.
Blood dropped on the bird’s head, staining its feathers red. This legend led to goldfinches to be a popular part of Christian art. Goldfinches also became associated with the Resurrection.
New Beginnings
Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead during the springtime. Spring overall is associated with rebirth and new beginnings. It also symbolizes life and fertility.
Yellow birds symbolize all of these things. New beginnings provide new opportunities. They symbolize hope and a promising future. They would be a good symbol for weddings too.
The birds are special Christian symbols and overall signify piety and holiness.
Spiritual Meanings In Other Faith Traditions
Yellow birds symbolize the sun, which many ancient religions worshiped for its life-giving qualities. African cultures believe goldfinches are messengers of the sun.
They came from the skies, which were close to the heavens, where gods reside.
Native Americans believe they bring good luck and prosperity. And, what do these things bring? Things like happiness, celebration, and an overall feeling of goodness.
Gold worldwide is prized for its association with wealth. Not surprising the Chinese think yellow birds are lucky too. A yellow bird is a reason to hope for a promising future.
Yellow birds are also symbols of protection, promising good health, and healing the sick. Leonardo Da Vinci spoke of a belief that a goldfinch turned away from a dying man, but if they kept a constant vigil, the person would survive.
Songbirds
Yellow birds are particularly honored for their beautiful colors and singing.
Yellow symbolizes light, warmth, and energy.
Songs symbolize life, happiness, and love. You sing when you are full of passion. The birds sing to attract mates and to show their desire. Yellow birds are a symbol of music.
Some Other Spiritual Meanings
Yellow birds have a lot of spiritual meanings. People have found them to mean a range of things.
They symbolize spiritual enlightenment. A yellow bird has a special connection to nature, the gods, and/or Jesus Christ. Why would it not symbolize obtaining spiritual insight?
The association with spring and rebirth also leads people to understand them to symbolize youth and childhood. They are small birds and have a certain childhood innocence.
Yellow birds also can symbolize letting go. A ritual can be performed in which the birds are released. While watching them fly away, we can let go of our fears and problems. They also can be used in weddings to symbolize the couple letting go of their old lives, starting anew.
Tweety: Spiritual?
I love the Looney Tunes. There are so many goofy characters, each with a distinctive quality. Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and all that rest. And, some of them are downright naughty.
Like Tweety Bird, who is always worried about the darn old pussy cat. He is a bit too gleeful when Sylvester gets hurt. Tweety is a yellow bird; is he a spiritual symbol?
Tweety is kept in a cage. Canaries are popular pets, including to hear their song. But, we are also confining a bird naturally able to fly free. A caged yellow bird has its own symbolism.