Based on the description provided, it sounds like you are asking about a bird that has predominantly grey plumage but with yellow coloration on the tips of its wings. There are a few different bird species that match this description that could potentially be found in North America.
Grey Catbird
One likely possibility is the Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). The Grey Catbird is a medium-sized songbird that is part of the mimic thrush family. It is native to most of North America. Here are some key facts about the Grey Catbird:
- Adults have a slate grey body, darker grey cap, and black tail.
- Their wings are also grey but the flight feathers are tipped with yellow.
- They get their name from their cat-like meowing vocalizations.
- Length is about 8-9 inches with a wingspan of 10-11 inches.
- Weighs 1.5-2 oz.
- Found in a variety of semi-open habitats including thickets, hedge rows, and forest edges.
- Omnivorous, eating insects, berries, seeds, and some small vertebrates.
- Builds a nest of sticks, leaves, and twigs in dense shrubs or small trees.
- Lays 3-4 eggs that are a light blue-green color with brown spotting.
So in summary, the Grey Catbird is a very common songbird across much of North America that matches the physical description of having primarily grey plumage with yellow wing tips.
Cassin’s Finch
Another possibility is Cassin’s Finch (Haemorhous cassinii), which is a sparrow species native to western North America. Here are some details on this finch:
- Coloration is grey-brown overall with subtle streaking on the underside.
- Like many finches, the wings and tail are blackish-grey.
- Wing feathers have yellow edging, creating a yellow wing bar in flight.
- Has a short forked tail and pointed conical bill.
- Length is 5.5-6.5 inches with a wingspan around 10 inches.
- Weighs approximately 0.6-0.9 oz.
- Found in open coniferous forests, scrubland, and chaparral habitats.
- Eats seeds, buds, fruits, and some insects.
- Nests high up in conifers, laying 3-6 eggs.
So in areas of the western U.S. and Canada, a sighting of a mostly grey finch with yellow-tipped wings could very well be a Cassin’s Finch.
Grey-Crowned Rosy Finch
A third possibility is the Grey-Crowned Rosy Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis), a high-altitude finch species of western North American mountains. Here are some fast facts about this bird:
- Medium-sized finch with pinkish-brown on the body, grey head, wings, and tail.
- Yellow patches at the tips of the secondary wing feathers.
- Very short forked tail.
- Length is 6-7 inches with a wingspan around 12 inches.
- Weighs 0.8-1.5 oz.
- Found above treeline on alpine tundra and rocky slopes.
- Eats seeds and insects.
- Nests in rock crevices or concealed locations on cliffs.
So if seen at high elevations in the western mountains during summer, a grey, yellow-winged finch could very well be a Grey-Crowned Rosy Finch.
Other Possibilities
There are a couple other birds found in North America that are mostly grey with some yellow in their wings that are less likely but worth mentioning:
- American Pipit – A small songbird that breeds in Alaska and Canada. Has buffy wingbars and yellowish wing edging.
- Cedar Waxwing – Medium-sized songbird found across North America. Mainly brownish-grey with yellow tail band and yellow wing edging.
However, these species lack the distinct yellow wing tips specified in the original description. So while possible, they are much less likely to be the mystery bird in question compared to the three species described in detail above.
Identifying the Grey Yellow-Winged Bird
When trying to identify an unknown bird matching the description of being generally grey with yellow tips on the wings, here are some helpful pieces of information to consider:
- Location – Knowing the geographic location and habitat where the bird was seen helps narrow possibilities.
- Size – Was it a larger or smaller bird?
- Exact coloring – Note the main color and any secondary colors on body, wings, tail, etc.
- Beak shape – Size, shape, curvature, and color of beak.
- Behavior – Was it perched? Foraging on ground? Flying? Calling?
- Time of year – Season and date may indicate if migratory or not.
An observational checklist like this can help point towards the most likely species identity when trying to decipher a bird sighting based on limited description alone.
Conclusion
Based on the available details, the Grey Catbird seems the most likely candidate for a predominantly grey bird with yellow wing tips seen in much of North America. However, depending on location and other factors, a couple species of finches such as Cassin’s Finch or Grey-Crowned Rosy Finch could also match the description. Using location, size, behavior, and other diagnostic cues helps confirm the species. This exercise illustrates how even a limited physical description of an unknown bird can often be traced to a most likely species with careful consideration.