Symbolic meaning of yellow bird

The Pennsylvania Dutch use the Distelfink on some of their hex signs. It is a stylised rendition of a gold finch (yellow bird) inside of a circle, often accompanied by hearts and flowers. It is a symbol of good fortune and wards off evil.

The canary (another yellow bird) is usually interpreted as a happy symbol. Connected with freedom and intellect. It's old use as a barometer for air quality in the mines still gives it connotations of testing and self-sacrifice. If depicted in a cage it symbolises entrapment, prisoners and sometimes unhappiness. I have also seen a flying yellow bird used to represent sexual ecstasy.