What bird is black on top and bottom and yellow from cheek to tail along sides or wings?
This is quite a challenge Evelyn. There are only a few of species of Orioles that reach Southern California. The only regular oriole species, not only in California but in the United States, that has any consistent and reliable “yellow” is Scott’s Oriole (Icterus Parisorum). Also consider the Hooded Oriole (Icterus Cucullatus). However, it must be taken into consideration that what you were looking at was not an oriole at all. And, furthur still, it may have been a true rarity or accidental. Consider other birds such as the Western Tanager, the Audubon’s Oriole (an unknown species to California) and the Yellow Grosbeak (to my knowledge another unknown species to California.) Good luck.
