The news of his death comes from family members on social media, reports Variety.
As rhythm guitarist and later bassist, he played with three of rock history's greatest guitarists in the British pioneering band: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.
"I had not met him for a while, I wish I had done so. Rest in peace Chris", writes Page, who in the late 1960s became world-famous in Led Zeppelin.
Yardbirds had several hits in the mid-1960s, including "For your love", "Heart full of soul" and "Over under sideways down". The group's music developed from blues rock to pop-scented and later psychedelic rock.
In 1992, Dreja was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the group.
The same year, Yardbirds reunited, including Dreja. But he left the band in 2012.
Chris Dreja was 79 years old.
