The Black-and-White Birds of North America

You can find black-and-white birds everywhere. If you live out west, heading to the grocery store often means seeing at least one Black-billed Magpie. And in the east, looking out a window or walking through the park all but guarantees glimpsing a White-breasted Nuthatch or Black-capped Chickadee. Around water, loads of ducks and wading birds sport the plumage, and at the beach, all of our gulls and terns come in some combination of black, gray, and white. All together, North America is home to dozens of bird species that feature black-and-white plumage, including the aptly named Black-and-white Warbler and almost all of our woodpeckers. 

What gives? Why are there so many birds with black-and-white feathers? Black and white feathers, together or separate, can serve a variety of purposes, from camouflage to feather strength (more on that later). They also make bird identification easier for us: Unlike in more colorful species, most black-and-white birds maintain their plumage year-round. Get to know some of North America’s most common black-and-white birds below, and be sure to visit each species’ bird guide page to learn more.

How to Identify 4 Common Backyard Birds With Black-and-White Feathers

Many everyday species have black-and-white plumage. These four are regularly seen around homes and at feeders. 

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 

A tiny, round songbird of the northern United States, the Black-capped Chickadee is a feeder favorite and easy to identify by its chickadee-dee-dee call. Often confused with its southern cousin the Carolina Chickadee (see below), this bird has wider white edges on wing feathers and more white on cheeks. 

White-breasted Nuthatch  (Sitta carolinensis) 

Another common backyard visitor across much of the country, the White-breasted Nuthatch, can be spotted making quick trips back and forth between feeders as it caches seeds for later. With gray backs and black caps, these birds also frequent suet blocks and are known for spiraling down trees as they forage. 
 

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  

The Downy Woodpecker is the most common and widespread U.S. woodpecker, found in woodlands, parks, and at feeders and suet blocks across the country year-round. Males have a red patch on the backs of their heads, but both sexes have largely the same plumage otherwise. 
 

Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) 

Often confused with the much smaller Downy, the Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-size woodpecker covering the same range and looking virtually identical to its more diminutive counterpart. While Hairy Woodpeckers also visit suet feeders, they are not as common as the Downy. To quickly tell the two apart, remember: A Downy fits in a pint glass; a Hairy does not. 
 

More Common Black-and-White Birds in the United States  

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 

Easily confused with the Black-capped where ranges overlap, the Carolina Chickadee is a resident of the southeastern United States over to Texas with slightly darker wings that lack the Black-capped’s white highlights. 

Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

A neotropical migrant, this heavily striped bird is common and easy to observe on trunks and low limbs as it travels north each spring to breed throughout Appalachia, parts of the Midwest, and much of the boreal forest. 

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 

This little sparrow’s prominent black-and-white head stripes sharply stand out against brown body plumage, making for an easy ID. Found throughout much of the U.S. during winter and parts of the west year-round or in breeding months.

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)

A dapper warbler of the west, the male Black-throated Gray sports an almost entirely black-and-white fit save for a splash of yellow in front of each eye. Exclusively favors juniper and pine-oak woods during summer. 

Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

It’s hard to miss this large, long-tailed corvid of the mountain west. Found year-round in open areas and urban settings, its black-and-white feathers are hard to miss—but a closer look reveals blue-green iridescent wings. In California, it’s replaced by the Yellow-billed Magpie, which, yeah, has a yellow bill.

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)

Any visitor to summer beaches along the eastern United States and Gulf Coast will recognize this gull’s cackle. Its all-black head and bright red mouth also help differentiate it from equally abundant Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. 

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

One of our most recognizable birds across the country, the Canada Goose’s black neck and head with white cheeks define this large, brown-bodied waterbird, which can be found pretty much anywhere, from city centers to rural waterways. 

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

A winter resident all along the U.S. coast and in far northern lakes during summer months, this iconic species is easy to identify by its oblong shape, dagger bill, monochromatic plumage, and haunting call that carries far. 

Less Common Black-and-White Birds 

Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) 

Another neotropical warbler, this one has a mostly gray back, a white belly with black side streaks, and a prominent black cap. High-pitched squeaks from the treetops signal its presence, but light-colored legs are the key ID clue.  

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

A summertime resident of Canada’s boreal forest and the northern midwest and eastern states, including south through Appalachia. This medium-size bird has  a heavy beak for cracking seeds; black oil sunflower seeds will bring them to feeders. Females are brown with none of the male’s tidy black, white, and red wardrobe. 

Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 

A dashing woodpecker of eastern farmlands and open woods, this species sports bold black-and-white plumage and a can’t-miss-it crimson head. Rarer than it once was, family groups stick to the same territories unless habitat is lost. 

Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)

This quirky, clear-eyed woodpecker sports a white face and black head, back, and bib. A red cap provides the final accent.. Found throughout western California and Oregon and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Family units keep acorn granaries that can last for generations.

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Known for its jingle-jangle song, the male of this species sports white plumage on its back and black on the underside. Found in summer fields across northern states. Females and non-breeding males are entirely brown with some streaking. 

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) 

Sitting atop long red legs, this wader’s white underside and black back and head create a striking silhouette on mudflats and shorelines. Found year-round along southern coasts and and inland bodies of water, especially out west, in summer. 

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

The smallest of the toothed-billed mergansers, the male Hooded has a black head and large crest featuring a bright-white spot when extended. Found throughout much of the country during various seasons and largely prefers freshwater. 

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Male Buffleheads have white bodies, black wings, and disproportionately large black heads that feature a large white spot and can show  iridescence in sunlight. Find them diving across most of the country and along the coasts in winter. 

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

The largest gull in the world, this behemoth lives year-round on the shores and waterways of the eastern United States over to the Great Lakes. Adults are white-tailed and -headed with black backs and lipsticked beaks; immatures look completely different and require more technical identification.

Other North American Birds With Black-and-White Plumage 

Birds with limited ranges or that are less common and even rare. 

Songbirds 

Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
Like other chickadees but more gray with a black cap and distinct white eyebrow. Ranges throughout the west.

Bridled Titmouse (Baeolophus wollweberi)
Year-round resident of Arizona and New Mexico down into Mexico, this tiny gray bird features a black crest and white face with a clean black face outline, or bridle.

Woodpeckers

Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
Resides in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin; black-and-white plumage and red throat and forehead strikingly similar to Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) 
Looks so similar to Red-naped that it was once considered the same species. Summer resident of northern states and winters in the south.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates borealis)
Appearing entirely black-and-white even up close, this threatened and rare species lives in pine woodlands throughout the south.

White-headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus)
A furtive woodpecker of California and the Pacific Northwest (PNW) with a black body, white head, and on males, a rear red head patch. 

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
North America’s largest extant woodpecker, with a big red crest, black body, and black-and-white facial pattern. Found throughout the eastern U.S. and PNW. 

Seabirds 

Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Found only off the coast of Maine and Canada during breeding months. Unmistakable, with an orange-and-yellow bill, black back, white face and belly. 

Dovekie (Alle alle)
Black-backed, white-bellied, and stub-billed, this small seabird of the far northeast looks and flies like a wind-up toy. 

Razorbill (Alca torda)
Large, upright auk of the far northeast with a black back, white bell4, and a neat white line on its thick black bill. 

Common Murre (Uria aalge)
Strikingly similar to the Razorbill but abundant along the western coast from Alaska to California. Also found along the eastern coast of Canada. 

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
An angular summer resident of far northern states and the East Coast, this black-capped, white-bellied ocean hunter sports an orange bill with a noticeable black tip. 

Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Our largest tern, with a heavy, orange-red bill. Found year-round along southern coasts; breeds in widely scattered sites and migrates throughout the country. 

Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)
Medium-size tern with black-tipped gray wings, white breast and neck, and a spiky black cap. Year-round Gulf Coast and southern Atlantic Coast resident. Orange bill. 

Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)
Medium-sized and sleight. Also spikey-capped and similar in appearance to Royal and Sandwich terns. Visitor along much of the California coast, mainly in summer and fall.  Yellow-orange bill. 

Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
A flat-headed, black-capped tern. Commonly along the Gulf Coast year-round, and  the Mid-Atlantic coast during summer. Bill is long and black, with a yellow tip. 

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)
Similar in appearance to the Laughing Gull, this summer resident of the northern great plains prefers fields and farms to oceans and beaches. 

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
Found year-round on eastern and Gulf Coast beaches, this stout shorebird is unmistakable, with a black head, long orange-red bill, and bright yellow eyes.

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)
A solid, tern-like seabird with a black-tipped, heavy orange bill. Seen skimming the surface with its beak or resting on beaches and sandbars throughout the Gulf and Atlantic coast year-round and summer. Also widespread along California coast and at Salton Sea. 

Waterfowl and Wading Birds 

Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
Almost always seen in large flocks, this large, mostly white goose with black wing tips can be found during migration and winter in coastal waterways, freshwater marshes, and agriculture land across the country. 

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
An unmistakable, very large white bird with black-tipped white sing and  found in flocks on freshwater ponds and marshlands across the western United States during the summer. Seen along coastal beaches and lowlands during winter. 

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Males are black-backed with white chests and sides. Puffy black head with round white spot in front of yellow eye. Found throughout North America during the winter and northern states/the northeast in summer.

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
Similar to the male Common Goldeneye but with white spot on face crescent-shaped, not round. Most readily found in the Pacific Northwest year-round and to the south in winter.

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
White-sided with a black breast, back, and tufted head, males have two white stripes on a gray bill. Found throughout the south and West Coasts during winter; breeds in the Rockies and northern states up across Canada. 

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Another white-bodied, black-breasted and -headed duck with yellow eyes. Common throughout the south and along the West Coast during non-breeding months; ranges throughout the Rockies and western Canada in breeding. 

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
Extremely similar to the Lesser save for a bigger bill and rounder head with a green sheen versus the Lesser’s purple iridescence. Found in large flocks along both coasts during non-breeding months. 

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
The Cackling Goose looks like a stubby-billed, miniature version of the Canada Goose. Winters oin the Pacific states, plus parts of the Southwest and the Texas coast.  

Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
This long-billed, large wading bird has a white body with black-tipped wings and a featherless black head. Found year-round in parts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina; some found in southern Texas from Mexico during summer. 

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
A medium-size wading bird with gray wings and underbodies, black backs and heads, and a bright red eye. Stalks the shallows and shore at dusk. Found year-round on all coasts and across the country during breeding months. 

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
Similar in size to Black-crowned but with a gray body and distinct black-and-white striped face pattern, with a yellowish-white cap and trailing plume. Furtive but common year-round in Florida and the south when breeding. 

Where to See Black-and-White Birds

So many different types of birds have black-and-white plumage that there is no one place that will allow you to see them all—or even a majority. Rather, consider the family or group of birds a target species falls within, and then head to the corresponding habitat. For example, many terns, gulls, and other shorebirds have black-and-white plumage, so the beach or shoreline is your best destination to see those types of birds. If you’re looking for woodpeckers, head to your nearest forest or a park and listen for drumming—or just put a suet block up in your yard.

For resident songbirds such as titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches, they are all common backyard visitors that will happily show up to a home with birdfeeders. Otherwise, you can also run into them walking around parks, woodlands, or your own neighborhood. For seasonal black-and-white songbirds, when is just as important as where. Neotropical migrants such as the Bobolink, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Gray, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak will only be visible during spring and fall throughout for most birders but become summer residents in certain states that fall within their breeding range. So, particularly during migration, keep a close eye out—you might even spot something rare.

How to Attract Black-and-White Birds to Your Yard or Home 

1. Provide a variety of feeders, from hanging to hopper, to attract rarities like grosbeaks and winter favorites like chickadees and titmice. Suet feeders will attract all types of woodpeckers, as well as songbirds. 
2. Provide a bird bath, ideally with a drip to attract even more species. 
3. Plant native plants. Discover which plants are the best for the birds near you with our native plants database. 
4. For more fun facts and tips on feeding the birds you love, get our Joy of Birds email and Audubon magazine by becoming a member. 
    

FAQs About Black-and-White Birds 

Q: What is the most common black-and-white bird in North America? 

Any one of our numerous chickadee species—Black-capped, Carolina, or Mountain—might qualify, but Black-capped is probably the most abundant and commonly seen, especially in yards and at feeders. Out West, the Black-billed Magpie is another common black-and-white bird that is more conspicuous than a tiny chickadee, seen from parking lots and roadsides to parks and open woodlands. 

Q: Why are some birds black-and-white? 

Black feathers and white feathers can each serve a different purpose. If a bird is all white, that’s usually for camouflage in winter. And if a bird has black feathers, it can either be for camouflage or because the darker feathers have more melanin, making them stronger and more durable. But a bird with black-and-white plumage usually has this combo—called countershading when white below and black on top—as an anti-predation tactic, confusing predators. 

Q: Why do so many seabirds have black tops and white bottoms? 

These birds are probably the best example of countershading. From below, to a potential predator in the sea, a bird floating on the surface can easily get lost against the sky and the constantly shifting reflections. And from above, a dark back helps a floating bird blend into the murky waters around them, providing protection from avian predators on the wing. 

Q: What black-and-white bird has red on its head?

Several woodpeckers species have black-and-white plumage with a red patch on their heads, but only one has prominent patches of white on their wings set against jet-black feathers and complementing a bright red head: the Red-headed Woodpecker. The other option is the Pileated Woodpecker, but its red is confined to the bird’s crest and, on males, the cheek. 

Q: What is a big black-and-white bird? 

The Black-billed Magpie is a large, common bird across the Western United States. Magpies—both Black-billed and Yellow-billed—feature entirely black heads and breasts, white bellies and upper wings, and iridescent lower wing feathers. At the beach, a Laughing or Black-backed Gull could be the answer. And of course, omnipresent Canada Geese, with their black becks and heads with white cheeks, alway, ahem, fit the bill. 

Q: How do I identify a black-and-white bird I just saw? 

See the above species and their key field marks above, and for more help identifying black-and-white birds, search our free online bird guide or download our free Audubon bird guide app.

Related Bird Guides and Resources 

Browse More Birds by Color 

Discover the Amazing Migration Journeys of Your Backyard Birds

Audubon's Bird Migration Explorer let's you follow the migratory paths of more than 450 bird species  Check out the Scarlet Tanager's below—and head on over to the platform to check out the travels of your other favorite migrants! 

Attract Birds to Your Home With Native Plants