46 Examples of Black & White Birds (A to Z List +Pictures)

Examples of black and white birds include American Coot, American Oystercatcher, Barn Swallow, Black Phoebe, and Black Skimmer.

Black and white birds are a beautiful sight, but what do they signify? The meaning of these birds varies depending on culture and tradition.

In some cultures, black and white birds represent the idea that it is good in everything. Other cultures associate them with death or unhappy events to come.

Some say that these colors symbolize balance in life while others believe it has something to do with Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

Examples of Black And White Birds

1. American Coot

Scientific Name	Fulica americana
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	the northern United States and southern Canada
Diet	Omnivore

The American Coot is a large, black and white bird that can be found in wetlands across North America. They have a characteristic red bill and are excellent swimmers.

2. American Oystercatcher

Scientific Name	Haematopus palliatus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	intertidal areas and adjacent beaches
Diet	Carnivore

The American Oystercatcher is a large shorebird that can be found on both coasts of North America.

They are easily recognizable by their black and white plumage, and they have a long, orange beak that they use to pry open oysters and other shellfish. These birds tend to live in coastal areas where there is plenty of food to be found.

3. Barn Swallow

Scientific Name	Hirundo rustica
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa
Diet	Carnivore

One of the most easily recognized black and white birds is the Barn Swallow. These birds are found all over the world and can be identified by their long, forked tail and dark blue throat.

They typically build their nests in barns or other sheltered areas, making them easy to spot.

4. Black Phoebe

Scientific Name	Sayornis nigricans
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	the western United States
Diet	Carnivore

This is the most widespread of all black and white birds, breeding in Canada, Alaska, and across North America.

5. Black Skimmer

Scientific Name	Rynchops niger
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Florida
Diet	Carnivore

The black skimmer is a large, imposing bird that can be found near the coast in North America and South America.

It has a distinctive black and white plumage, with a long, thin beak that it uses to skim the surface of the water for food.

Related Article: Can Black Skimmer Diver?

6. Black-and-White Warbler

Scientific Name	Mniotilta varia
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	northern and eastern North America
Diet	Carnivore

The Black-and-White Warbler is a small North American songbird. It has a black head, white underparts, and two thin white stripes on its wings.

7. Black-Billed Cuckoo

Scientific Name	Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Worldwide
Diet	Omnivore

The black-billed cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that can be found in North America. It has a long tail and a crest on its head and is mostly black apart from its white underside.

8. Black-Billed Magpie

Scientific Name	Pica hudsonia
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Europe, Asia, and western North America
Diet	Omnivore

The black-billed magpie is a fairly large bird, and this species can weigh up to two pounds. It has long tail feathers that are 25 inches in length, while the body itself measures around 18 inches without them.

They have an average lifespan of 15 years when kept as pets, although some may live for longer than 20 years.

9. Black-Capped Chickadee

Scientific Name	Poecile atricapillus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	North America
Diet	Omnivore

This small songbird is found in North America and is easily recognized by its black cap and white cheeks. They are common in deciduous forests and woodlands, where they eat insects, seeds, and fruit.

10. Black-Crowned Heron

Scientific Name	Nycticorax nycticorax
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	wetlands across North America
Diet	Omnivore

This is a medium-sized bird that can be found in most of the world’s temperate countries.

They have been known to live up to 30 years, and grow between 39-55 centimeters long. They are carnivores who eat rodents, fish, frogs, and insects.

The black crown separates this species from other heron types.

11. Black-Necked Stilt

Scientific Name	Himantopus mexicanus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	coastal southern California and western Mexico
Diet	Carnivore

The Black-Necked Stilt is a wader found in North and South America. These birds are easily identified by their long, black legs and white body. They are usually seen near water, where they feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small fish.

12. Blackpoll Warbler

Scientific Name	Setophaga striata
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Canada
Diet	Omnivore

This small songbird is found in North America and can be identified by its black head, white breast, and buff-colored back. It breeds in the northern parts of the continent and winters in Central and South America.

13. Black-throated Gray Warbler

Scientific Name	Setophaga nigrescens
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	western North America
Diet	Omnivore

The black-throated gray warbler is a small songbird that can be found in open woodlands and scrubland. It has a mostly black body with white stripes on its head, chest, and belly.

The bird gets its name from the black throat patch it displays during the breeding season.

14. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Scientific Name	Polioptila caerulea
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	deciduous forest
Diet	Carnivore

The blue-gray gnatcatcher is a small North American songbird. They are usually around six inches in length and have a long tail. They are found in open woodlands and gardens, where they feed on insects.

15. Bushtit

Scientific Name	Psaltriparus minimus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	western North America
Diet	Carnivore

Bushtit is an extremely common black and white bird, found in habitats across North America. They are small birds that feed on insects and spiders during the summer months but will supplement this with seeds as autumn sets in.

16. Carolina Chickadee

Scientific Name	Poecile carolinensis
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	United States
Diet	Omnivore

This little bird is most commonly found in the eastern part of North America. They are typically about six inches tall and have a distinctive call that sounds like “chick-a-dee”.

17. Common Loon

Scientific Name	Gavia immer
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Alaska and much of Canada south
Diet	Carnivore

The common loon is a large member of the Gaviidae family, found in North America and parts of Europe. They are easily identifiable by their black and white plumage, red eyes, and long bill.

These birds inhabit lakes and other bodies of water, where they dive for food such as fish or insects.

18. Dark-eyed Junco

Scientific Name	Junco hyemalis
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Canada
Diet	Omnivore

This small North American bird is mostly dark gray or brown, with a pale throat and breast. The sexes are similar in appearance, but juveniles are lighter colored. They breed throughout much of the continent, from Alaska to northern Mexico.

19. Downy Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Picoides pubescens
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	North America from Alaska to Florida
Diet	Omnivore

Downy Woodpeckers are small birds with black and white feathers. Their name comes from their soft, fluffy-looking appearance that somewhat resembles a cotton ball or downy pillows.

They have long tongues which they use to feed on insects hidden inside of trees. Although not particularly aggressive by nature, the Downy is fiercely territorial when it comes to defending its territory from other woodpeckers.

20. Eastern Kingbird

Scientific Name	Tyrannus tyrannus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	South America
Diet	Carnivore

Eastern Kingbird is a medium-sized songbird found in South America. It has a black head, tail, and wings, with a white underbelly. These birds are territorial and can be quite aggressive when defending their territory.

21. Eastern Towhee

Scientific Name	Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	the Southeast and Midwest
Diet	Omnivore

The eastern towhee is a large sparrow found in eastern North America. It has a characteristic black and white patch on its head, as well as a reddish-brown back.

22. Eastern Wood Pewee

Scientific Name	Contopus virens
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	the eastern United States
Diet	Omnivore

This is one of the most common Eastern birds. It breeds in temperate areas and spends winter in warmer climates further south. The call can be described as a short ‘pee-a’.

They are not often seen far from their nesting sites, which include swampy forests but also sometimes parks or back gardens.

23. Gila Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Melanerpes uropygialis
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	the southwestern U.S
Diet	Omnivore

The Gila woodpecker is a species of bird generally found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It can grow to about 16 inches tall with a large head and stout body and has black and white feathers (hence its name) as well as red eyes.

24. Hairy Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Leuconotopicus villosus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	South-east Asia, Equatorial Africa and South and Central America
Diet	Omnivore

The hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized black and white bird that is found in North America. They have a characteristic red cap on their head, as well as a long black beak. These birds can often be seen raiding trees for insects, and they are known to make a loud “kuk” call.

25. Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Dryobates scalaris
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam
Diet	Omnivore

The ladder-backed woodpecker is found in Asia, and is identifiable by the black and white stripes on its back. It gets its name from the two ladders on its back, which are used for camouflage.

26. Loggerhead Shrike

Scientific Name	Lanius ludovicianus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	United States
Diet	Carnivore

The loggerhead shrike is a small bird that can be found in open habitats across North America. It has a black head, white underparts, and a brown back. The loggerhead shrike typically eats insects, but will also eat small birds or rodents.

27. Mute Swan

Scientific Name	Cygnus olor
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Pacific Northwest
Diet	Omnivore

The mute swan is the largest bird found in the UK and can be easily identified by its white body and black neck. They are often seen swimming on lakes and rivers, and can also be heard making a ‘honking’ sound.

28. Northern Flicker

Scientific Name	Colaptes auratus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Alaska to Nicaragua
Diet	Omnivore

The Northern Flicker is a large woodpecker that can be found in many parts of North America. They are easily identified by their black and white barred feathers, which help them camouflage into the bark of trees.

Unlike most other woodpeckers, the Northern Flicker has a long tongue that it uses to feed on ants and termites, rather than insects.

29. Northern Mockingbird

Scientific Name	Mimus polyglottos
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	United States and in Canada and Mexico
Diet	Omnivore

This bird is very common in North America and often lives near people. It has a wide range of songs that it can make up on the fly to defend its territory or attract mates.

30. Pileated Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Dryocopus pileatus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	Canada
Diet	Carnivore

The Pileated Woodpecker is a large bird that can be found in the forests of North America. These birds are known for their distinctive white stripe on top, as well as their red crest and black wings.

31. Red-bellied Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Melanerpes carolinus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	South America and Southeast Asia
Diet	Omnivore

This medium-sized woodpecker is found in eastern North America. The adult has a black head, back, and wings, with a white stripe down the sides of its neck. The belly is red, hence the name. They eat insects and fruit.

32. Red-headed Woodpecker

Scientific Name	Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	South America and Southeast Asia
Diet	Omnivore

The red-headed woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that can be found in parts of the United States and Canada. They have a black back, white underparts, and a striking redhead. These birds are usually seen climbing up trees in search of food, which includes insects and fruit.

33. Red-naped Sapsucker

Scientific Name	Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Type of Animal	Bird
Range	South America and Southeast Asia
Diet	Omnivore

This bird can be found in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. It is a woodpecker which means it has to eat insects that are under tree bark or inside decaying trees.

These types of birds have specially adapted tongues with tiny barbs on the end to help them get at their food. Their size also helps because they can easily access these food sources.

More Examples Of Black And White Birds

• Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
• Royal Tern
• Snow Goose
• Spotted Towhee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Warbling Vireo
• White Pelican
• White-Breasted Nuthatch
• White-headed Woopecker
• Willow Flycatcher
• Wood Stork
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
• Yellow-rumped Warbler