By Finding a black bird with a white stripe on its wing can help you figure out what kind of bird it is. Each type of bird has its traits and habits. One common bird fitting this description is the red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). These birds are medium-sized with glossy black plumage and distinctive red or yellow shoulder patches, visible when their wings are spread.
The red-winged blackbird likes to live near wetlands, marshes, and open areas, where it can eat seeds, bugs, and small animals. Their melodious calls are a familiar sound in many North American habitats. The tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolour) and the red-breasted blackbird (Sturnella militaris) are two other species in North America that have similar colours.
30 Types of Black Bird with White Stripe on Wing
Eurasian Magpie
The Eurasian Magpie, whose formal name is Pica pica, is a beautiful bird species in the Corvidae family, which includes crows. Recognizable by its distinctive black and white plumage, it has long been a subject of fascination and folklore. This bird can be found all over Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It does well in various environments, such as forests, parks, and cities.
Measuring around 18 to 20 inches in length, the Eurasian Magpie possesses a robust build and a long, graduated tail. This looks very interesting because the head, wings, and tail are all shiny black feathers, while the belly, shoulders, and primary feathers are all glossy white. The animal also has a solid black bill and sharp, clever eyes.
Eurasian Magpies are highly adaptable omnivores, feeding on a diverse diet that includes insects, small mammals, seeds, fruits, and scraps scavenged from human settlements.
Black-and-white Warbler
The Black-and-white Warbler, whose formal name is Mniotilta varia, is a small but unique bird species living in Central America during the winter and moving through North America during the breeding season.
Sporting a striking black-and-white striped plumage pattern, this warbler is easily recognizable among its counterparts. Measuring around 4.5 to 5 inches in length, it boasts a slender, elongated body with a long, slightly curved bill and a tail often held upright. This stands out in the trees where it lives thanks to the bright black and white lines on its head, back, wings, and white underside.
The Black-and-white Warbler likes to live in old woods, preferably with lots of undergrowth. It hunts along tree trunks and branches, using its particular bill to get bugs and spiders from cracks in the bark and leaves. This animal is known for the unique way it hunts for food: it circles tree trunks and branches like a creeping spider.
White-winged Chough
Corcorax melanorhamphos is the formal name for the White-winged Chough. It is a unique bird species that lives in Australia. Apart from its bright red eye, this medium-sized bird has shiny black feathers with white spots on its wings that make it stand out.
With a length of around 40 to 45 centimetres, it has a long, slender bill and a slightly curved shape. You can often see these birds in small to medium-sized groups, feeding on the ground in open forests, grasslands, and heathlands in the southeast of Australia.
Birds with white wings are very social birds that live in groups called flocks of clans. These groups are made up of breeding pairs and their offspring from past years. Within these groups, individuals engage in cooperative breeding behaviours, with all members participating in nest building, incubation, and feeding of the young.
Black Vulture
The Black Vulture, scientifically known as Coragyps atratus, is a large bird of prey found predominantly in the Americas. These vultures are easy to spot because of their black feathers and long wings.
They are essential to ecosystems because they eat dead animals and help clean the environment. They are typically around 25 to 32 inches long with a wingspan of about 4 to 5.5 feet.
Black Vultures are very social birds often found in groups, flying high in the sky, or sitting on buildings and trees. They have strong, hooked beaks adapted for tearing through tough flesh, allowing them to access their primary food source of carcasses. Despite their name, Black Vultures have a grayish-black head, dark feathers, and a silvery-white spot that can be seen on the tips of their wings when they fly.
American Oystercatcher
The American Oystercatcher, scientifically known as Haematopus palliatus, is a distinctive shorebird found along the coastlines of North and South America. With its striking appearance characterized by a long, orange-red bill, black head, and white underparts, it is easily recognizable. These birds typically measure 17 to 21 inches long and have a wingspan of approximately 32 to 39 inches.
American Oystercatchers inhabit sandy beaches, mudflats, and coastal marshes, where they forage for food primarily by probing the sand with their bills. They eat bivalve mollusks like clams and oysters, which they open with their substantial bills. They might also eat worms, crabs, and small fish.
During the breeding season, American Oystercatchers form monogamous pairs and build their nests on sandy or gravelly beaches, often near dunes or vegetation for protection.
The female typically lays two to four eggs, which both parents incubate for about 24 to 27 days. When they hatch, the chicks are precocial, meaning they can leave the nest immediately. However, they still need their parents for food and safety.
Black Scoter
The Black Scoter, scientifically known as Melanitta americana, is a species of sea duck found primarily along the coasts of North America. The feathers of these birds are mostly black, with a shiny iridescence on the males and a flatter brown color on the females. The length of their bodies is about 18 to 22 inches, and the width of their wings is about 30 to 34 inches.
Black Scoters are commonly observed in coastal marine habitats, including bays, estuaries, and open ocean waters. People often see them diving for their food, primarily crustaceans, mollusks, and watery insects. Their diving behavior allows them to access prey at various depths below the water’s surface.
During the breeding season, Black Scotts migrate to freshwater lakes and ponds in northern boreal forests for nesting. The female usually builds a nest on the ground near water out of grasses, sticks, and down feathers to keep warm. She lays a clutch of about 5 to 9 eggs, which she incubates for around 27 to 31 days.
White-winged Tern
The White-winged Tern, scientifically known as Chlidonias leucopterus, is a graceful bird found in wetlands and marshes across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The moniker comes from the white spots on its wings that make it stand out, especially when flying. The length of these birds’ bodies is about 9 to 10 inches, and the width of their wings is about 24 to 28 inches.
White-winged Terns are highly agile flyers, often seen swooping low over water surfaces in search of small fish, insects, and crustaceans. They have a buoyant flight and are known for their elegant aerial maneuvers as they catch prey on the wing.
During the breeding season, White-winged Terns form colonies in shallow wetlands or islands in freshwater lakes. The females lay two to four eggs in nests made of floating plants or on mud platforms. Each parent takes turns keeping the eggs warm and feeding the chicks when they come out.
Black Turnstone
The Black Turnstone, whose formal name is Arenaria melanocephala, is a unique shorebird that lives along the North American coastlines. Its name is derived from its habit of flipping over stones and debris to uncover food. There are about 8 to 9 inches of these birds to cover their wings, which are about 18 inches across.
Black Turnstones have beautiful black and white feathers. Their head, neck, and breast are all dark black, while their belly and undersides are white. During the breeding season, their plumage may exhibit more intricate patterns of black and white, particularly on the back and wings.
Magpie-lark
The Magpie-lark, also known as the Pee-wee or Mudlark, is a distinctive bird species native to Australia. Contrary to its name, it is not connected to magpies or larks. The Magpie-lark is about 9 to 12 inches long, and its bright black and white feathers make it easy to spot.
This bird has a black head, back, and upperparts, with a white belly and underparts. It sports a unique look because it holds its long tail straight up while it sits. The Magpie-lark is known for its beautiful, far-reaching song, which you can often hear when they are breeding.
Pied Butcherbird
The Pied Butcherbird is a unique bird species that lives in Australia and is known for its beautiful and varied song. Despite its name, it is not related to actual butchers, nor does it engage in predatory behaviour typical of the name.
The Pied Butcherbird is about 10 to 12 inches long and has a beautiful black-and-white feather design. Its wings and tail are black, while its belly and chest are white. The bird’s hooked bill makes catching insects, small reptiles, and even small animals easy.
These birds are commonly found across various habitats, including woodlands, forests, and urban areas throughout Australia. They are known for being very territorial and often sing from high places to mark their location and attract mates.
White-winged Triller
The White-winged Triller is a small bird species found across various regions of Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. There are about 15 centimetres between these birds, and they are known for their unique looks and sounds.
They possess predominantly black plumage with white patches on their wings, particularly prominent during flight. The male White-winged Triller has a beautiful black-and-white pattern on its feathers, while the female has a less busy design.
These birds inhabit various habitats, including woodlands, forests, savannas, and grasslands. They are often found in open areas with scattered trees or shrubs, where they forage for insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. The white-winged thriller is known for catching prey on the fly, thanks to its quick flight.
White-winged Crossbill
A small bird in the finch family, the White-winged Crossbill, is known for having bills that are crossed uniquely. These birds measure around 14 centimeters in length, with a stocky build and short tail. White-winged Crossbills have white spots on their wings that make them stand out. These spots contrast with their general reddish-brown feathers.
White-winged Crossbills inhabit coniferous forests across North America, where they are often found in spruce, fir, and pine trees. They get seeds from the cones of these trees with their crossed bills. The seeds are a big part of their food. Because of the way their bills are built, they can get to seeds that are tightly sealed within the cone scales. This gives them a unique way to eat.
Pied Currawong
The Pied Currawong is a distinctive bird native to Australia, known for its striking black and white plumage and melodious calls. These birds are about 44 to 51 centimetres long and have shiny black feathers that cover most of their bodies. Their wings and tail have white spots that make them stand out.
Found across various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and urban areas, Pied Currawongs are adaptable birds that thrive in diverse environments. With their strong, hooked bills, they can catch a wide range of things, including bugs, small mammals, birds, and food.
Pied Currawongs are highly vocal birds and their melodious calls are often heard echoing through the Australian landscape. They have many different calls, such as complicated songs and loud, unique calls that they use to talk to each other in their social groups.
Black-collared Barbet
The Black-collared Barbet is a colourful bird species native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is known for its striking appearance and distinctive call. The Black-collared Barbet is easy to spot because of its bright feathers and distinctive marks. Its bill is thick and slightly curved, and it eats fruits, insects, and small snakes. Its length is usually between 20 and 22 centimeters.
This bird species is characterised by its black head and collar, which contrast with its predominantly green body and wings. It also has bright red spots on its face and throat that make it look even more striking. The Black-collared Barbet is often found in woodland areas, savannas, and scrublands, where it forages for food in trees and shrubs.
White-winged Black Tern
The White-winged Black Tern is a beautiful bird species that stands out because of its black and white feathers and unique flight patterns.
Found in wetlands and marshy areas across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, this tern species stands out with its sleek body, long wings, and deeply forked tail. The White-winged Black Tern has white spots on its wings, which stand out more when it flies, as its name suggests.
During the breeding season, the White-winged Black Tern uses complex courtship behaviors, such as aerial shows and calls, to find a mate and set up a breeding territory. Birds usually build nesting sites in shallow wetlands or along the edges of lakes and rivers. In these places, pairs build simple nests out of mud and plants.
Mascarene Martin
The Mascarene Martin, also known as the Mascarene swallow or Tuit-tuit, is a bird species endemic to the Mascarene Islands in the Indian Ocean, namely Mauritius and Réunion. This little bird moves through the air and is in the swallow family. It has the usual swallow features, like a forked tail, pointed wings, and a smooth body.
In terms of look, the Mascarene Martin has glossy blue-black feathers on its upper body and a white belly that stands out. This can catch insects in the air because its tail has deep forks that help it move quickly through the air. Many people have seen this species dart and swoop over open areas, looking for food. Its flight is known for being smooth and quick.
Bobolink
The Bobolink is a small migrant bird in the Blackbird family that is known for its striking looks and unique sounds. When they are ready to breed, male Bobolinks have beautiful black-and-white feathers with a buff-coloured head. Females, on the other hand, sport a more subdued brownish hue with streaks for camouflage.
During the breeding season, these birds can be found in open fields, meadows, and pastures all over North America. They make their cup-shaped nests on the ground in tall grasses.
Bobolinks are highly migratory birds, embarking on long-distance journeys from their breeding grounds in North America to wintering grounds in South America. Their bubbling, rhythmic song is a feature of the spring and summer in the areas where they breed. It is often called happy and musical.
Eastern Kingbird
The Eastern Kingbird is a medium-sized bird in the flycatcher family known for its unique look and behavior. With sleek black plumage contrasting sharply against a white belly and tail, along with a distinct white band on its tail, the Eastern Kingbird is easily identifiable. During the breeding season, these birds can be found all over North America.
Eastern Kingbirds are skilled aerial hunters, primarily feeding on flying insects such as flies, bees, and wasps. They are known for their aggressive territorial behavior, fearlessly defending their nesting sites against larger birds and even predators like hawks and crows. During the breeding season, male Eastern Kingbirds put on elaborate aerial shows to find mates and mark their area.
Eastern Kingbirds build cup-shaped nests in trees or bushes out of sticks, grass, and plant fibers. They often line their nests with feathers or fur for extra warmth. Both males and females take part in incubating the eggs and caring for the young.
Common Tern
This is a thin seabird with an elegant look called the Common Tern. It lives all over the world, especially near the coasts during the breeding season.
The Common Tern is easy to spot because it has a smooth white body, grey wings, and a black cap that goes from its bill to the back of its head. These birds live near the coast, on beaches, sandbars, and rocky shores, when they are breeding. They make nests in shallow depressions or by scraping out small holes in the sand or rocks.
Common Terns are quick fliers and skilled dives. They eat mostly small fish, crustaceans, and insects that they catch by diving from the air. They are known for their migratory behavior, undertaking long-distance journeys between breeding and wintering grounds, often spanning thousands of miles.
Black Phoebe
People often see the Black Phoebe, a small songbird with black feathers and a habit of constantly wagging its tail, along the edges of rivers and streams in the western United States and parts of Mexico.
The Black Phoebe is easy to spot because it has a smooth black body with white undersides and white spots on its wings. It likes to hang out near water, like in streams, ponds, and marshes, where it hunts for insects and other small animals.
This species is known for being happy and confident. It often sits on low trees, rocks, or fences to avoid being seen while it looks for food. Despite its predominantly insectivorous diet, the Black Phoebe occasionally supplements its meals with berries or fruits when insects are scarce.
During the breeding season, these birds build cup-shaped nests out of mud, grass, and other plants. They usually connect these nests to vertical surfaces like walls, bridges, cliffs, or walls.
White-winged Diuca Finch
The White-winged Diuca Finch, also known as the White-winged Cinclodes, is a small bird species native to South America, particularly found in the Andean regions of Chile, Argentina, and Peru.
In the Emberizidae family, it has feathers that are a mix of white and gray, with clear white spots on its wings. These feathers are both subtle and striking. This finch likes to live in grasslands, rocky slopes, and places with a lot of bushes at high elevations. There, it hunts for seeds, insects, and other small animals.
The White-winged Diuca Finch is known for its agile and acrobatic behaviour. It is often observed hopping and flitting among the vegetation in search of food. These finches build cup-shaped nests out of grasses and plant fibres. They hide in thick greenery or cracks in rocks during the breeding season, which usually happens in the Australian spring and summer.
Spotted Towhee
The Spotted Towhee, a member of the Emberizidae family, is a medium-sized bird found across western North America, from Canada to Mexico. These birds are known for their striking looks.
Their feathers are dark black with big white spots on their wings and back. Their sides and undertail coverts are rusty. Their distinguishing features include bright red eyes and a long, thick, dark bill. The female towhees exhibit a slightly duller appearance than the males.
These birds like to live in thickets, brushy areas, and the edges of forests. They hunt for insects, seeds, berries, and small foods on the ground. Their foraging behavior involves scratching and hopping, often flicking leaf litter aside to uncover hidden prey.
Black-naped Oriole
The Black-naped Oriole is a colorful and unique bird species in the Oriolidae family. Its beautiful looks and musical calls make it easy to spot. These orioles live in woods, gardens, and cities in Asia. They are distinguished by their shiny black feathers that contrast with their bright yellow bodies and the black patch on the nape of their necks that gives them their name.
Black-naped Orioles primarily feed on fruits, insects, and nectar. Their special mouths have a brush tip that helps them extract nectar from flowers quickly. To find food, they hop from branch to branch, probe flowers for nectar, and catch bugs in the air or by pulling them off of leaves.
Black-naped Orioles build their cup-shaped nests out of grass, leaves, and fibers, often sewing them into the forked branches of trees. The breeding season lasts from March to July. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates for about two weeks before they hatch.
Helmeted Friarbird
The Helmeted Friarbird is a distinctive member of the honeyeater family found primarily in Australia and New Guinea. It stands out for its unique appearance and vocalizations. This bird is easy to spot because it is black and white and has a unique growth on its bill that looks like a casque. It lives in woods, forests, and urban gardens, among other places. It eats nectar, fruits, and insect.
The Helmeted Friarbird interacts with a variety of whistles, warbles, and chattering sounds. Its calls and vocalizations are known for being melodious. The sounds these birds make are very important for finding mates, protecting their area, and talking to each other in their social groups.
The Helmeted Friarbird eats a variety of foods. It looks for nectar by prodding flowers with its special tongue, which has a brush-tipped end. Fruits and insects are also part of its diet, and it usually catches its prey in the air or from the leaves.
Black-winged Kite
The Black-winged Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey that lives in many places around the world, such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The bird is easy to spot because its wings have black tips, and its feathers are white, even when it’s flying or sitting on a branch.
This bird typically inhabits open grasslands, agricultural fields, marshes, and scrublands, where it hunts for prey with remarkable agility. Its diet primarily consists of small mammals like mice, voles, and shrews, as well as insects and occasionally small birds.
The Black-winged Kite is known for being a great hunter. It often hovers in the air, looking at the ground for possible food before swooping down to catch it. Breeding pairs of Black-winged Kites construct nests using twigs, grass, and other plant materials, often situated high in trees or on power poles.
White-winged Dove
The White-winged Dove is a species of bird known for its distinctive appearance and melodious cooing calls. This medium-sized dove is mostly found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Its feathers are grayish-brown, and there are white spots on its wings that stand out when it flies. These doves like to live in dry or mostly dry places, like grasslands, scrublands, and cities, where they can find food on the ground.
White-winged Doves are very important to the movement of seeds and the health of ecosystems because they eat mostly seeds, grains, flowers, and sometimes insects. Because they eat a lot of crops that people have grown, they are sometimes helpful and sometimes annoying to farms.
Male White-winged Doves use courtship behaviors like cooing calls and aerial shows to attract females during the breeding season, which usually lasts from spring to summer.
Black-winged Stilt
The Black-winged Stilt, also known as the Common Stilt or the Pied Stilt, is a unique swimming bird with long, thin legs and striking black and white feathers. This species lives in a variety of wetland areas around the world, such as marshes, mudflats, and shallow coastal seas. It is very good at finding food in both freshwater and saltwater.
Black-winged Stilts are about 35 to 40 centimeters long and have wingspans of 75 to 85 centimeters. They are known for how beautiful and graceful they look as they wade through shallow water in search of food. They use their long, thin bills to dig in the mud or water for small fish, crabs, invertebrates, and insects.
Depending on where they live, Black-winged Stilts have different breeding seasons. During these times, they perform courtship shows that include complicated flight patterns and calls.
Black Tern
The Black Tern, scientifically known as Chlidonias niger, is a striking bird species belonging to the family Laridae, commonly referred to as gulls and terns.
With its sleek black plumage and distinctive silver-grey wings, this medium-sized tern is known for its graceful flight and aerial agility. When they are breeding, adult Black Terns get a black cap on top of their heads that stands out against their white undersides.
These birds are primarily found in North America, particularly across the northern United States and Canada, where they inhabit freshwater wetlands such as marshes, ponds, and shallow lakeshores. They are also known to move to South America for the winter, where they spend time in similar water areas.
Black Terns are opportunistic feeders, preying on small fish, insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates. One unique way they hunt is by “hovering,” which means they float above the water and then suddenly dive down to catch their food.
Loggerhead Shrike
The Loggerhead Shrike, whose formal name is Lanius ludovicianus, is a small bird of prey in the family Laniidae, which is why people call them “shrikes. Despite its diminutive size, this bird possesses a fierce hunting prowess and distinctive hunting habits.
Found primarily in North America, the Loggerhead Shrike occupies a wide range of habitats, including grasslands, shrublands, and open woodlands. There is a reason why this animal is known for liking to sit on high places like fence posts, trees, or lines and watch its surroundings for possible prey.
Despite lacking the powerful talons of raptors, this bird has adopted a unique hunting strategy. This kills small vertebrates like insects, lizards, and even small birds and animals by pricking them with thorns, barbed wire, or other sharp things.
During the breeding season, Loggerhead Shrikes construct cup-shaped nests made of twigs, grass, and other plant materials, often hidden within dense vegetation.
African Pied Wagtail
The African Pied Wagtail, scientifically known as Motacilla again, is a small passerine bird native to Africa, commonly found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, wetlands, and urban areas. Wagtails and pipits are in the same family as this bird, Motacillidae.
The African Pied Wagtail is easy to spot because of its black and white feathers. Its body is thin, its tail is long, and its bill is thin. They have black upperparts that stand out strongly against their white underparts, and when it’s looking for food on the ground, its tail often moves uniquely.
This bird is known for its agile and active foraging behavior, primarily feeding on insects and other small invertebrates found in the soil or water. It can be observed darting and hopping along the ground or perching on low branches or rocks, constantly on the lookout for prey.
During the breeding season, African Pied Wagtails build cup-shaped nests out of grass, leaves, and other plant parts. They usually put these nests in shady places, like near thick greenery or artificial structures.
Final Thoughts
The African Pied Wagtail is an interesting bird species that is known for its beautiful looks and busy foraging habits. It lives in many different types of habitats in Africa and is very important to the balance of the ecosystem because it keeps insect numbers in check.
But, like many other bird species, it is in danger because people are destroying its environment and doing other things. To make sure this cute bird stays alive, conservation efforts must be made to protect its native habitats and stop the environment from getting worse.