There are a number of birds that have black and white plumage. Small songbirds like chickadees, titmice, and juncos display these colors, as do larger birds like magpies, mockingbirds, and pied currawongs. To identify a specific bird based on this description, we need some more details about size, location, behavior, and other distinctive features. Broadly speaking, some good candidates for black and white birds of small size include the Black-capped Chickadee, Juniper Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, Eurasian Magpie, Northern Mockingbird, and Willie Wagtail. Let’s explore each of these birds in more depth.
Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a small North American songbird that displays black and white plumage. It measures 12-15 cm in length and weighs about 10-14 grams. The most distinctive feature is its black cap and bib, with white cheeks and neck. Its back and wings are soft gray, while its underparts are white with buffy sides.
Chickadees are acrobatic and energetic birds. They are found year-round across much of Canada, Alaska, and the northern and eastern United States. Their range extends further south along higher elevations in mountain ranges. Chickadees prefer mixed woodlands and forests with deciduous trees. They are frequent visitors to backyards and readily come to bird feeders.
The Black-capped Chickadee eats insects and spiders in the summer. Seeds and berries become a bigger part of its diet in winter. It often hangs upside down or hovers to glean food from branches and twigs. Chickadees are known for their “chick-a-dee-dee” call and whistled song “fee-bee” song. They are very social and travel in flocks outside of breeding season.
So in summary, the Black-capped Chickadee matches the description of a small black and white bird in North America. Its distinct plumage and behaviors make it a likely identification.
Identification Tips
- Size ranges from 12-15 cm in length
- Black cap and bib contrast white cheeks
- Soft gray back and wings
- White underparts with buffy brown sides
- Acrobatic forager, often hangs upside down
- Loud and frequent “chick-a-dee-dee” call
- Found year-round across much of Canada, Alaska, and northern/eastern U.S.
Juniper Titmouse
The Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) is a small songbird of the American southwest that exhibits black, white, and gray plumage. It measures about 13-15 cm in length and weighs 11-15 grams. The head is gray with a darker forehead and crest. The face is plain grayish-white. The back and tail are gray, while the underside is dull white. The flanks are buff-colored.
Juniper Titmice inhabit pinyon-juniper woodlands in arid mountain ranges. Their range centers on southeastern California, southern Nevada, western Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. They feed on insects, spiders, seeds and berries. Agile climbers, they forage on branches and twigs of juniper and pine trees. Their call is a raspy dit-dit-dit-dit. They nest in cavities in trees or rock crevices.
The Juniper Titmouse overlaps in range with the similar Oak Titmouse and Plain Titmouse. However, the oak species has an olive-gray back while the plain species lacks any crest or forehead marking. So the Juniper Titmouse’s distinct combination of crest, gray-white face, and gray back help distinguish it. Its restriction to pinyon-juniper habitats also aids identification.
In summary, the Juniper Titmouse is a small gray, white and black bird of the U.S. southwest that inhabits pine-juniper forests. Key field marks are its crest, plain gray-white face, and buffy flanks.
Identification Tips
- Length 13-15 cm, weight 11-15 grams
- Gray crest and darker forehead
- Plain grayish-white face
- Gray back and tail, dull white below
- Buffy flanks
- Forages on branches and twigs while climbing
- Raspy call dit-dit-dit-dit
- Found in pinyon-juniper woodlands of U.S. southwest
Dark-eyed Junco
The Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) is a common and widespread sparrow that displays black, white, and gray feathers. It measures 12.5-18 cm long and weighs about 18-30 grams. The male junco’s head, breast, and back are grayish-black, while its belly is white. The sides are pinkish-brown. The white outer tail feathers flash conspicuously in flight. Females are similar but tend to be more brownish.
Juncos breed across Alaska, Canada, and the western and northeastern U.S. They winter widely across most of North America. Preferred breeding habitat includes open coniferous forests, mountain meadows, and mixed woodlands. Wintering birds frequent backyards, parks, and woodland edges. Juncos mainly eat seeds and insects. Their sharp tsip call is common but unmusical.
With diverse plumage across regional populations, juncos can be variable. But in general their dark gray hood, neat white belly, and white tail flashes are a classic field mark combination. The range and habitat also help clue identification. So the Dark-eyed Junco is very likely to match a description of a small black and white bird.
Identification Tips
- Length 12.5-18 cm, weight 18-30 grams
- Dark gray hood, brown back, white belly
- White outer tail feathers flash visibly
- Females tend to be more brown than black
- Sharp call sounds like tsip
- Breeds across Canada and western/northeastern U.S.
- Winters widely in lower 48 states
Eurasian Magpie
The Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) is a boldly patterned black and white bird of Europe and Asia. It measures 37-44 cm long and weighs 200-250 grams. The head, belly, shoulders, and tail base are black, while the back, breast and wings are white. The tail has flashy green and purple iridescence. The stout bill is black.
Magpies inhabit open woodlands, parks, and agricultural areas across Europe and Asia. Highly intelligent, they are famous for collecting shiny objects. Omnivorous feeders, magpies eat insects, nestlings, grains, fruits and nuts. Their loud, harsh chatter includes clicks, whistles, and elaborate warbling phrases. Magpies build large, domed nests high in trees.
The striking pied pattern, with solid black hood and contrasting white back and breast, makes the Eurasian Magpie a classic black and white bird. Its large size, noisy behavior, and broad Eurasian range also help identify it. So it seems a very likely match for the description.
Identification Tips
- Length 37-44 cm, weight 200-250 grams
- Black head, belly, shoulders, and tail base
- White back, breast, and wings
- Long, irridescent green and purple tail
- Harsh, chattering vocalizations
- Builds large, domed nests high in trees
- Found in open habitats across Europe and Asia
Northern Mockingbird
The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is a slim, long-tailed songbird marked with gray, white, and black. It measures 20-28 cm long and weighs about 40-58 grams. The upperparts are pale gray, while the underparts are white with darker gray patches on the wings and tail. White outer tail feathers flash in flight.
Mockingbirds breed across much of the lower 48 United States and south into Mexico. They favor open country with scattered trees and shrubby vegetation. These bold songsters sing loud musical phrases through the day and night. Omnivorous, they eat insects, berries, and seeds. Mockingbirds aggressively defend their nests from intruders.
With its pale gray and white color scheme marked by flashing white tail patches, the mockingbird offers a good match for a black, white and gray bird. Its vocal behavior and broad North American range also help clinch the identification. The Northern Mockingbird seems likely to fit a description of a small black and white songbird.
Identification Tips
- Length 20-28 cm, weight 40-58 grams
- Pale gray upperparts, white below with gray wings
- White outer tail feathers conspicuous in flight
- Slim, with long tail that flashes white
- Sings loud musical phrases day and night
- Found in open habitats across central and southern U.S.
Willie Wagtail
The Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) is a small songbird of Australia and New Zealand marked by black, white, and gray plumage. It measures 17-21 cm long and weighs 17-24 grams. The back and tail are black, while the throat and underparts are white. The head is black with a white brow and cheek stripe. The bill and legs are black.
Willie Wagtails thrive in open forests, woodlands, and scrublands. They aggressively defend nesting territories from intruders. These active birds walk while wagging their long tails sideways. They feed on insects and other small invertebrates. The call is a mix of chips, trills, and wheezy notes.
With its crisp black and white pattern accented by a gray head, the Willie Wagtail offers a very good match to the description of a small black and white bird. Its Australian/New Zealand range and habitat preferences also fit the profile. So the Willie Wagtail seems a likely identification.
Identification Tips
- Length 17-21 cm, weight 17-24 grams
- Black back and tail, white below
- Black head with white brow and cheek
- Long black legs and bill
- Wags long black tail from side to side
- Call is chips, trills, and wheezy notes
- Found in open habitats in Australia and New Zealand
Comparison of Species
To summarize the candidates, here is a comparison table of these small black and white birds:
Species | Size | Range | Habitat | Field Marks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Black-capped Chickadee | 12-15 cm | Canada, Alaska, Northern/Eastern U.S. | Mixed and deciduous forests | Black cap and bib, white cheeks, soft gray back |
Juniper Titmouse | 13-15 cm | Southwestern U.S. | Pinyon-juniper woodlands | Gray crest and forehead, gray back, buffy flanks |
Dark-eyed Junco | 12.5-18 cm | Canada, Western/Northeastern U.S. | Coniferous forests, mixed woodlands | Dark gray hood, brown back, white belly and tail flashes |
Eurasian Magpie | 37-44 cm | Europe and Asia | Open woodlands, parks, farms | Bold black and white pied pattern, long tail |
Northern Mockingbird | 20-28 cm | Central and Southern U.S. | Open country with scattered trees/shrubs | Pale gray upperparts, white below with gray wings and tail |
Willie Wagtail | 17-21 cm | Australia, New Zealand | Open forests, woodlands, scrubland | Black back and tail, white below, gray head with white brow |
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are a number of birds that could match a description of a small black and white songbird. Based on details like location, habitat, distinctive field marks and behavior, the most likely species include chickadees, titmice, juncos, mockingbirds, magpies, and wagtails. Comparing key identification criteria in a table helps differentiate between potential candidates. Unique features such as the chickadee’s cap and call, the magpie’s long tail, or the wagtail’s namesake tail wagging further narrow the possibilities. With good observational skills and an awareness of species ranges and habitats, even a simple black and white description can often point to a specific bird species.