There are a few different kinds of birds that are black and white and small in size. To determine the specific type of bird, we need to gather more details about its appearance and behavior. However, we can narrow it down to a few likely options based on the initial description.
Penguins
One of the most well-known black and white birds is the penguin. Penguins are flightless birds that live in the southern hemisphere, congregating in large colonies in Antarctica and the cooler coastal regions of South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. There are 17-19 different species of penguins, ranging in size from the Little Penguin which stands just 33 cm tall, to the Emperor Penguin which can grow up to 120 cm tall. The smaller penguin species match the description of being small and black and white in coloration.
Some examples of small penguin species include:
- Little Penguin – The smallest penguin species, standing around 33 cm tall. They have blue-black feathers on their back and wings, with a clean white belly.
- Erect-crested Penguin – A bit larger at around 70 cm tall, these penguins have black feathers on their head, chin, throat and back, with a white belly.
- Fiordland Penguin – Slightly smaller than the Erect-crested at around 60 cm tall. Mostly black feathers with a white belly and face patch.
So if the bird in question is petite in stature and inhabits cooler climates, a small penguin species would be a likely match.
Puffins
Another black and white bird possibility is the puffin. There are four main species of puffins, and they are diving birds that live along coastal cliffs and islands in the northern hemisphere. Two of the puffin species are mostly black and white in color.
The relevant puffin species include:
- Atlantic Puffin – A stocky black and white seabird 28-30 cm long with a large colorful beak. They have black feathers on their back and wings, a white belly, and unique facial markings.
- Horned Puffin – Similar size to the Atlantic at around 33 cm long, with shiny black feathers, a white belly, chest and face, and yellow crests above their eyes.
Puffins nest in underground burrows and only come to land in the spring and summer to breed, spending the rest of the year out at sea. So if you spot a small black and white bird along northern coastal regions, it very well may be a puffin.
Auks
Auks are another family of small black and white seabirds that include puffins, murres and murrelets. There are over 20 species of auks scattered across the northern hemisphere.
Some auk species that match the description include:
- Rhinoceros Auklet – A small black and white auk around 25-30 cm long with a horn-like protrusion on its beak.
- Cassin’s Auklet – About the size of a Rhinoceros Auklet, with dark grey feathers, white underparts and a small delicate bill.
- Parakeet Auklet – The smallest auk at just 15 cm long. Mainly black feathers with a white belly and face.
Auks spend most of their lives foraging out at sea, only coming to land to breed. So spotting one of these petite seabirds on a coastal cliff or rocky island is a good indication it may be an auk.
skuas
Skuas are seabirds in the jaeger family that inhabit oceans and coastal regions around the world. Several skua species have black and white plumage and small-to-medium builds.
Some relevant skua options include:
- Long-tailed Skua – A slim skua around 36-46 cm long with black and white coloration. They have a black cap, pale face, black wings and back, and white underparts.
- South Polar Skua – A stocky skua about 45-55 cm long with black feathers, a white belly, and smoky grey underwings.
- Pomarine Jaeger – Not technically a skua but similar in appearance. Around 40-48 cm long with black and white plumage and a deeply-forked tail.
Skuas tend to forage over ocean waters but come to coastal areas and islands to breed. Seeing a streamlined black and white seabird bullying other birds along the coast is a clue it may be a skua.
Gulls
Gulls are ubiquitous seabirds found across coastal regions worldwide. Though most gull species are predominantly white, there are some smaller gull species that have black and white markings.
Some gulls fitting the description include:
- Little Gull – The smallest gull species at just 23-28 cm long. In breeding plumage, they have a black head and wings with a white body.
- Sabine’s Gull – A petite gull around 25-30 cm long with a black head, gray wings and back, and white underside.
- Black-headed Gull – Slightly larger than the others at around 34-39 cm long. In breeding season it has a black head with white body and gray wings.
If you notice a smaller, more delicate gull with black and white markings mixed in among flocks of the more common, all-white gulls, it could be one of these species.
Terns
Terns are coastal seabirds that bear resemblance to gulls but are typically smaller with slimmer, more streamlined bodies and longer, more sharply-pointed bills. Many tern species have black caps or hoods with white undersides.
Some potential matching terns include:
- Black Tern – 25 cm long with a black head, wings and back, and white underside. Their black hood is darker in breeding season.
- White-winged Tern – Around 33 cm long with a full black cap, white face, gray back and wings, and white underside.
- Roseate Tern – An elegant 30 cm long tern with a black cap on its head, pale gray back, long white underside, and a deeply-forked tail.
Terns plunge-dive for fish and are most often seen hunting over coastal waters. Their appearance near shorelines provides an opportunity to spot their black and white markings.
Other Birds
While penguins, puffins, auks, skuas, gulls and terns make up the most likely black and white bird candidates, there are a couple other possibilities that could also fit the description:
- Black Guillemot – A pigeon-sized seabird that nests on rocky coasts. Entirely black with a thin white wing patch.
- Eurasian Magpie – An entirely glossy black and white songbird in the crow family common across Europe and Asia.
- Slaty-backed Gull – An Asian seabird with a mix of black, white and gray plumage.
These birds are less widespread or only have small patches of black and white rather than it being their predominant coloring. But they are worth mentioning as rare possibilities for a black and white bird that is small in size.
Identifying Features
To conclusively identify a black and white bird that is small, it helps to take note of key features and behaviors such as:
- Exact size – This gives an indication of which species it is likely to be.
- Bill shape – Pointed, short, hooked or other bill types help narrow it down.
- Wing shape – Long, narrow wings indicate seabirds while broader wings may mean songbirds.
- Tail shape – A forked tail suggests certain seabird families.
- Leg and foot color – Bright colored legs or feet help rule out certain species.
- Behavior – Is it hunting fish, migrating through in a flock, singing from a perch?
- Location – Coastal regions suit seabirds while forest birds prefer woodland areas.
Taking note of these finer details in combination with the overall black and white appearance will help get to the bottom of the mystery bird’s identification.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a number of birds that meet the description of being black and white and small in size. The most likely candidates based on typical plumage patterns are penguins, puffins, auks, skuas, gulls and terns. These are all seabirds that inhabit coastal regions around the world. With further details on distinguishing physical features and behavior, the specific species could be pinpointed from among these groups. But when spotted at a distance, a small black and white ocean bird can be safely assumed to be one of these common varieties until closer inspection is possible.