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14 Small Black And White Birds

Small Black And White Birds

Do you love small black and white birds? They are so charming and sweet! We have always been fascinated by these little creatures. We are excited to share some information about them with you. 

In this article, we will discuss the different types of small black and white birds and their distinguishing features. So if you are interested in learning more about these adorable birds, keep reading!

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14 Small Black and White Birds

What is the key to differentiating among multiple small black and white birds? The key is to learn about the different features of birds to identify bird species visiting your garden correctly. These birds can differ in size, height, weight, wingspan, and plumage patterns. 

After reading this article, you will have the necessary knowledge to differentiate between different black and white bird species.

1. Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker
  • Height: 5.5 to 6.7 inches
  • Weight: 0.7 to 1.0 oz
  • Wingspan: 9.8 to 11.8 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white patterns with a white patch on the back. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Male has a bright red patch on its head. 

The downy woodpecker is very common. It is considered the smallest woodpecker in North America. They are usually found on bird feeders in your garden. They are very active birds and fun to be around.

They have a white abdomen and breast compared to spotted black upper parts. Their tail is spotless black, and their back has a centralized white spot.

2. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler small black and white birds
  • Height: 4.7 to 5.5 inches
  • Weight: 0.4 to 0.5 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.5 to 9.1 inches 
  • Plumage: Yellow throat, sides, and rump. Gray and black body with white bellies. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Yellow crown and neck

The yellow-rumped warbler has white underparts with gray and black streaks. Their plumage keeps changing between paler brown with bright yellow rump and sides in winter and gray again in spring. They breed in Canada and migrate towards central and southern regions like Mexico and Central America to avoid winter cold.

3. Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker
  • Height: 7.5 to 9.1 inches
  • Weight: 2.3 to 3.2 oz
  • Wingspan: 14 to 17 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white with a white face and a red patch on the head. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Dark red cap. 

An acorn woodpecker is a small bird with black and white plumage, a white face, a long black beak, and a red cap. Acron woodpeckers are non-migratory birds across America, from Canada to Florida.

4. Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee
  • Height: 4.7 to 5.9 inches
  • Weight: 0.3 to 0.5 oz
  • Wingspan: 6.3 to 8.3 inches 
  • Plumage: Grayish Black and white plumage. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Big black head and white cheeks. 

The black-capped chickadee has a black head, throat, and cheeks. Their grayish-black back up to the tail. Their chest is white. They have a big head as compared to the body and no neck. They are the most friendly birds and can easily feed on your hand.

5. Carolina Chickadee

Carolina Chickadee
  • Height: 3.9 to 4.7 inches
  • Weight: 0.3 to 0.4 oz
  • Wingspan: 5.9 to 7.9 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Black head with white cheeks. 

Carolina Chickadee is smaller in size than black-capped chickadees and has darker plumage. A Carolina chickadee has a big black head, neck, white cheeks, and underparts. Their back, wings, and tail are dark grayish black. Thus, we have pointed it on the list of small black and white birds.

They can interbreed with a black-capped chickadee where their population overlaps. You can attract these beautiful birds to your garden by offering black oil sunflower seeds, suet, and crushed peanuts. 

6. Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe small black and white birds
  • Height: 6.3 to 7 inches
  • Weight: 0.5 to 0.8 oz
  • Wingspan: 10.5 to 11 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white with a white belly. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: White belly and rump. 

Black phoebes are small plump flycatchers. They are full black with a white belly and rump. There are some species found in the north that migrate towards the south after the breeding season ends.

They make their nest out of mud and straws and prefer to live near water resources such as coasts, lakes, rivers, and ponds. Add some water resources and native plants to attract black phoebes to your garden.

7. Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler
  • Height: 4.9 to 5.9 inches
  • Weight: 0.4 to 0.5 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.9 to 9.8 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white stripes. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Dark black cap and white cheeks. 

They are small birds with black and white plumage, a black cap, and white cheeks and belly. The plumage gives more of a yellowish shade in late summer. The Blackpool warbler breeds in Canada and migrates towards the eastern US during spring.

They make a non-stop transatlantic journey to migrate back in winter. They fly for three to four days without stopping. This is a unique feature.

8. Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
  • Height: 7.1 to 8.6 inches
  • Weight: 1.2 to 2.3 oz
  • Wingspan: 11 to 13 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white with a red breast and white belly. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Bright red breast. 

A rose-breasted grosbeak has a black head and back. It has white bellies with a red throat. Immature males and mature female birds are more brown than black with a flash of yellow under the wings.

These small black and white birds breed in central Canada, the midwest, and northeastern US states. They migrate south as far as Mexico and Central America to spend winter. 

9. White-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Height: 5.1 to 5.5 inches
  • Weight: 0.6 to 1.1 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.9 to 10.6 inches 
  • Plumage: Black, gray and white. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Eats upside down. 

The white-breasted nuthatch has black, gray, and white plumage with a white face, throat, chest, and rump while gray and black back. These birds have a characteristic pointed beak. They are omnivorous. They eat their face down and are referred to as upside-down birds. They are non-migratory birds found across the United States and southern Canada. 

10. Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco
  • Height: 5.5 to 6.3 inches
  • Weight: 0.6 to 1.1 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.1 to 9.8 inches 
  • Plumage: Differ in east and west states. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Long tail with white feathers on the sides. 

These mid-sized sparrow 11 to 12 inches s have different colors in different states. In the east, they are usually slate-colored, and in the west, they have black, white, and brown plumage. Some dark-eyed juncos remain in the Appalachian Mountains throughout the year. Those who breed in Alaska and Canada migrate towards the south to spend winter.

11. Black-throated Gray Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler
  • Height: 4.3 to 5.1 inches
  • Weight: 0.3 to 0.4 oz
  • Wingspan: 7.1 to 9.8 inches 
  • Plumage: Grayish black and white. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Yellow spot in front of the eyes. 

The black-throated gray warbler has a grayish-black plumage with a black throat. It also has an eye area with a white underside and some black spots on the sides. They have yellow spots on both sides of the face just before their eyes. These small black and white birds are native to western US states and breed there before migrating to Mexico to spend winters. 

12. Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhee
  • Height: 6.7 to 8.3 inches
  • Weight: 1.2 to 1.7 oz
  • Wingspan:
  • Plumage: Black, white, and reddish-brown plumage. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Long tail and reddish-brown sides. 

The spotted towhee is one of the largest species of sparrows. There are slight variations in male and female plumage. The male has a black head, throat, and back color, while females have brown colors at these parts. Both have reddish-brown sides and white bellies with white spots on their wings.

They are migratory birds that breed in the north-central states in summer and migrate south in winter. You can attract spotted towhee to your garden by offering sunflower seeds, cracked corn, milo, and millet. 

13. Loggerhead Shrike

Loggerhead Shrike
  • Height: 7.9 to 9.1 inches
  • Weight: 1.2 to 1.8 oz
  • Wingspan: 11 to 12.6 inches 
  • Plumage: Black and white plumage with more white and less black
  • Most Prominent Feature: Black mask

The loggerhead shrikes are found in open spaces looking for prey, and their white color provides camouflage. They are native to lower southern states of the US but travel to the north in summer for breeding. 

The loggerhead shrike is a songbird but acts like a raptor. These birds are excellent hunters that prey on other birds, lizards, insects, and small mammals. 

14. Bushtit

Bushtit
  • Height: 2.8 to 3.1 inches
  • Weight: 0.1 to 0.2 oz
  • Wingspan: 6.0 to 7.0 inches 
  • Plumage: Soft gray. 
  • Most Prominent Feature: Tiny, almost round body. 

They are native to the western US states. Bushtit has almost plain brownish-gray plumage with slightly darker shades on the upper side than the lower side. They have round bodies, long tails, and stubby bills. They make woven hanging nests in open woodlands, parks, and backyards.

Final Words

In conclusion, many different types of small black and white birds exist in the United States. Some of these birds are native to the country, while some migrate from other countries. Some of these birds are very common, while others are quite rare.

We hope this article was able to provide you with what you were looking for. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below.

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