Beautiful Black Birds with White Beaks [images + IDs]

Imagine you’ve come across a black bird, but there’s something striking about it – it boasts a distinctive white beak. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This article is your guide to identifying those unique black birds with white beaks. With the help of pictures and measurements, we’ll make sure you can spot them easily. Plus, we’ll tell you where these birds call home, the places they prefer to live, and what they like to eat. Get ready to become a bird identification expert and uncover the fascinating world of black birds with standout white beaks!

List of Black Birds with White Beaks

Crested Oropendola

• Scientific name: Psarocolius decumanus
• Lifespan: Typically 6-8 years
• Size: Medium-sized oropendola; around 17-20 inches (43-50 cm) in length
• Origin: Found in parts of Central and South America

The crested oropendola is a striking bird found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and Brazil. Adult oropendolas measure between 14 to 18.5 inches and weigh 5.5 to 10 ounces. They have black bodies with reddish-brown undertrials, stunning blue eyes, a thick triangular bill, and a yellow tail, making them easily identifiable.

Crested oropendolas are social birds that usually travel in small flocks of 5 to 10 individuals. They have a varied diet, feeding on insects, fruits, and nectar. The male and female are similar in appearance, with the male being slightly larger.

These birds build large hanging nests of sticks high in trees. The lifespan of crested oropendolas can reach up to 20 years.

Solitary Cacique

• Scientific name: Cacicus solitarius
• Lifespan: About 6-8 years
• Size: Medium-sized songbird; approximately 9-11 inches (23-28 cm) in length
• Origin: Found in Central and South America

The solitary cacique is a unique bird with a white beak found in the tropical Americas. Males are larger, measuring about 10.6 inches, while females are slightly smaller at about 9 inches. They have all-black plumage except for their creamy white triangular bill, long tail, and dark eyes.

Solitary caciques inhabit open gallery forests and flooded areas of the Amazon, where they feed on spiders, fruits, and seeds. They are generally shy birds that prefer to stay hidden in the trees, but they can also be quite aggressive towards other birds when defending their territory. The males sing a clear song from an exposed perch to mark their territory, and they build cup-shaped nests from thin twigs lined with grass or leaves.

Red-rumped Cacique

• Scientific name: Cacicus haemorrhous
• Lifespan: Typically 5-7 years
• Size: Medium-sized songbird; around 12-14 inches (30-36 cm) in length
• Origin: Found in Central and South America

The red-rumped cacique is a relative of the solitary caciques. Male red-rumped caciques are about 11.4 inches in size, while female birds are slightly smaller at about 9.8 inches. Like other members of their family, they have all-black plumage, but they are called red-rumped caciques because of the red plumage on their back close to the tail, which is visible when they spread their wings. Their bills are creamy white in color.

Red-rumped caciques are found in tropical swamp forests and moist lowland forests, breeding from Panama to Bolivia and Brazil, and also in Trinidad. Their nests are deep cups made of sticks lined with softer material, built low in trees. They lay 3-4 slightly spotted whitish eggs, which are incubated for 14 days to hatching, with a further 16–17 days to fledging.

Black Hornbill

• Scientific name: Anthracoceros malayanus
• Lifespan: Typically 20-30 years
• Size: Medium-sized hornbill; around 18-20 inches (46-51 cm) in length
• Origin: Found in parts of Southeast Asia

The black hornbill is a large bird with a heavy bill, measuring about 23.6 to 25.6 inches. It is a member of the hornbill family and has sooty black plumage with a thick white eyebrow and a white patch on its tail. Males have a large white bill, while females have darker beaks.

Black hornbills are found in forests across tropical Asia and often form monogamous pairs, mating for life. Their breeding habits are unique, as they select the largest trees and prefer forests with abundant durian fruit. Some black hornbills may delay nesting for years if there is a lack of durian fruit in their habitat.

During breeding, the female lays two to four eggs in a tree cavity, and both parents help incubate them. The chicks stay with their parents for some time, learning important survival skills like finding food and building nests.

White-billed Starling

• Scientific name: Onychognathus albirostris
• Lifespan: About 5-7 years
• Size: Medium-sized starling; approximately 8-9 inches (20-23 cm) in length
• Origin: Native to eastern and southern Africa

White-billed starlings are passerine birds found in parts of Africa. They are closely related to European starlings and are about 10 inches long, weighing approximately 5 ounces. Like their cousins, male white-billed starlings have glossy black plumage, while females have a gray head. Both sexes have white bills, and in flight, you can notice the brown wing patches.

These starlings prefer stiff cliffs as their habitat and feed on insects, spiders, worms, berries, and seeds.

American Coot

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• Scientific name: Fulica americana
• Lifespan: 9 years
• Size: 15 inches
• Native to: United States from California to Florida

The American Coot is a large water bird found in both the Pacific and Atlantic coastal regions of North America. It measures between 15 to 16.9 inches in length, making it larger than a blue jay but smaller than an American crow. The coot has an all-black plumage, distinctive yellow-green feet, a bright white bill, and stunning red eyes. Immature coots have a grayish appearance.

American coots are adaptable and can be found in both fresh and saltwater habitats. They are omnivorous, feeding on insects, aquatic plants, small fish, and amphibians. While not having webbed feet like other water birds, coots are excellent swimmers and waders. They can be territorial and aggressive when defending their territory or food sources.

Pied Butcherbird

• Scientific name: Cracticus nigrogularis
• Lifespan: Typically 5-10 years
• Size: Medium-sized songbird; around 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) in length
• Origin: Native to Australia

The Pied Butcherbird is a passerine bird found in Australia. It has a length of about 11 to 12.5 inches and a wingspan of approximately 20 inches. This bird has a striking black and white plumage with a white black-tipped bill. Immature birds have a grayish head and belly with blackish wings.

Pied Butcherbirds are found in open country and woodlands in Australia. They are known for their territorial and aggressive behavior, often chasing away larger birds. Their diet mainly consists of insects, but they also consume small lizards, frogs, and rodents. The nesting season of Pied Butcherbirds typically starts in July and lasts until December, during which they lay a clutch of two to five eggs.

Magpie Lark

• Scientific name: Grallina cyanoleuca
• Lifespan: about 25 years
• Wingspan: n/a
• Native to: Australia

The Magpie Lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) is a small passerine bird endemic to Australia. It measures about 9-12 inches in length, slightly larger than a common blackbird. Males are generally larger, weighing up to 4.2 ounces, while females weigh around 3.3 ounces.

Magpie Larks have a distinct black and white plumage with a black back, white wings, and belly, pale eyes, and a white beak. They can be found across Australia in various habitats such as open forests, woodlands, scrublands, and farmland.

These birds are known for their melodious songs, which are often sung as duets by pairs. They construct nests using plant materials and grass, and both parents take part in incubating the eggs for about eighteen days.

Turkey vulture

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• Scientific name: Cathartes aura
• Lifespan: Up to 20 years
• Size: Approximately 64-81 centimeters (25-32 inches)
• Origin: North and South America (found in regions such as the United States, Mexico, and Brazil)

The Turkey Vulture is a large raptor bird found in North America. It has a wingspan of 64 to 81 cm and can weigh up to 70.5 ounces, making it slightly smaller than the Bald Eagle. The bird has a distinct black-brown plumage with a long tail. One of its most recognizable features is its featherless head, which appears red due to the bare skin. The bill of the Turkey Vulture is also red and white. Juvenile vultures have an ashy-colored head.

Turkey Vultures are scavengers and play a crucial role in the ecosystem by feeding on the remains of dead animals. They can often be seen soaring in the sky above roadsides and areas where animal carcasses are present. The bald head and red neck of the Turkey Vulture help it stay cool in hot temperatures.

White-billed Crow

• Scientific name: Corvus woodfordi
• Lifespan: About 7-9 years
• Size: Medium-sized crow; approximately 17-20 inches (43-50 cm) in length
• Origin: Found in parts of Southeast Asia

The White-billed Crow is a bird found in the Solomon Islands. It measures up to 16 inches in length, similar to the size of an American crow. This crow species has an all-black plumage and a slightly curved white bill. Its feet and legs are also black.

White-billed crows are omnivorous and have a varied diet that includes insects, small mammals, birds, and eggs. They are social birds, often found in small groups. The white-billed crow can be seen in various habitats, such as forest edges, savannas, and city parks. Its calls include sharp “ao-ao” notes.

White-billed Buffalo Weaver

• Scientific name: Bubalornis albirostris
• Lifespan: Typically 4-6 years
• Size: Medium-sized weaver bird; around 8-9 inches (20-23 cm) in length
• Origin: Native to eastern and southern Africa

The White-billed Buffalo Weaver is a bird species from the ploceidae family found in sub-Saharan Africa. These weavers are around 9 inches long, with dark plumage and a long tail. Males have white bills, while females have black bills. They have white spots on their sides, and their calls include harsh “sjet” sounds.

White-billed buffalo weavers are known for their large communal nests, which can measure up to 6 feet across. They construct these nests using thorny branches and twigs from trees or bushes. The nests serve as breeding and roosting sites and can accommodate several hundred birds. These weavers are commonly found in open habitats across sub-Saharan Africa.

Rose-breasted grosbeak

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• Scientific name: Pheucticus ludovicianus
• Life span: Up to 8 years
• Size: 18 cm (7.1 in)
• Weight: 31-46 g
• Origin: North and Central America

The rose-breasted grosbeak is a common bird in the Southeastern United States. It measures up to 8.7 inches in length and has a wingspan of 11 to 13 inches. Adult grosbeaks weigh about 2 ounces. The males have a dark head and back with white patches on their wings, red breasts, and white bellies. The females are streaked brown with a white eyebrow. Both sexes have short triangular bills, square tails, and broad chests.

The breeding season for rose-breasted grosbeaks occurs from May to July. The male builds a cup-shaped nest out of twigs and grasses, which he lines with feathers. The female and male take turns incubating the eggs, and the young birds leave the nest after about 9 to 12 days. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are omnivores, feeding on insects, fruits, and seeds. They can be found in orchards, deciduous woods, and mixed woods.

Black Falcon

• Scientific name: Falco subniger
• Lifespan: About 8-12 years
• Size: Medium to large falcon; approximately 14-16 inches (36-41 cm) in length, wingspan of 2.8-3.3 feet (85-100 cm)
• Origin: Native to Australia

The black falcon is an impressive and aggressive large raptor bird with a white beak. Adults are about 18 to 22 inches in length, with an average wingspan of 37.4 to 45.3 inches. They have sooty black plumage overall, with young birds being darker than adult black falcons. The base of their bills is whitish-gray and black-tipped, and their talons are black.

Black falcons are resident breeders in Australia and prefer open areas where they can hunt for small mammals, carrion, and birds like common starlings. They nest in trees, creating a platform of sticks. Breeding season begins in May and lasts up to November, with females laying 3-4 eggs, which are incubated for about 35 days.

The black falcon has a long lifespan and can live up to 20 years.

Yellow-rumped Cacique

• Scientific name: Cacicus cela
• Lifespan: Typically 8-10 years
• Size: Medium-sized songbird; about 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) in length
• Origin: Found in Central and South America, often in lowland forests and savannas.

The yellow-rumped cacique is a medium-sized bird, measuring about 11 inches in length and weighing up to 3.7 oz. It is easily recognizable with black plumage and yellow patches on its wings and rump. The bird has blue eyes, a white bill, and black feet, and its slim body is adorned with a long tail. Juvenile yellow-rumped caciques are darker in color with dull eyes.

This passerine bird from the New World family Icteridae breeds in South America, primarily in central Brazil. It has a characteristic “jerky” flight. The male has a loud, high-pitched song consisting of tinkling notes. The female builds a bulky stick nest in a tree and lays two or three white eggs. The yellow-rumped cacique is often found in open woodlands, where it feeds on insects and fruit.

Black Butcherbird

• Scientific name: Melloria quoyi
• Lifespan: About 7-10 years
• Size: Medium-sized songbird; approximately 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) in length
• Origin: Native to Australia

The black butcherbird is a medium-sized bird, measuring about 12 to 16 inches in length. It is known for its all-black plumage and distinctive white black-tipped bill. Juvenile black butcherbirds are brown.

This common Australian bird is easily identified by its black coloration and is often found in large flocks foraging for food. Black butcherbirds are known for their loud and distinctive calls, which can be heard from quite a distance.

They are insectivorous birds that feed on insects, and their strong beaks are adapted to catch and eat their prey. The black butcherbird’s melodious song and presence make it a beloved bird among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts in Australia.

Final Thoughts on Black Birds with White Beaks

our journey to identify and appreciate black birds with white beaks has been an enlightening adventure. Armed with the power of observation and knowledge, you’re now equipped to spot these distinctive avian marvels with confidence. Their striking white beaks set them apart in the avian world, offering a testament to the diversity and wonder of nature.

Remember, every encounter with these unique birds is an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the natural world. By learning about their native habitats and dietary preferences, we connect with the intricate tapestry of life that surrounds us. So, next time you catch sight of a black bird with a white beak, take a moment to marvel at the intricacies that make our planet’s wildlife so captivating. Happy birdwatching!

Further Readings

• Black Birds with Red Heads
• Black Birds with Red Eyes
• Black Birds with Yellow Heads
• Black Birds with Green Heads
• Black Birds with White Bellies
• Black Birds with Yellow Beaks
• Black Birds with Orange Wings
• Black Birds with White Stripes on Wings
• Black Birds with White Spots
• Black Birds with Gray Heads
• Black Birds with Blue Heads
• Black Birds with Black Beaks