Black And White Birds In Michigan: 27 Stunning Species

Michigan is a place where black and white birds strut their steps in style! From cute songbirds to graceful waterfowl, the state has got quite the lineup of these monochromatic beauties in its diverse landscapes.

Flitting around lush forests or gliding across calm lakes, showing off their unique patterns and cool moves – Michigan’s black and white birds are a charm to look at and a treat to enjoy.

So today, I’m going to take you on an exciting tour of some of the coolest black and white bird species in Michigan. We’re going to explore their iconic features and behaviors, and more!

So, grab those binoculars, put on your hiking shoes, and let’s dive into the awesome world of black and white birds in the Great Lakes State!

27 Breathtaking Black and White Bird Species in Michigan

Among the diverse array of black and white birds in Michigan, some of them are yearly residents while others are frequent guests. Let’s take a look at the details of these unique birds and their charms without any more delay!

Black-Throated Gray Warbler

Source: @casualbirdersocal

• Scientific Name: Setophaga nigrescens
• Size: 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to July

Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts enjoy observing Black-Throated Gray Warblers during their breeding season in the Western United States. Popular birding locations include national parks and forests, such as Yosemite, Mount Rainier, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Noticeable Features

This bird has a distinct appearance with a gray back, crown, and underparts. It also has a black throat patch that extends down the sides of its neck, giving it its name. The wings and tail of this species are mostly black with prominent white markings.

Behavior

They are insectivorous and feed on insects, spiders, and other arthropods. They forage actively among foliage and branches, gleaning insects from leaves and bark or catching them in flight.

Ross’s Goose

Source: @madhub27

• Scientific Name: Anser rossii
• Size: 53 to 64 cm (21 to 25 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to July

Ross’s Goose is a relatively small goose, similar in size to the more familiar Snow Goose. It was once believed that Ross’s Goose was a subspecies of the Snow Goose but was later recognized as a distinct species.

Noticeable Features

They have white plumage all over their body, including their head and neck. Their feathers lack the typical dark “grinning patch” seen in Snow Geese. The bill is pinkish with a black “grin line” along the upper edge.

Behavior

These geese are herbivores and mainly feed on grasses, sedges, and other plant materials. They often forage on land and are known for their “grazing” behavior in agricultural fields.

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Source: @eaglelover_janice

• Scientific Name: Sitta carolinensis
• Size: 15.5 cm (6.1 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to June

White-Breasted Nuthatches are energetic songbirds and their call is a distinctive “yank-yank” or “ank-ank” sound that is often repeated several times. They also produce soft, musical notes, especially during courtship and territorial displays.

Noticeable Features

They have a distinctive appearance with a blue-gray back, wings, and tail, and a white face, throat, and underparts. Its long, straight bill is sharp and used for probing crevices for insects and seeds. They have a black cap on their head that contrasts with their white face.

Behavior

They are highly acrobatic and agile climbers. They can easily move upside-down and sideways along tree trunks and branches by utilizing their strong legs and claws. During the breeding season, they sometimes use abandoned woodpecker holes as well.

Black-Headed Gull

Source: @didier1960

• Scientific Name: Chroicocephalus ridibundus
• Size: 37 to 44 cm (14 to 17 in)
• Locality: Europe, Northeast North America, and Across the Palearctic to Japan and East China
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: April to May

Observing Black-Headed Gulls can be a rewarding experience, especially in their breeding colonies during the spring and summer months. They are social birds and often interact with other Gull species which is an interesting sight to see.

Noticeable Features

During the breeding season, adult Gulls have a distinct chocolate-brown head, contrasting with their white body. Outside the breeding season, their heads become mostly white with streaks of dark spots and a dark ear spot behind the eye.

Behavior

These gulls are opportunistic feeders and have a diverse diet that includes fish, insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and plant matter. They are known for their graceful flight and their ability to hover above water while foraging for food.

Hairy Woodpecker

Source: @birdsblooms

• Scientific Name: Leuconotopicus villosus
• Size: 25 cm (9.8 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: February to June

The Hairy Woodpecker’s call is a sharp, high-pitched “peek” or “pik” sound, often repeated several times. Their drumming is slower and more deliberate compared to the rapid drumming of other woodpecker species.

Noticeable Features

This Woodpecker is similar in appearance to the Downy Woodpecker but larger in size. It has a distinctive black-and-white plumage pattern. They have a prominent white stripe running down the center of their black-streaked face.

Behavior

These Woodpeckers are skilled climbers and can be seen clinging to the trunks and branches of trees while foraging for insects. They use their strong bills to excavate holes in tree bark to reach insects like beetles, ants, and wood-boring larvae.

Northern Flicker

Source: @kenandersonphotography

• Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus
• Size: 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: February to July

Northern Flickers have a unique appearance with a mix of both woodpecker and ground-dwelling bird characteristics. Their drumming sounds are less intense compared to other woodpeckers, with a slower and more rhythmic pattern.

Noticeable Features

They have a brownish-gray back with black bars and a buff or beige underbelly, marked with black spots or stripes. The face is distinct, featuring a brown crown, a gray face, and a black crescent-shaped mark below the eye.

Behavior

They are primarily ground foragers and are often seen searching for ants, beetles, and other insects on the ground, using their long, barbed tongues to extract prey from crevices and tunnels. Like other Woodpeckers, they have a strong bill for drilling holes in trees to create nesting sites and to search for insects.

Snow Goose

Source: @chrismcgraw9

• Scientific Name: Anser caerulescens
• Size: 79 cm (31 in)
• Locality: Parts of North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: June to September

Snow Geese are known for their impressive spectacle of flight and are often observed in wetland areas and coastal regions during the winter. They breed in the Arctic and Subarctic regions like Alaska, Canada, and Northeastern Siberia.

Noticeable Features

It has a mostly white body with black wingtips which are known as “primary feathers” and are visible when the bird is in flight. Some individuals have a dark morph, known as the “Blue Goose,” which has a dark bluish-gray body with a white head and neck.

Behavior

Snow Geese are herbivorous and primarily feed on grasses, sedges, and other plant material. They are known for their large, noisy flocks, especially during migration, and their impressive V-shaped formations when flying long distances.

Spruce Grouse

Source: @birdingwild

• Scientific Name: Canachites canadensis
• Size: 38 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in)
• Locality: Northern and Western North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to July

Observing Spruce Grouse can be challenging due to their secretive nature and excellent camouflage in their forest habitat. If you are patient enough, you might be rewarded with sightings during the early morning or late afternoon when they may come out to forage.

Noticeable Features

This bird has a plump body with a square-shaped tail and a relatively small head. Males have a mostly blackish body with white spots and fine barring on their wings and tail. Their neck has a distinctive red patch.

Behavior

These Grouse are mainly ground-dwelling birds and are often seen walking or running on the forest floor. They are well adapted to their forest habitat and are skilled at navigating through dense vegetation.

American Coot

Source: @silviafaustinolinhares

• Scientific Name: Fulica americana
• Size: 34 to 43 cm (13 to 17 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to June

American Coots are easy to spot in many aquatic habitats, especially in the presence of large rafts. They build nests in emergent vegetation or on floating platforms, using plant material and reeds to create a floating structure.

Noticeable Features

It has a black body with a white bill and frontal shield, which extends above the bill and onto the forehead. The shield is red during the breeding season and white during the rest of the year. They also have a distinctive white patch on their lower flank.

Behavior

They are highly social birds and are often seen in large groups called “rafts,” especially during the non-breeding season. They use their lobed feet to propel themselves underwater in search of aquatic vegetation, insects, mollusks, and small fish.

Dovekie

Source: @kylepaulwildlife

• Scientific Name: Alle alle
• Size: 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.3 in)
• Locality: Shores of Eastern North America, and Iceland
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Summer

Dovekies can be a bit challenging to spot as they spend most of their time at sea, away from the coastlines. You may have a better chance of spotting them during their winter migration when they come closer to shore.

Noticeable Features

It is a compact bird with a short, stocky body and short wings. In breeding plumage, it has a distinctive black head and neck, white underparts, and a white patch behind the eye. Their back and wings are black with white spots and edges on the feathers.

Behavior

Dovekies are excellent divers and foragers, primarily feeding on small fish, krill, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates. They dive underwater to catch their prey, using their short wings to propel themselves while swimming.

Thick-Billed Murre

Source: @midcoastaudubon

• Scientific Name: Uria lomvia
• Size: 40 to 48 cm (16 to 19 in)
• Locality: Polar and Sub-polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to July

Thick-Billed Murres breed in the Arctic regions, including areas around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. They typically nest on cliffs and rocky ledges, where they form large colonies during the breeding season.

Noticeable Features

This bird is a medium-sized seabird with a black body and white underparts. It has a stout black bill, one of its distinguishing features. During the breeding season, they develop a white line on each side of the face, extending from the eye to the base of the bill.

Behavior

Thick-Billed Murres are strong swimmers and divers. They use their wings for propulsion underwater while foraging for fish, squid, and other small marine creatures. They are well adapted for diving to considerable depths in pursuit of their prey.

Yellow-Billed Loon

Source: @matthew.danihel

• Scientific Name: Gavia adamsii
• Size: 76 to 97 cm (30 to 38 in)
• Locality: Coasts of the Arctic Ocean
• Status: Near Threatened
• Breeding Season: Early June

Yellow-Billed Loons can be a bit rare to encounter, as they primarily inhabit remote and inaccessible Arctic regions during the breeding season. So, you may have better opportunities to spot them during migration or on coastal waters during the non-breeding season.

Noticeable Features

It is the largest species of Loon, with a long, thick neck and a heavy, straight, and bright yellow bill. During the breeding season, they have distinctive black and white plumage along with a black head, neck, and upper parts and a white underbelly.

Behavior

They are strong swimmers and divers. They use their powerful legs and feet, located at the back of their body, for propulsion underwater. Their diet mainly consists of fish, particularly Arctic char and other cold-water fish species.

Black-Crowned Night-Heron

Source: @ernestopfoto

• Scientific Name: Nycticorax nycticorax
• Size: 58 to 66 cm (22.8 to 26 in)
• Locality: Europe, Asia, and North and South America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: February to March and June to July

Black-Crowned Night-Herons are commonly seen in wetland areas and coastal regions. Their nocturnal behavior adds a unique dimension to birdwatching experiences, as they can be observed during the twilight hours when many other birds are inactive.

Noticeable Features

They have a black crown and back with gray wings and underparts. During the breeding season, adults develop long, wispy plumes on their back and neck. They have red eyes that are particularly noticeable during nighttime when their eyes reflect red in the light.

Behavior

These Herons are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the evening and early morning hours. They are skilled hunters and forage for a variety of prey, including fish, crustaceans, amphibians, insects, and small mammals.

Black-Capped Vireo

Source: @melodylytle

• Scientific Name: Vireo atricapilla
• Size: 12 cm (4.5 in)
• Locality: Parts of Southern North America
• Status: Near Threatened
• Breeding Season: April to July

Black-capped Vireos are primarily found in open woodlands, shrublands, and brushy areas with scattered trees. Their breeding range includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Northern Mexico. They are known for their preference for oak juniper and shrubby habitats.

Noticeable Features

It has a distinctive appearance with a black crown and nape, contrasting with a white face and underparts. It also has a gray back and wings, with a black line running through its eye. The females are similar to males but may have slightly duller plumage.

Behavior

Black-capped Vireos are insectivorous and they feed on a variety of insects and spiders. They are highly agile and acrobatic while foraging among the foliage and branches, gleaning insects from leaves and twigs.

Northern Shrike

Source: @lakrueger

• Scientific Name: Lanius borealis
• Size: 23 to 24 cm (9.1 to 9.4 in)
• Locality: East Eurasia and North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Late Winter and Early Spring

Spotting Northern Shrikes can be difficult due to their secretive behavior and preference for open habitats during the winter. However, you may spot them perched on fences, shrubs, or other elevated locations while searching for prey.

Noticeable Features

This species of Shrike has a distinctive black mask across its face, a gray back, and a white underbelly. They have a hooked bill that they use to capture and consume their prey. Their wings are black with a white patch on each wing, visible during flight.

Behavior

They are known for their predatory behavior and hunting techniques similar to raptors. They have a unique habit of impaling their prey, such as insects, small birds, and rodents, on thorns or barbed wire fences to store them for later consumption.

Black-Billed Magpie

Source: @sandrafrimpongg

• Scientific Name: Pica hudsonia
• Size: 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 in)
• Locality: Western North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: March to July

Black-Billed Magpies are highly intelligent birds and are known for their problem-solving abilities and complex social behavior. They are skilled mimics and can imitate the calls of other bird species, as well as human-made sounds.

Noticeable Features

This Magpie has a black head, neck, breast, wings, and tail, but white belly and shoulder patches. Their long tail feathers are iridescent and may show shades of green and blue in certain lighting.

Behavior

They are highly social birds and are often seen in small groups or larger flocks.

They are omnivorous and have a diverse diet, including insects, small mammals, eggs, fruits, seeds, and carrion.

Sandwich Tern

Source: @cridart

• Scientific Name: Thalasseus sandvicensis
• Size: 37 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in)
• Locality: Atlantic Coasts of North America, Northern and Eastern South America, and Western Europe
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to June

Sandwich Terns are found in coastal regions and prefer sandy or shingle beaches, coastal lagoons, estuaries, and salt marshes. They build simple nests in shallow scrapes on the ground, usually lined with bits of vegetation or shells.

Noticeable Features

This species of Tern has a black cap on its head that extends down to the eyes and contrasts with a white forehead and underparts. Its wings are gray with a dark trailing edge, and the bill is yellow with a black tip.

Behavior

They are skilled aerial hunters, diving from the air to catch fish near the water’s surface. They feed on small fish, such as sand eels and sprats, as well as crustaceans and insects.

Yellow-Throated Warbler

Source: @on_the_wild_side_with_sylvia

• Scientific Name: Setophaga dominica
• Size: 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in)
• Locality: Southeastern North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: April to July

Yellow-Throated Warblers inhabit a variety of forested habitats, including mixed woodlands, bottomlands, and swampy areas. You can spot them high up in tree canopies or foraging in the middle to upper levels of the forest.

Noticeable Features

This Warbler has a striking black-and-white pattern on its head and back. It has a bright yellow throat and breast, which is the key distinguishing feature of this bird. The belly and under-tail coverts are white, and it has a white crescent above the eye.

Behavior

These warblers are active foragers and primarily feed on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They are agile and adept at catching insects while hopping along tree branches and leaves.

Black and White Warbler

Source: @wingsfan91

• Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia
• Size:  13 cm (5.1 in)
• Locality: Northern and Eastern North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: April and August

Black-and-White Warblers love deciduous and mixed woodlands, as well as swamps and wooded areas along streams. Look for them in wooded areas with mature trees and listen to their high-pitched, repetitive song.

Noticeable Features

It has bold black and white stripes running vertically along its back and horizontally across its wings and underparts. It has a white belly, throat, and undertail coverts, with black streaking on its flanks.

Behavior

These Warblers are well adapted for climbing trees and foraging along branches while using their stiff tails to balance themselves. As they move head-first down tree trunks and limbs, they search for insects and spiders hiding in crevices.

Pileated Woodpecker

Source: @bob_inmusiccity

• Scientific Name: Dryocopus pileatus
• Size: 40 to 49 cm (16 to 19 in)
• Locality: Canada, Eastern United States, and Parts of the Pacific Coast
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: January to May

Pileated Woodpeckers create large rectangular or oval-shaped holes known as “cavities” in trees and often leave behind distinctive rectangular holes as evidence of their foraging activity.

Noticeable Features

It has a black body while the cheeks and neck are white. The throat is black and the underparts are also black with white stripes running across the wings and upper back. It also has a red crest on top of the head.

Behavior

These Woodpeckers are expert excavators and use their powerful bills to chisel into trees in search of insects, especially carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles.

Tufted Duck

Source: @heidelgo

• Scientific Name: Aythya fuligula
• Size: 40.6 to 45.7 cm (15.9 to 18 in)
• Locality: Northern Eurasia, Coasts of the United States and Canada
• Status: Near Threatened
• Breeding Season: May to August

Tufted Ducks are relatively common and can often be seen in groups on lakes and ponds. Their tufted head and striking black and white plumage make them easily identifiable among other ducks.

Noticeable Features

These ducks have distinctive black and white plumage. They have a glossy black body, white flanks, and a white belly. They also have a tuft of feathers on the back of their head.

Behavior

Tufted Ducks are diving ducks and spend much of their time underwater searching for food. They mainly feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and various invertebrates.

Black-Necked Stilt

Source: @oanature

• Scientific Name: Himantopus mexicanus
• Size: 33 to 43 cm (13 to17 in)
• Locality: North America and Central South America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: March to August

Black-Necked Stilts are found in salt marshes, freshwater marshes, mudflats, and shallow ponds and lagoons. Look for their slender silhouettes and striking black and white plumage as they wade and forage in shallow waters.

Noticeable Features

It has a black head, neck, back, and wings along with a white belly and white patches on its upper wings. Its bill is long and straight, and it is black during the breeding season and black with a pink base during the non-breeding season.

Behavior

These birds are skilled waders and feed by probing their long bills into shallow water or mud to catch insects, crustaceans, small fish, and other aquatic creatures.

Northern Mockingbird

Source: @knitgrandeur

• Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos
• Size: 20.5 to 28 cm (8.1 to 11.0 in)
• Locality: North America
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: Spring and Early Summer

Northern Mockingbirds are commonly seen in residential areas and parks. They build cup-shaped nests made of twigs, grass, and other plant materials, usually placed in dense shrubs or trees.

Noticeable Features

It has a slender body with a grayish-black upperparts and a white belly. It has long wings with white patches that are visible when in flight.

Its wings and tail also show subtle white wing bars and white outer tail feathers.

Behavior

They are known for their exceptional ability to mimic the songs of other bird species and the various sounds they encounter in their environment. They are also highly territorial and may engage in aggressive displays to defend their territories

Snow Bunting

Source: @jennybowlden_photography

• Scientific Name: Plectrophenax nivalis
• Size: 32 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in)
• Locality: Arctic Regions of North America, Europe, and Asia
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: April

Snow Buntings nest on the ground in rocky or gravelly areas in the Arctic tundra. Females build cup-shaped nests made of grass, moss, and other plant materials.

Noticeable Features

It has a plump body with a relatively short, conical bill. In the breeding season, males have striking black and white plumage. They have a mostly white body with black wingtips, a black back, and a black crown.

Behavior

Snow Buntings are social birds and are often seen in flocks, especially during the non-breeding season. They are skilled foragers and mainly feed on seeds, especially grass seeds, and insects.

Common Goldeneye

Source: @dirk_und_sandra_on_tour

• Scientific Name: Bucephala clangula
• Size: 45 to 51 cm (18 to 20 in)
• Locality: North America and Parts of Eurasia
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: December to May

Common Goldeneyes are found in a variety of freshwater habitats, such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and estuaries. They build their nests in tree cavities near water or on the ground in shrubby areas.

Noticeable Features

Male Common Goldeneyes have distinctive black and white plumage. They have a black head, neck, back, and upper wings along with a white body and white patch on the wing.

Behavior

These Goldeneyes are excellent divers and spend much of their time underwater searching for food. They mainly feed on aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and small fish.

Common Loon

Source: @jenselwa

• Scientific Name: Gavia immer
• Size: 66 to 91 cm (26 to 36 in)
• Locality: Northern North America and the Coasts of Europe
• Status: Least Concern
• Breeding Season: May to June

Common Loons build their nests near the water’s edge, often on small islands or in sheltered areas along lake shores. They can swim underwater for extended periods by using their feet and wings to propel themselves.

Noticeable Features

They have a sleek and streamlined body with a long, dagger-like bill. During the breeding season, they have a black head, neck, and upper parts, and a white underside. Their back and wings have a checkered pattern.

Behavior

They are skilled divers and spend much of their time underwater foraging for fish, their primary food source. Their haunting and eerie calls are a distinctive feature of these birds.

Blackpoll Warbler

Source: @terrinorrisphotography

• Scientific Name: Setophaga striata
• Size: 12.5 to 15 cm (4.9 to 5.9 in)
• Locality: Northern North and South America
• Status: Near Threatened
• Breeding Season: May to June

Blackpoll Warblers are migratory, so they can be observed in different regions depending on the season. During the breeding season, look for them in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.

Noticeable Features

Males have black cap and face that contrast with their white underparts and streaked sides. Females have a similar pattern, but their cap is gray instead of black.

Behavior

They are insectivores and mainly feed on insects and caterpillars during the breeding season. They are highly active foragers that glean insects from tree leaves and branches or catch them in mid-air during aerial maneuvers.

FAQ

As we’re close to the end of our article, I believe you have some questions lurking in your mind. Let’s check out whether these answers suit your curiosities!

Q: What are some common black and white birds found in Michigan?

Ans: Some common black-and-white birds in Michigan include the Black-and-White Warbler, Hairy Woodpecker, and White-Breasted Nuthatch.

Q: Are there any rare or unusual black and white bird species in Michigan?

Ans: Yes, occasionally, rare or unusual black and white bird species may make appearances in Michigan during migration seasons. One such example is the Black-Throated Gray Warbler, which is a western species that can occasionally be spotted in the state during migration.

Closing Thoughts

To sum it up, Michigan’s black and white birds bring a touch of elegance and charm to the state’s natural beauty.

Whether you are exploring lush forests, tranquil lakes, or vibrant wetlands, these feathered creatures never fail to captivate birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts with their unique behaviors and distinctive appearances.

Their presence adds a touch of monochromatic magic to the vibrant landscape, and will surely remind you of the delicate balance and intricate web of life that thrives in Michigan’s diverse ecosystems.

So, let’s give these black-and-white beauties some love and respect for their habitats. As we appreciate their amazing songs and aerial acrobatics, let’s remember to protect their homes and keep Michigan’s natural treasures safe for generations to come.

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Audio Credits: xeno-canto, wikimedia