The little black bird with a white belly that you are describing sounds like it could be one of several similar looking bird species. Based on the description of a small black bird with some white on the belly, the most likely options are:
Brewer’s Blackbird
The Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) is a common blackbird found throughout much of North America. The males have a black body with a purple-blue iridescent sheen on their heads and necks. Females are mostly dark brown or blackish-grey. Both males and females have bright yellow eyes and a long pointed bill.
One distinguishing feature of the Brewer’s Blackbird is the males have a distinctive white eye and yellowish white markings on the shoulders and belly. The eye markings almost look like “spectacles” which makes them easy to identify. Females have more streaky brown and grey plumage on the underside.
Brewer’s Blackbirds are medium sized songbirds, about 8-10 inches long with a wingspan of around 15 inches. They have relatively short tails compared to other blackbirds. They are seen in a variety of open habitats including meadows, agricultural areas, parks, backyards, and wetlands. Their range stretches across much of the central and western United States and Canada.
Appearance
To summarize the key identifying features of the Brewer’s Blackbird:
- Males are all black with bright yellow eyes and white “spectacles” on the face
- Females are dark grey-brown overall with heavy streaking on underside
- Medium sized blackbird approximately 8-10 inches in length
- Short tail compared to other blackbirds
- Long pointed bill
Range and Habitat
The breeding range of the Brewer’s Blackbird extends from British Columbia east to central Quebec, and south to Baja California, southern Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska and the Great Lakes region. They can be found across much of the western half of North America.
Preferred habitats include:
- Open meadows
- Grasslands
- Farmland
- Parks
- Backyards
- Wetlands
- Riparian areas
During the winter they may congregate in large flocks on agricultural land or open fields. They migrate south but remain in the southern parts of their range year-round.
Red-winged Blackbird
The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is another potential match for a small black bird with white on the belly. Males are all black with bright red “shoulder patches” edged with a thin band of yellow.
Females are dark brown overall with streaky undersides. Both males and females have conical bills that are sharper than many other blackbirds. Red-winged blackbirds are approximately 6.5 to 9.5 inches in length with wingspans of 12 to 15 inches.
Appearance
To identify a Red-winged Blackbird look for:
- Males are black with red and yellow shoulder patches
- Females are dark brown with heavy streaking on underside
- Conical bill shape
- Medium size of 6.5 to 9.5 inches
- Wingspan of 12 to 15 inches
Range and Habitat
Red-winged Blackbirds have the largest breeding range of any North American blackbird. They can be found from central Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland, south to Florida and into parts of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Typical habitats include:
- Marshes and wetlands
- Damp fields
- Roadsides
- Agricultural areas
- Prairie potholes
They prefer areas with dense vegetation near water. Northern populations migrate south for the winter while some southern populations are permanent residents.
Comparison
When differentiating between the Brewer’s Blackbird and Red-winged Blackbird, there are a few key points for identification:
Size
- Brewer’s Blackbirds are slightly larger on average (8-10 in) than Red-winged Blackbirds (6.5-9.5 in)
Plumage
- Male Brewer’s have a white eye ring and mottled white belly patches
- Male Red-winged have solid black plumage with red and yellow shoulder patches
- Female Brewer’s are more evenly streaked while female Red-winged have bolder streaking
Range
- Brewer’s are found mainly west of the Rocky Mountains
- Red-winged are found throughout most of North America
Habitat
- Brewer’s prefer open country such as fields, parks, etc.
- Red-winged mainly inhabit wetlands and marshes
This comparison is summarized in the table below:
Trait | Brewer’s Blackbird | Red-winged Blackbird |
---|---|---|
Size | 8-10 in | 6.5-9.5 in |
Male Plumage | Black with white eye ring and mottled belly | Black with red and yellow shoulder patches |
Female Plumage | Evenly streaked | Boldly streaked |
Range | Mainly west of Rockies | Across most of North America |
Habitat | Open country | Wetlands and marshes |
Other Possibilities
While the Brewer’s and Red-winged are the most likely options, there are a few other black birds with white bellies to consider:
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) are found primarily in the western half of North America. Males have black bodies, bright yellow heads and white patches on the wings. Females are brownish-grey with yellowish throats. They have conical bills and are about 8-10 inches in length.
Rusty Blackbird
The Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is a blackbird found across northern North America. Males are blackish with pale yellow eyes. Females are dark grey-brown. Both have a distinct rusty coloration on the shoulders and belly. Their range is mostly limited to boreal forest areas.
Common Grackle
The Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) is a large blackbird with a long keel-shaped tail found throughout North America. Males are black with metallic purplish heads. Females are brown with darker streaking. They show white at the base of the tail in flight which distinguishes them from other similar blackbirds.
Conclusion
Based on the description provided, the two most likely candidates for a small black bird with white on the belly are the Brewer’s Blackbird and Red-winged Blackbird. The Brewer’s is more common in the western half of North America, prefers open habitats, and shows distinctive white “spectacles” on the male’s face. The Red-winged is found throughout most of the continent, mainly sticks to wetland areas, and has bold black and red shoulder patches on the male. Comparing size, plumage characteristics, range, and habitat preferences helps differentiate these two species as well as ruling out less common lookalikes. So take a closer look at that little black and white bird next time and you should be able to determine if it’s a Brewer’s or Red-winged Blackbird.