By Nivritti Khatri | August 5, 2025
From mysterious crows to striking blackbirds, here are 10 of the most fascinating black birds you can spot across the United States.
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1. Common Raven
Known for their intelligence and deep croaking calls, ravens are among the smartest birds in the world. Their glossy black plumage and playful antics make them a fascinating sight in the wild.
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2. American Crow
Often misunderstood, crows are highly social, incredibly smart, and even capable of recognising human faces. Their cawing is a familiar sound in both cities and rural areas.
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3. Red-winged Blackbird
Males are jet black with striking red and yellow shoulder patches. Found near wetlands, they’re known for their loud, trilling songs and territorial displays.
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4. Common Grackle
These iridescent black birds shimmer with hues of blue and purple. Grackles are bold, noisy, and often seen in large flocks in open fields and suburban areas.
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5. European Starling
Introduced from Europe, starlings have adapted well to North America. Their black feathers glisten with speckles, and their flocks (called murmurations) are a spectacle in the sky.
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6. Brown-headed Cowbird
A black bird with a distinct brown head, cowbirds are known for their unusual nesting behavior—they lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and let them do the parenting!
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7. Rusty Blackbird
Less commonly seen, this migratory blackbird has a subtle rusty wash in non-breeding season. It prefers bogs, swamps, and forested wetlands.
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8. Black Vulture
With its sooty black body and featherless gray head, the black vulture plays a vital role in the ecosystem by cleaning up carrion. They’re more common in the southeastern US.
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9. Boat-tailed Grackle
Mostly found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, this coastal bird has an exaggerated long tail and a glossy black-blue appearance. Their loud calls are often heard near marshes.
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10. Phainopepla
Native to the Southwest, the Phainopepla is sleek, crested, and jet black with red eyes. It thrives in desert habitats and loves mistletoe berries.
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