9 Black-and-Red Birds You Can See in North America

Across North America, the most familiar black-and-red birds include the red-winged blackbird, red-headed woodpecker, and scarlet tanager, as well as a number of other widespread or locally occurring species. This guide explains how to identify these birds throughout the United States and Canada by focusing on their plumage patterns, vocalizations, and seasonal movements in habitats ranging from forests and wetlands to open fields and backyard landscapes.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

• Identification: Medium-sized blackbird with a slender conical bill; males glossy black with bright red-and-yellow shoulder epaulets, females brown and heavily streaked with a pale eyebrow.
• Where found: Widespread across most of the United States and southern Canada in marshes, wetlands, meadows, and open fields.
• Field recognition: Look for males perched prominently while displaying their red epaulets and giving the distinctive “conk-la-lee” song; large flocks and active ground foraging are common outside the breeding season.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); still widespread though showing long-term declines in many regions of North America.

The red-winged blackbird is a familiar black-and-red presence across North America’s wetlands and open landscapes, where males display glossy black plumage marked by bright shoulder epaulets. This medium-sized blackbird measures 15 to 25 centimeters (5.9 to 9.8 inches) in length and presents a robust, broad-shouldered build with a slender, pointed bill. Adult males are entirely glossy black except for the red epaulets bordered by yellow on the upper wing, which they expand dramatically during territorial and courtship displays. Females look entirely different, with mottled brown upperparts, heavy streaking below, and a pale eyebrow that gives them a sparrow-like appearance. Young birds resemble females but are duller overall.

Red-winged blackbirds are highly active, vocal, and conspicuous, especially during the breeding season when males perch on cattails, shrubs, or wires and repeatedly deliver their tumbling “conk-la-lee” song. Their flight is agile and slightly undulating, with the tail held straight behind the body. Foraging birds walk and hop confidently on the ground, probe vegetation using a gaping technique to expose hidden prey, or sally briefly for insects. Males frequently spread their wings and flare their epaulets during territorial disputes, interactions with predators, or when confronting other birds and even humans; these displays make the red patches appear much larger and are often the best moments to appreciate their bright coloration. Their vocal repertoire includes a wide range of chatters, checks, whistles, and alarm calls given by both sexes, with males singing frequently from exposed perches and females using softer, more varied chatter around the nest.

This species occupies an enormous range across the United States and southern Canada, breeding in freshwater and saltwater marshes, wet meadows, sedge fields, agricultural edges, and a variety of open or semi-open habitats. Northern populations migrate to the southern United States and Mexico for winter, while many southern and western populations remain year-round. During fall and winter, red-winged blackbirds form immense mixed-species roosts in wetlands, agricultural landscapes, and wooded thickets, sometimes numbering in the millions.

Although still abundant and familiar, the species shows long-term declines across much of North America, primarily associated with habitat loss, changing agricultural practices, and reduced wetland quality. Despite these trends, it remains a widespread and easily observed bird wherever standing water and tall vegetation are present.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

• Identification: Medium-sized woodpecker with a fully crimson head, glossy black upperparts, and bright white underparts and wing patches; juveniles show dull gray-brown heads.
• Where found: Eastern and central North America in open woodlands, pine savannas, agricultural edges, and wetlands with standing dead timber.
• Field recognition: Look for its bold black-and-white flash in flight, steady perching posture, and frequent aerial sallies for insects, accompanied by sharp “tchur” calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); declining across much of North America due to habitat loss and reduced availability of dead trees and hard-mast resources.

The red-headed woodpecker is a striking black-and-red bird across eastern and central North America, instantly recognizable by the adult’s fully crimson head contrasting with snowy-white underparts and glossy black upperparts. This medium-sized species measures 19 to 24 centimeters (7.5 to 9.4 inches) in length and shows crisp, high-contrast plumage that gives a “checkerboard” appearance in flight. Adults of both sexes are identical in the field, while juveniles display gray-brown heads and some dusky streaking below until their first fall molt. Large white patches in the wings and on the rump create a bold pattern that is visible both at rest and in motion, and the bird’s upright posture on trunks or exposed snags enhances its distinctive silhouette.

This woodpecker’s foraging and flight behavior provide reliable field marks. It climbs tree trunks and limbs in the typical woodpecker manner but often remains still for long stretches, and it is far more aerial than most of its relatives. Red-headed woodpeckers frequently sally out from perches to catch insects in midair, return to the same perch, or drop to the ground to seize prey or seeds – behaviors that set them apart from many other woodpeckers. Their flight is direct and powerful rather than strongly undulating, making the bold white wing patches conspicuous from a distance. Calls include loud “tchur-tchur” notes, raspy scolds, and sharper rattling alarms, all of which help reveal their presence in open woods or along edges. High visibility, loud vocalizations, and frequent aerial movements make the species relatively easy to detect when present.

Red-headed woodpeckers occupy open and semi-open habitats, including pine savannas, oak woodlands, scattered woodlots in agricultural areas, and wetlands with standing dead timber. They breed widely across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through much of the Midwest and east to portions of the Appalachians and Atlantic states, extending south into the central and southeastern United States. Many northern and western populations migrate southward in fall, though movements vary dramatically with annual acorn and beechnut crops. Wintering birds often remain in mast-rich landscapes across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast.

The species has experienced long-term declines due to the loss of dead trees used for nesting and food storage, changes in forest structure, and reductions in nut-producing tree species. Conservation efforts that retain snags and promote open woodland conditions are crucial for maintaining stable populations across its range.

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

• Identification: Medium-sized tanager; breeding males brilliant red with black wings and tail, females and non-breeding males olive-yellow with darker wings and tail.
• Where found: Eastern North America in mature deciduous and mixed forests, especially in large interior tracts.
• Field recognition: Listen for the burry, robin-like song and “chip-burr” call high in the canopy; watch for brief red flashes as males move between perches or sally for insects.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); generally stable across eastern North America but sensitive to forest fragmentation.

The scarlet tanager is a memorable black-and-red bird of eastern North America, defined by the adult male’s brilliant red body set against jet-black wings and tail during the breeding season. This medium-sized tanager measures 16 to 17 centimeters (6.3 to 6.7 inches) in length and has a stocky, broad-shouldered build with a fairly large head and a thick, rounded bill suited for catching insects and eating fruit. Only males in breeding plumage exhibit the striking black-and-red combination; females are olive green to olive yellow with darker wings and tail, while non-breeding and first-year males resemble females but may retain black wings and tail or develop patchy orangish-red tones during molts.

Scarlet tanagers spend much of their time high in the canopy, where their behavior offers important identification cues. Males deliver a burry, robin-like song that carries through mature forest, often from hidden perches deep in leafy cover. They move with quick hops along branches, forage by gleaning insects from leaves and bark, hover briefly to pluck prey from foliage, or sally into the air to catch flying insects. Birds of both sexes give a sharp “chip-burr” call that is especially helpful for detection when foliage obscures views. During territorial interactions, males engage in rapid chases and display swift, direct flight with bursts of wingbeats and short pauses. Seasonal mixed-species flocks in late summer and fall may contain multiple tanagers, making vocal and behavioral cues key to identifying individuals.

This species breeds throughout the deciduous and mixed forests of eastern North America, from southeastern Canada south through the Appalachians and across much of the eastern and central United States. It favors large, relatively undisturbed forest tracts and can be scarce in heavily fragmented landscapes. During migration, scarlet tanagers move through a variety of wooded habitats and occasionally appear in parks and backyards before undertaking a long-distance flight to wintering grounds in northern and western South America.

Population trends are generally stable, though local declines occur where forest fragmentation increases exposure to nest predators and brood parasitism. Conservation of mature forest habitats remains central to supporting tanager populations across their breeding range.

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

• Identification: Small flycatcher; males bright vermilion to scarlet with a dark mask and blackish-brown upperparts, females gray-brown with streaked breasts and a salmon-red wash on the lower underparts.
• Where found: Southwestern United States, Gulf Coast in winter, and through Mexico and Central America in open, shrubby, and riparian habitats.
• Field recognition: Look for a small, upright bird perched low on exposed branches or fences, sallying out in short, direct flights to catch insects and giving sharp “peent” calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); stable in the United States overall, though locally declining where riparian habitats are degraded.

The vermilion flycatcher is a vivid bird in the arid and semi-arid landscapes of the southwestern United States, with adult males displaying brilliant vermilion or orange-red plumage offset by a dark mask and blackish-brown upperparts. This small flycatcher measures 12 to 14 centimeters (4.7 to 5.5 inches) in length and shows a compact, slightly barrel-chested profile with an upright perching posture and a fairly broad, straight bill. Females present a markedly different appearance: gray-brown above with a pale forehead and faint superciliary stripe, streaked breasts, and a soft salmon-red blush toward the vent and lower belly. Juveniles are mottled brown above and spotted below, while first-year males show varying degrees of rusty or orange-red mottling as they transition toward adult plumage.

Vermilion flycatchers spend much of their time perched on exposed branches, shrubs, wires, or fence posts, where they watch for flying insects. They hunt primarily by sallying: quick, direct flights from a perch to snatch prey before returning to the same spot. Foraging flights can be short and concise or erratic during prolonged pursuits, and individuals sometimes hover briefly when gleaning from foliage or feeding a mate. Their vocalizations include sharp “peent” calls used in contact and alarm contexts and a distinctive male song heard during territory defense and display. Males occasionally perform high, fluttering flight displays accompanied by rapid, twittering vocalizations. This combination of low, exposed perches, abrupt aerial sallies, and bright coloration makes the species relatively easy to recognize where it occurs.

Within North America, vermilion flycatchers are found primarily in the southwestern United States, from southern California and Nevada across Arizona, New Mexico, and western and central Texas. They inhabit open desert scrub, riparian corridors, lightly wooded pastures, orchards, golf courses, and other open areas with scattered trees or shrubs. Some individuals overwinter along the Gulf Coast and in parts of southern California and Arizona, while others remain year-round in the southernmost portions of the U.S. range. The species is largely resident throughout Mexico and Central America, with migratory movements in parts of South America.

Although generally common, local declines occur where groundwater depletion and habitat alteration reduce the quality of desert riparian systems. Across the U.S. portion of the range, populations have remained broadly stable, but conservation of open riparian habitats remains important for the species’ long-term security.

Painted Redstart

Myioborus pictus

• Identification: Large, heavy-bodied warbler with velvety black plumage, bold white wing patches and outer tail feathers, a white eye crescent, and a vivid scarlet patch from the lower breast through the belly.
• Where found: Montane pine-oak and oak-juniper forests of the southwestern United States and Mexico, mainly in shady canyons and wooded slopes.
• Field recognition: Noted for its wing- and tail-flashing foraging style, frequent hopping and pivoting along branches, hovering and sallying for insects, and distinctive pine siskin-like call notes.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); generally stable in the United States, though vulnerable to habitat loss in montane forest systems.

The painted redstart is a striking black-and-red warbler of the southwestern mountains, immediately recognizable by its velvety black plumage set against a vivid scarlet belly and bold white wing and tail flashes. This relatively large, full-bodied warbler measures 13 to 15 centimeters (5.1 to 5.9 inches) in length and has a fine, pointed bill, moderately long wings, and a fairly long tail frequently held partly open. Males and females are indistinguishable in the field, both showing a crisp white eye crescent and prominent white wing patches. Juveniles resemble adults in pattern but are duller overall, lack the red belly, and show darker underparts until they molt into adult plumage.

Painted redstarts are unusually conspicuous in their foraging behavior, often revealing themselves before they are fully seen. They hop and pivot along branches, flicking open their wings and fanning their tails to startle insects into flight, then capture prey by gleaning, hover-gleaning, or hawking. Their frequent side-to-side body movements and pirouette-like postures add to their animated appearance. In flight they move in short, direct bursts when pursuing prey or shifting between perches. Vocal recognition is equally important: both sexes sing a variable, bright series of “weeta” and “chilp” notes, and their harsh, whistled calls strongly resemble those of a pine siskin. Alarm calls are high, sharp notes given in response to predators or disturbance, while nestlings and fledglings produce continuous squeaky begging calls when adults approach with food.

In North America, painted redstarts breed locally in mountainous regions of Arizona, New Mexico, and the sky islands of western Texas, favoring shaded canyons and slopes within pine-oak, oak, and pinyon-juniper woodlands. They also breed patchily in mountains of southern California and Nevada, and widely throughout similar habitats in Mexico and northern Central America. Most U.S.-breeding birds migrate to Mexico and Central America for winter, although small numbers overwinter at lower elevations in southeastern Arizona. Wintering individuals occupy wooded canyons, riparian corridors, and drier oak woodlands.

Across their range, habitat loss and degradation of montane forests present ongoing challenges, but populations in the United States appear broadly stable where suitable canyon and woodland habitats remain intact.

Red-Breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

• Identification: Medium-sized woodpecker with an entirely red head and breast, bold white wing patch, mottled black-and-white back, and pale underparts with a yellow wash; sexes alike.
• Where found: Coniferous and mixed forests of the Pacific Coast and Sierra Nevada, extending from southeastern Alaska through British Columbia and the western United States.
• Field recognition: Watch for vertical hitching on trunks, flap-bounding flight, rows of fresh sap wells, irregular drumming, and nasal chatter-like calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); generally stable or increasing across the Pacific Northwest, though sensitive to loss of snags and alteration of mature forests.

The red-breasted sapsucker is another North American woodpecker distinguished by a fully red head, but unlike other red-headed species, its scarlet coloration extends seamlessly over the entire head, nape, and upper breast, making it especially striking against the dark forests of the Pacific slope. This woodpecker measures 20 to 22 centimeters (7.9 to 8.7 inches) in length and shows a long, slightly tapered body, a rounded head, and a straight chisel-like bill suited to drilling sap wells. Its plumage features a white spot in front of the eye, a large vertical white wing patch, a mottled black-and-white back, and pale underparts with a variable yellow wash on the belly. Sexes appear identical in the field. Juveniles are brownish overall, lacking extensive red until their early fall molt, when the characteristic red head and breast emerge.

Behaviorally, red-breasted sapsuckers are active, methodical foragers that hitch up trunks and branches, drill neat rows of shallow sap wells, and return repeatedly to lap up sap with their brush-tipped tongues. They also glean and fly-catch insects, often darting quickly through vegetation in pursuit of prey. Their flight is flap-bounding, creating a distinct undulating path, and is sometimes exaggerated in display. Vocal cues include dry, rapid chatter notes exchanged between mates or family members, nasal squealing calls, especially from males during the breeding season, and soft “waa” alerts. Drumming is irregular and stuttering rather than rhythmically patterned, offering another field mark for identification. Territorial interactions may involve high-speed chases through dense foliage, showcasing this species’ agility.

The species inhabits a broad swath of the Pacific Coast and interior western mountains, breeding from southeastern Alaska south through coastal and interior British Columbia and into Washington, Oregon, and much of California, with localized populations extending into Nevada and rarely northwestern Arizona. It favors coniferous and mixed forests, particularly where aspen, alder, or other deciduous trees suitable for sap wells and nesting occur. In winter, many birds move to lower elevations and coastal regions, including parks, orchards, and wooded suburban areas. Most populations undertake short-distance migrations, shifting downslope or toward milder coastal climates.

Overall, red-breasted sapsuckers remain stable or increasing across much of their range, though forestry practices that reduce snags and alter mature forest structure can limit nesting opportunities and sap-foraging sites.

White-Winged Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera

• Identification: Medium-sized finch with a heavy crossed bill, two bold white wingbars, and black wings and tail; males rose-pink to red, females olive-yellow, and immatures brownish with streaked underparts.
• Where found: Boreal spruce and tamarack forests across Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States, with irregular irruptions far south of the typical range.
• Field recognition: Look for bounding flight, tight chattering flocks, acrobatic foraging on cones, and distinctive dry “chut” flight calls.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); broadly stable across North America but sensitive to changes in mature conifer stands and cone availability.

The white-winged crossbill is a distinctive black-and-red boreal finch, with adult males showing rosy to bright red plumage offset by crisp black wings marked with two prominent white wingbars. This medium-sized finch measures 15 to 17 centimeters (5.9 to 6.7 inches) in length and is compact, short-tailed, and instantly recognized by its heavy, crossed mandibles – an adaptation for prying open tightly scaled conifer cones. Females appear olive-yellow to greenish-gray with the same wing pattern, while immatures are brownish and heavily streaked below. Structural details such as the narrow, slightly forked tail and the contrasting white wingbars help distinguish this species from red crossbills even in poor light.

White-winged crossbills are active, social, and highly vocal, remaining in flocks throughout the year – even during the nesting season. They forage mainly in spruce and tamarack trees, clambering among cones using both bill and feet, often hanging sideways or upside down. Their crossed bills allow them to pry apart cone scales with remarkable efficiency, and flocks frequently move rapidly from tree to tree to assess cone quality. Their bounding flight is fast and purposeful, and flight calls include dry, rapid “chut-chut” notes and nasal “cheit” phrases that travel far across open forest. Singing males often perch atop conifers or circle slowly in the air, delivering trilled, warbling songs. Birds descend to the ground for grit or fallen cones and may challenge nearby flocks with abrupt chases.

This species is widespread but unpredictable across northern North America, breeding wherever mature spruce, tamarack, or related conifers produce sufficient cone crops. It is most numerous in the closed boreal forests of Alaska, Canada, and the northeastern United States, with smaller, sporadic breeding populations in the Cascades and Rockies extending as far south as Colorado and northern New Mexico. White-winged crossbills wander nomadically in response to cone availability, sometimes erupting far beyond their typical range into the northern United States, Pacific Northwest, or even the Midwest and Northeast. These irruptions often occur in late autumn and winter when boreal cone crops fail.

Overall population trends appear stable, though modern forestry practices that reduce mature spruce stands and shorten harvest rotations may limit high-quality cone-producing habitat.

Tricolored Blackbird

Agelaius tricolor

• Identification: Medium-sized blackbird; males glossy black with bright red shoulder patches bordered below by a white bar, females dark brown and heavily streaked with a pale eyebrow and often a faint reddish shoulder area.
• Where found: Highly localized to California’s Central Valley and surrounding regions, with smaller breeding colonies in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and northwestern Baja California, using wetlands and nearby agricultural landscapes.
• Field recognition: Usually seen in dense, noisy colonies or large flocks; watch for stocky, humpbacked birds with direct, shallowly undulating flight, conspicuous red-and-white shoulders on males, and a buzzy, catlike male song.
• Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN); sharply declining across its limited western range due to wetland loss and conflicts with agricultural practices, despite growing conservation efforts.

The tricolored blackbird is the West Coast’s rare, colony-nesting counterpart to the red-winged blackbird, and another blackbird that advertises bold red wing patches against a black body. This species measures 18 to 24 centimeters (7.1 to 9.4 inches) long, and perched birds often look stocky and slightly humpbacked with a slender, conical bill and medium-length tail. Adult males are entirely glossy black, their bright red epaulets sharply underlined by a white to cream-colored bar. Females are smaller and much more subdued, appearing dark gray-brown above with a pale eyebrow, whitish chin and throat, and heavily streaked underparts that darken toward the belly; many show a faint reddish-orange shoulder patch.

Tricolored blackbirds are highly social and are most often detected by sound as much as by sight. During the breeding season, males gather in dense colonies and deliver a harsh, buzzy song often likened to a meowing cat, creating a continuous male chorus that can carry for long distances over marshes and fields. Both sexes use a variety of chatters, chucks, and harsh alarm notes, and colonies can fall abruptly silent when a predator appears. Birds forage mostly by walking or hopping through short grass, irrigated fields, or shallow wetlands, probing and “gaping” into soil and vegetation to extract insects and seeds, and sometimes wading in rice paddies with their heads submerged to capture aquatic larvae. Outside the breeding season, tricolored blackbirds join mixed flocks with red-winged blackbirds, brown-headed cowbirds, and European starlings, traveling in tight, cohesive groups that move between feeding areas and communal roosts.

This species has one of the most restricted ranges of any North American blackbird, centered on California’s Central Valley and adjacent foothills, with additional, much smaller breeding colonies in northeastern California, southern Oregon, central Washington, western Nevada, and locally in northwestern Baja California. Historically, tricolored blackbirds nested almost exclusively in extensive wetlands with dense emergent vegetation, but widespread wetland loss has pushed many colonies into agricultural habitats such as triticale and other grain fields, as well as dairy-associated forage crops. Birds make short-distance seasonal movements, withdrawing from some northern and upland breeding areas in winter and concentrating in lowland agricultural districts, especially near dairies and feedlots.

Over the past several decades, populations have declined steeply as wetlands have been drained and nesting colonies in crop fields are frequently destroyed by harvests before young fledge. Additional pressures include conversion of open farmland to orchards and vineyards that offer little nesting habitat. Conservation initiatives now focus on working with farmers to delay harvests near active colonies, securing and restoring wetland and grassland nesting sites, and improving management on wildlife refuges, but the tricolored blackbird remains a high-priority species of concern across its limited western range.

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

• Identification: Medium-sized songbird with a tall crest and thick, conical bill; males brilliant red with a black face mask, females grayish tan with warm reddish accents on wings, tail, crest, and face.
• Where found: Widespread across eastern and central North America, the Southwest, and Mexico, favoring shrubby edges, woodlots, backyards, and dense understory.
• Field recognition: Listen for clear, whistled “what-cheer” and “birdie” songs, piercing chip calls, and watch for low, deliberate foraging, prominent crest, and a bright red male that remains vibrant year-round.
• Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN); expanding and increasing across much of its range, thriving in human-altered landscapes.

The Northern Cardinal is among the most iconic red birds in North America, with males displaying brilliant plumage and an unmistakable crest that make them instantly recognizable in any season. This medium-sized songbird measures 21 to 24 centimeters (8.3 to 9.4 inches) in length and shows a fairly large head, a long tail often held slightly downward, and a very thick, orange-red bill specialized for cracking seeds. Adult males are vivid red with a black mask surrounding the bill, while females are grayish tan with warm washes of red on the wings, tail, crest, and face along with a subtly shaded mask. Juveniles resemble females but are duller overall, with gray to black bills and softer-textured plumage.

Cardinals are active yet deliberate birds, most often encountered low in shrubs, hedges, or dense tangles rather than high in the canopy. They hop on the ground or move through foliage in search of seeds, buds, fruits, and insects, using their powerful bills to husk seeds or peel fruit skins. Their flight is short, direct, and slightly undulating over open spaces, but they spend much of their time perched quietly within cover or engaging in slow branch-to-branch movements. Vocal clues are essential for locating them: both males and females sing clear, whistled phrases, often described as “what cheer, what cheer” or “birdie, birdie, birdie,” that carry through suburban yards and woodland edges. Their metallic “chip” calls are equally distinctive and frequently given during foraging, territorial interactions, or when mates move out of sight. During courtship, males may perform slow, fluttering song-flights and deliver soft “took” calls while feeding females.

The northern cardinal occupies a broad distribution across eastern and central North America, from the Gulf Coast north to the Great Lakes, southern Canada, and into the northeastern United States. Its range continues westward into the Plains and southward through much of Mexico and northern Central America, with isolated populations in the southwestern United States and introduced populations established in Hawaii, Bermuda, and parts of California. This species favors areas with dense understory – backyards, parks, shrubby forest edges, riparian thickets, and second-growth habitats, and has expanded northward and westward over the last two centuries in response to agricultural clearing and suburban development that provide suitable cover and food resources.

Populations remain stable or increasing across most of the range, and despite local habitat pressures, the species is considered secure throughout North America.

Recognizing Black-and-Red Birds in the Field

With practice, recognizing our black-and-red birds becomes easier as you learn to read their patterns, posture, and voice. Keep an eye on habitat, behavior, and season – three clues that will quickly narrow down the possibilities.