Black and White Bird with Red Head: 18 Species It Might Be

9. Scarlet Honeycreeper (Drepanis coccinea)

Also known as the ‘I’iwi, the scarlet honeycreeper closely matches the description of black and white bird with a red head. This bird lives in Hawaii and is notably one of the more abundant native bird species of the islands. While this bird may appear mostly red at first glance, adult scarlet honeycreepers actually also have black and white coloring. Specifically, these birds boast that signature bright scarlet head, with the color bleeding down their back and belly, too. Furthermore, ‘I’iwis have black wings with white spots that contrast the scarlet red. Another distinguishing feature of these birds is their curved bill.

10. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

The yellow-bellied sapsucker can be found in North America and Central America and prefers to live in conifer and hardwood forests. This bird has a straight bill and a forked tail, and their plumage is a beautiful mix of colors. Adult males have a black and white striped face with a red throat, forehead, and crown. They also have vertical white patches all over the rest of the body – on the back, belly, and wings. Females look almost identical to the males, except they have a white throat and a paler crown. Juveniles, on the other hand, lack that bold red marking on their head. In terms of size, the yellow-bellied sapsucker can measure anywhere between 7 to 8.5 inches long.

11. Flame-Colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata)

A resident of Mexico and Central America, the flame-colored tanager is also a rare visitor to the southwestern United States, particularly after breeding. Male flame-colored tanagers have a bright red-orange head with gray-black wings and white spots. Their black tail also boasts streaks of white. Females, on the other hand, are olive-green in color and have a yellow belly along with gray-black wings with white streaks.