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

12. White-Winged Tanager (Piranga leucoptera)

Calling Central and South America home, the white-winged tanager is another bird that comes to mind that matches the description of a black and white bird with a red head. Approximately 5 inches long, the male of this species is mostly red in color, but it does boast black wings with white wing bars. The tail of the white-winged tanager is mostly black in color, too. Conversely, females are yellow and green, instead of red. A notable feature of the white-winged tanager is the black mask this bird has around its eyes.

13. Red-Headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala)

The red-headed finch is generally 6 to 7 inches long and is another black and white bird with a red head. This finch is native to Africa and is one of the most colorful birds in the savannah, thanks to its bright red head. The red-headed finch male boasts this colorful red head and throat, and the rest of the body has a scalloped gray-black and white patterning, making it look almost spotted. The female of this species is entirely gray-brown in color.

14. Red-Capped Cardinal (Paroaria gularis)

Flying around South America, the red-capped cardinal is most common in wooded areas. Of course, the most distinctive feature of this bird is its scarlet red head. Interestingly, its eyes are circled by a striking black color, which makes the red stand out all the more. The body of the red-capped cardinal is black in color with some white streaks and a white belly. The throat of this bird is black in color as well. Juvenile red-capped cardinals look very similar to the adults, but the head is more of a brownish color than red. In terms of size, this South American bird is roughly 6 to 7 inches long.

15. Masked Cardinal (Paroaria nigrogenis)

At first glance, the masked cardinal looks very similar to the red-capped cardinal. Found in Venezuela and Colombia, the masked cardinal has a crimson red and a black eye mask – much like its red-capped cousin. However, the masked cardinal differs from the red-capped cardinal in that it has black ear-coverts and a red lower throat, instead of a black lower throat. This bird also has black wings and a white belly.

16. Red-Faced Warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons)

The red-faced warbler is commonly found in the forested areas of Mexico and Arizona. You’ll mostly find this bird foraging amongst the branches pretty high up in the trees, but interestingly, it nests on the ground. The females and males of the red-faced warbler are similar in color, with both boasting red faces and throats. The rest of the bird is mostly grayish brown with streaks of black and white. The red-faced warbler is a relatively small bird, measuring just 5.5 inches long.

17. Two-Barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)

Also called the white-winged crossbill, the two-barred crossbill is a small songbird that lives in Europe and North America. Measuring around 5.5 to 7 inches long, this bird has a very distinctive crossed bill. The males of this species have a raspberry red forehead, crown, and nape. Their wings are black with white bars, and their tail is black with white fringes. The female two-barred crossbills lack the red color and have a green-yellow head instead.

18. Acorn Woodpecker (elanerpes formicivorus)

The habitat of the acorn woodpecker extends from Oregon and California all the way south to Central America and Colombia. As you might be able to guess from its name, this bird is known for its dependency on acorns for food. In terms of appearance, the acorn woodpecker is mostly black in color with white streaks on its wings and a mostly white belly. While its head is also mostly black, the acorn woodpecker notably has a bright red cap and yellow eyes.

Summary of Black and White Birds With Red Head