Your first instinct might be to recognize birds by their distinctive feather details. But frequently, a bird is too far away or too silhouetted to discern fine details. It’s best to observe the bird’s size and shape first. By comparing the size of the bird in question to the sizes of birds you are already familiar with, you can rule out specific species.
Considering these intraspecific (found within the same species) variations, generalizations regarding the variations in plumage patterns are still possible. For example, the other three species are not black, but American Crows and Common Ravens are. Common Grackles appear entirely black from a distance, but they actually have glossy blue-purple heads, bronze bodies, and noticeable yellow eyes. Male Brown-headed Cowbirds can be identified by their striking contrast between brown and black plumage, and closer examination reveals that European Starlings have distinguishing white spots and yellow beaks. To distinguish, all you need are a few eye-catching visual differences.
Since crows are highly gregarious birds, it’s likely that you’re witnessing a murder of crows if you come across a large flock of black birds. Ravens tend to be solitary or in pairs. Crows and ravens also have different calls and sounds. Generally speaking, American Crows make the plain, scratchy caw-caw sound. The Common Raven’s call is a deeper gurgle. Keep in mind that different birds have different calls with distinct meanings, so you shouldn’t expect to hear the same sound all the time. Use our free download, Bird Communication, to learn more about bird communication.
If you’re attempting to identify a Common Grackle, for instance, note that it is larger than a Northern Cardinal and roughly the same size as a Blue Jay, though possibly a little smaller. Because they are both significantly larger than a blue jay, we can therefore conclude that this bird is not a crow or a raven. Additionally, since both Brown-headed Cowbirds and European Starlings are typically smaller than Northern Cardinals, we can be certain that this bird is most likely not one of those two species. Observing the size and length of the tail or beak is also beneficial.
Think about your immediate surroundings as well as your geographic location when considering your habitat. Certain birds are better spotted in fields and open spaces, while others are more likely to be seen in suburban areas, forests, and fields. All of these habitats are home to a few of our black birds. In general, Common Ravens and Brown-headed Cowbirds are less likely to be spotted close to urban or suburban settlements than Common Grackles, European Starlings, and American Crows.
Yellow-Headed BlackbirdAccording to
Rusty BlackbirdIn fall, you can see the rusty brown plumage (above) that gives this bird its name. The buff colored eyebrow is another key field mark. During other seasons, male rusty blackbirds are a dull black color with yellow eyes. This uncommon (and declining) species is almost always spotted by water. Rusty blackbirds nest around far northern bogs and spend winters in southeastern swamps.
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