18 Birds That Are Orange And Black (Inc. Awesome Photos)

Birds come in various colored plumage, with some looking pretty dull and others displaying tropical plumage.

But, if someone were to ask you to name a bird that is just orange and black, you might struggle!

There are, however, many more orange and black birds than you might think. Below, we’ve compiled a list of 18 birds that are orange and black.

From the Western Tanager to the Blackburnian Warbler, you’re guaranteed to find at least one species you’ve never heard of!

Western Tanager

A medium-sized songbird, the Western Tanager, has a black back and wings and a bright orange face. They also sport a yellow nape, rump, and shoulder, giving them a particularly bright appearance.

Native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, their range covers Central California to Alaska. They have also been found further south as well, with some reported sightings in Mexico. 

Their preferred habitat is forested and full of lush vegetation near a water source such as a lake or river.

However, for breeding seasons, they’ll choose to live in coniferous, mixed woods for extra cover and safety while raising their brood.

They have also been known to nest in pine trees, juniper bushes, and certain varieties of cacti. They’ll even set up home in an old bird’s nest if need be.

As omnivorous birds, they feed on insects, seeds, berries, and larger fruits. Look for these sources of food when out spotting, and you’ll most likely see one hopping along the branches of a tree. 

Spotted Towhee

A common sight throughout most of North America, the Spotted Towhee is a small songbird with a black head and wings, white underparts, and rust-orange flanks.

Usually found perching on the branches of trees, the first tell-tale sign of their presence is their loud, distinctive song that they sing at dawn and dusk.

They like to set up homes in large, open woodland habitats such as orchards, parks, scrublands, and oak savannas.

The Spotted Towhee has also been known to set up home in some larger gardens as well, particularly if there are plenty of trees or shrubs to take cover in.

Primarily insectivorous, the Spotted Towhee’s diet consists of 90% small insects and invertebrates. However, they will switch to other food sources during the winter months and visit garden bird tables, and feeders socked with seeds.

They’ve also been known to hoard food, stashing dead insects and seeds into tree cavities to revisit and peck away at later.

American Redstart

The American Redstart is a small songbird with a bright orange chest and tail, measuring and weighing around the same size as a Sparrow.

They also have white wing bars, but the rest of this impressive little bird is jet black. 

Native to North America, the American Redstart has been seen in Pennsylvania, California, and the Rocky Mountains. Their preferred habitat is deciduous forests with large, open areas and plenty of trees.

They’ve also been spotted in orchards and the occasional backyard with enough cover available. 

Like many birds, you’re more likely to hear an American Redstart than see one, and the males, in particular, have a very loud singing voice.

In fact, during summer and early fall, males will gather together at dusk and sing in chorus, sometimes as many as 20 birds strong, with members from different locations in the surrounding area. 

Mainly insectivorous, the American Redstart feeds solely on insects throughout the summer.

However, they will happily visit bird feeders stocked with berries and seeds when winter comes around. 

Varied Thrush

Commonly mistaken for the American Robin, the Varied Thrush is native to North America and sports a bright orange breast along with a black head and back.

It migrates to Mexico during the winter months, but throughout summer, you’ll spot a Varied Thrush anywhere from Canada and Alaska down to the Southern United States. 

Mainly found in forests but also known to set up homes in areas with lots of shrubberies, their breeding season runs from May to July.

Unlike many other small birds, the Varied Thrush builds its nest either on or close to the ground. This is usually under leaf litter, in dense vegetation, or between rocks. 

Their diet is very insect-heavy, with crickets, caterpillars, spiders, beetles, and snails making up the majority of their intake.

However, they have also been known to feed on seeds and berries. It all really depends on what is available in their current environment.

Red-Winged Blackbird

Despite its name, the Red-Winged Blackbird looks nothing like the European Blackbird. Instead, it has bright orange and yellow wing feathers (hence the name), while the rest of the body is entirely black.

They are around the same size as a European Blackbird, though, measuring around 9 inches and weighing an average of 2.2 ounces. 

Found throughout North America, this bird is happiest living in wetlands and marshes and fonds freshwater wetlands and streams.

It has, however, also been known to live in meadows and coastal regions. Basically, as long as there is a source of water close by, it’s a happy bird!

As is the case with the Varied Thrush, the Red-Winged Blackbird will build its nest on the ground underneath shrubs or in low trees close to the water.

This helps to ensure protection from certain predators, such as raccoons. They aren’t fussy eaters either and will happily feast on insects, seeds, and berries.

Bullock’s Oriole

Famed for its bright orange head color, chest, and belly, the Bullock’s Oriole can be found throughout the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

They are most commonly found in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, California, and certain parts of Southern California. 

They will set up homes in riparian woodlands rich in sycamore, willow, oak, and cottonwood trees. This doesn’t only offer them protection but a source of food as the Bullock’s Oriole has a fondness for eating fruits as well as insects. 

You’ve also got a good chance of attracting a Bullock’s Oriole to your backyard if you fill your feeders with peanuts or suet, particularly during the winter when their natural food source is depleted. 

Orchard Oriole

The Orchard Oriole is a small, chunky bird with a bright orange chest and belly, black upperparts, and wings with white bars. Native to North America, it can be found in both urban and suburban areas.

Its only real requirement is tall trees surrounded by open spaces for easy flight. 

You’ll have to time things perfectly if you want to spot one of these colorful little birds, as it is only active at dawn and dusk.

You’ll have a better chance of a sighting if you go to shrublands, mangrove swamps, or woodlands too, which seem to be their preferred habitat. 

Scarlet Tanager

A medium-sized bird, the Scarlet Tanager is one of the few birds on our list that has more orange on it than black. In fact, the only black parts of this bird are the wings and tail. The rest of its body is a vivid, bright orange color. 

Spotting a Scarlet Tanager isn’t too difficult, not only thanks to its impressive coloring but due to the fact that it is a very common backyard visitor through the summer months in North America.

It will happily visit bird feeders stocked with fruits and berries but will also visit your garden to snack on insects and invertebrates. 

As winter approaches, they’ll migrate to Mexico and Colombia, where they’ll set up homes in open areas, including parks and fields, but they’ve also been known to spend their winters in backyards and forests.

Vermilion Flycatcher

As its name suggests, the Vermilion Flycatcher is a member of the Flycatcher family, which can be found throughout North and South America.

Sporting a bright orange chest, head, and underparts along with grayish-black upperparts, their presence is often referred to as “the first sign of spring” as they begin to migrate back to their breeding grounds around late February.

Like many members of the Flycatcher family, the Vermilion Flycatcher prefers to build its home near a source of water such as a lake, stream, marsh, or wet woodland.

This, along with its small size, can make it pretty hard to spot, and you’ll definitely have to do some trekking to find one. 

Their diet is mainly insectivorous, and they hunt on the wing, flying close to the ground to snatch flying insects and spiders out of the air. They will also eat seeds and berries and have also been known to feed on the nectar from certain flowers. 

Yellow-Headed Blackbird

While not strictly orange, the Yellow-Headed Blackbird has made it onto our list for a couple of reasons. First of all, it’s simply far too impressive to leave off.

Secondly, its yellow head turns a dark, almost-orange color during the breeding season. The rest of its body is jet black all year round. 

Found mainly near water sources, including wetlands, ponds, and wet meadows, the Yellow-Headed Blackbird is native to North America but heads south for the winter months, where they aren’t only kept warm but have a better chance of feeding on their natural diet of caterpillars, mosquitos, slugs, beetles, and ticks. 

Aside from its incredible appearance, the Yellow-Headed Blackbird is famed for its singing voice. Not too loud and not too high-pitched, it sings its song at dawn and dusk.

They are, however, a bit of a thug and have been known to invade the nests of smaller songbirds, including thrushes and wrens, where they’ll eat the eggs and, sometimes, even the young fledglings. 

Baltimore Oriole

The Baltimore Oriole is one of North America’s easiest to recognize birds.

Not only is it a common sight (which is always helpful when bird spotting), but its beautiful plumage really makes it stand out in a crowd.

It sports a black head and shoulders, along with black wings with white wing bars.

The rest of the bird is a bright orange color and has orange markings on the tip of its tail.

Although their preference for nesting is mature deciduous forests, the Baltimore Oriole will happily set up home in backyards or parks as long as there are plenty of trees and a nearby source of water. 

You’ve also got a much better chance of attracting this colorful bird to your garden if you have fruit trees, as their preferred winter diet consists of cherries, apples, peaches, and pears.

Throughout the summer, they are mainly insectivorous with a particular penchant for caterpillars.

Black-Headed Grosbeak

Found throughout the Western United States, Canada, and Southern Mexico, the Black-Headed Grosbeak has a black head, white-barred wings, and orange underparts.

They are also pretty easy to spot due to their coloring and eagerness to visit feeders and gardens stocked with berries, seeds, and fruits. 

Their diet doesn’t change much throughout the year, although they will happily feed on insects throughout the summer when they are abundant.

They prefer to nest near a water source such as a large pond or woodland river but will also set up home in a nest box close to the ground and surrounded by cover.

Like many birds, the Black-Headed Grosbeak will mate for life and only change partners if its current partner dies. 

Streak-Backed Oriole

Native to Central America and Mexico, the Streak-Backed Oriole has bright-orange plumage, a black tail, a black mask, and black wings.

They are found mainly in the deciduous forests of Southern California and Northern Costa Rica, although they have been reported as far north as Washington. 

They will form large groups during periods of migration, but mostly, they’ll either live solitary lives or as a monogamous pair.

Their diet mainly consists of fruits and insects, and their long tail makes them particularly skilled at catching their prey on the wing.

Spot-Breasted Oriole

As you may have guessed, the Spot-Breasted Oriole is named after its distinctive markings. Its body is entirely orange aside from a black tail and black wings, but its breast is marked with bright yellow spots. 

Non-migratory, the Spot-Breasted Oriole can be found year-round throughout the tropical regions of Central America. South America, and North America.

And while mostly found at higher elevations, it has been known to come lower in search of food. 

They live in large flocks to protect against predators, and their diet consists mainly of insects, fruits, nectar, and tree sap.

Due to its preferred habitat, the Spot-Breasted Oriole isn’t the easiest bird to spot, despite living in such large groups and a trip to a tropical forest is really your best chance of finding one of these in the wild. 

Altamira Oriole

Another impressively-colored bird, the Altamira Oriole, is almost entirely bright orange aside from its black back, tail, and wings. This bright orange color comes to them as they mature, with juveniles sporting yellow plumage instead.

You might think that such bright coloring would make these birds easy to spot. However, the Altamira Oriole is extremely elusive.

They are most commonly found in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley, where they reside all year round and, even there, they are hard to come by. 

If you’re really on the lookout for this bright little bird, keep an eye out for its nest. These are much easier to find and measure around 2ft long, suspended from tree branches. 

American Robin

While the American Robin doesn’t have as vividly-colored breast as its European cousin, it still has a rust-orange colored breast and underparts along with jet black upperparts, tail, and wings.

This bird is a common sight in American backyards and can often be found hopping around on lawns for earthworms and other small insects.

They will also happily eat almost anything offered to them in a feeder or on a bird table, including seeds, berries, and fruits. 

Their habitats are as varied as their diets too, and they will set up homes in forests, mountains, fields, woodlands, parks, and lawns.

Throughout winter, they’ll roost in evergreen trees, so you’ll have an even better chance of spotting them if you have one of these in your garden.

Brambling

Unlike many birds, both male and female Bramblings have similar markings. They both sport a bright orange chest, white bellies, black heads, and dark brown backs.

The only difference is that the female is slightly duller in color. 

Members of the Finch family, Bramblings are found throughout Europe and Asia, but they have also been found as far afield as Alaska during the migration season.

They aren’t particularly fussy eaters and will happily visit bird feeders stocked with seeds, peanuts, suits, and mealworms. 

Blackburnian Warbler

A tiny songbird that migrates to Canada for the summer, the Blackburnian Warbler has a bright orange color hood and black stripes that run along its head. It also has black and white patches on its wings. 

Throughout the summer, the Blackburnian Warbler will set up home in deciduous forests and woodlands near a source of water in Eastern North America.

Sightings have been reported from Nova Scotia to Florida and Maine. It will leave these areas and head back to Canada for the breeding season in late March and early April.

Exclusively insectivorous, the Blackburnian Warbler’s diet consists of spiders, beetles, grasshoppers, flies, and caterpillars. 

Final Thoughts

There you have it – 18 birds that are orange and black. Some of these are pretty easy to find, such as the American Robin. You’ll have to search a little harder for others, such as the Altamira Oriole.

But, whether you intend on going bird spotting or not, we hope you’ve learned something new today!