Last Updated on: May 30, 2026
One of our favourite aspects of birdwatching is looking closely at their beautiful plumage. There are seemingly infinite variations of feathered colours and patterns in the Aves Class that have inspired artists, decorators, designers and birdwatchers for centuries. Here at Roaming Birds, we love putting together curated collections that celebrate our favourite pattern and colour combinations in the bird world.
Today’s list is all about orange and black-coloured birds, which come in all shapes, sizes and patterns. Historically considered an alarming combination that signals warning and danger, these beautiful birds nowadays tend to evoke autumnal nostalgia and a naturally striking burst of colour when seen in the wild. Below is a list of the most common birds with orange and black plumage in North America, which highlights their distinguishing features to help you identify some of the ones that might visit your backyard.
Common Orange And Black Birds: Discover 16 Species
1. Red-winged Blackbird
Despite the name, male red-winged blackbirds are one of the most popular brightly colored birds in the United States, due to their predominately black body and orange burst of feathers on their shoulders. Though smaller, they kind of look like American crows, but with more beautiful and dramatic shoulder pads.
Red-winged blackbirds breed in the northern area of North America, and like many migratory species in the U.S., fly south to their wintering grounds in California and Mexico. In these southern areas, there have been recorded resident populations that stay year round, so if you’re lucky enough to live or visit there, you might be able to catch one on your next outing.
2. Black-headed Grosbeak
Black-headed grosbeak’s have an orange and cinnamon belly that contrasts strongly with their black back and head. Unlike some of the other species on this list, female grosbeak’s can be even more colorful; in addition to their orange breasts, they also have brightly streaked flanks.
Black-headed grosbeak’s have a notably long bill that extends from its forehead to its throat, making them pretty easily identifiable compared to similarly coloured birds.
Black-headed grosbeak’s are only located in the western states of the U.S where they breed before heading to Mexico for the winter months. Mexico has a resident population of grosbeaks that can be seen year round in many locations.
3. American Redstart
Again, contrary to their name, the American redstart has bright orange plumage on its wings, tail, and flanks. It’s so stunning!
Insects make up most of the American redstart diet, and it catches them in open canopy forest and woodlands.
American redstarts are a long-distance migratory species that breeds in the eastern and northern states of North America, before wintering in Florida, Central America, and South America. Because of the warmer weather, some redstarts are known to winter in California as well.
4. Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian warblers have an orange throat that distinguishes them from other warblers in North America. Blackburnian warblers also have an orange head, a white belly with black streaks, and black wings. They tend to be shy and hide away in the canopy, so you’re more likely to hear these guys before you see them.
Blackburnian warblers are a small species that you can find in the eastern states.Their breeding grounds are in the northern area of the continent and, like many species on this list, they spend the winter in South America.
5. Varied Thrush
The varied thrush is one of the larger birds on this list and can grow to over 10 inches in length. Their most striking features are their black-striped orange belly and blue-gray upper parts. Females can be distinguished from males as they have brown plumage rather than black.
Varied thrushes change their diet between summer and winter.Insects make up most of their diet in summer, while fruits and nuts come in handy in winter.
Varied thrushes spend most of their time in low shrubs, hopping on the ground to catch insects. There are resident populations along the Pacific Coast, while the breeding season sees the varied thrush head to the north of the continent.
6. Baltimore Oriole
One of the more colorful birds on this list, male Baltimore orioles have an orange rump, black head, orange outer tail feathers, and a black back. Female Baltimore orioles have brown and yellow feathers around their head and upper parts.
The Baltimore oriole breeds in North America and flies south to winter in Florida, as well as Central and South America.
Baltimore orioles love open woodland and forest edges. They spend most of their time in the forest canopy, but can often be seen flying lower to eat fruit. They have also been known to visit backyards to sample nectar or orange slices, so keep these handy if you find yourself on their migratory path.
7. Western Tanager
Western tanagers are average sized birds that can grow up to 7.5 inches long. They have white wing bars that contrast with their black wings, as well as an orange-red head, and a yellow body. Interestingly the males of the species get their orange-red pigment from the insects they eat. Females aren’t as colorful, their plumage tends to be a more dull shade of yellow.
Western tanagers live in forests near water, and generally inhabit the canopies. They breed in coniferous or mixed woodlands and can be seen in Pacific Northwest states like California.
8. Bullock’s Oriole
The head and stomach of male bullock’s orioles have a bright orange plumage, while their black backs have white wing patches. Females of the species have gray and orange plumage. You can generally find Bullock’s orioles in cottonwoods, willows, or backyards with nectar feeders.
Bullock’s orioles spend the winter in Mexico, while they return north to breed in western states like California and Colorado. Bullock’s orioles are a small songbird, similar in size to red-winged blackbirds, that eats insects when fruits and berries aren’t available.
Bullock’s orioles build their nests up to 25 feet from the ground, usually on a lone tree or the edge of a wooded area with clear access to a source of water.
9. Orchard Oriole
Orchard orioles are easy to see in suburban and urban areas throughout North America. You might also find it in woodlands and mangrove forests in the eastern states. The orchard oriole loves tall trees, where they can fly around unobstructed.
Though the name might suggest they’re only found in orchards, they are very particular when choosing a nesting site, and will generally build their nests anywhere. They construct very tiny homes that can fit into a lot of different environments.
Male orchard orioles have a black head and back, while its underside has chestnut feathers that in certain lights can look a burnt orange color. Females have a greenish-yellow body and gray and white wings.
10. Eastern Towhee
Male eastern towhees have reddish-orange flanks, a black back, and a black head. Thefemales don’t have a black head or black, and instead, have brown plumage.
You can find eastern towhees in the southeastern states of the U.S., particularly in the winter months as it migrates south into Texas.
11. American Robin
If you live in the U.S, you have probably seen an American Robin at least once, if not every day. They are a common species that commonly visits backyards across the country looking for earthworms, sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and fruits.
Although it’s a resident species, it’s also a short-distance migrant with a breeding range in Canada and wintering grounds in Mexico and Florida. In the wild, American robins inhabit woodlands, fields, and parks. Female robins build their nests from inside out, unlike other species that begin with the outer structure and then furnish it with soft materials.
12. Spotted Towhee
Adult male and female spotted towhees have orange-brown flanks, white wing bars, and a white belly. You can tell the difference as males have black upper parts and throats while females have brown plumage across their backs.
If your backyard doesn’t have a lot of shrubbery, you’ll be able to find this species by visiting a forest edge or field with an understory where it likes to hunt for grasshoppers, caterpillars, and beetles, as well as berries and seeds.
A spotted towhee can grow to over 8 inches long. They are a short-distance migratory species that fly from the northwestern area of the U.S to their wintering grounds between Texas and Mexico.
13. Hooded Oriole
Hooded orioles live in dry but open areas near palm trees where they can build their nests up to 20 feet from the ground. They breed in the southern states, where you’ll often come across their nests, which resemble baskets made of grass and plant material hanging on palm fronds.
It can take a female hooded oriole between three and six days to weave collected grass and plant fibre into a nest that’s four inches tall. When the nest is ready, they will lay three to seven eggs and incubate them for around fourteen days.
Male hooded orioles have a bright yellow-orange underside, black throat, and black upper parts. Female orioles don’t have black markings on their faces. The orioles in Texas have more orange plumage than the ones you see in the West.
14. Altamira Oriole
Altamira orioles are the largest oriole in the United States. They have a pointed bill, a bright orange body, a black mask, and a black upper back. It’s one of the few avians with the same plumage for both sexes which can make things tricky when you’re trying to distinguish betwen males and females.
Altamira orioles inhabit dry woodlands and open fields with scattered trees, but you might also see it in arid scrublands. They are only found in the southern part of Texas, around Rio Grande Valley, and parts of Mexico and Central America.
15. Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet tanager breeds in the eastern side of North America and winters in South America, where it mixes with other foragers, such as flycatchers and woodcreepers.
Scarlet tanagers can be spotted looking for berries in plants like mulberries, strawberries, and blackberries. You may not see them that often, as they tend to perch themselves up in the canopy, however a good way to attract them to your backyard is to plant berries that they like to feed on.
Male scarlet tanagers have a bright red body, with black wings and tail, while females are an olive-green shade across much of their body.
16. Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermillion flycatchers aren’t as common as other birds on this list as you can generally only spot them on the southern edge of North America and Mexico. It’s a resident species in Mexico, with a few birds wintering along the coasts of southern coastal states like California and Florida.
The vermilion flycatcher is a small bird that can grow to over 5 inches long. Females have a brown back, a reddish belly, and a white breast, while males have red underparts and a black back. When courting, males will often bring females shiny items as gifts to entice them.
A breeding pair of vermillion flycatchers will nest up to 30 feet from the ground. Their nests sits on open branches, and they can accommodate two to four eggs until they hatch about 16 days later.
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Conclusion
There are so many black and orange birds throughout North America, and many of them didn’t make it onto this list. Generally speaking, they tend to be smaller species, which can make it tricky to spot them so make sure you’re prepared with the right equipment to catch the little bursts of orange. A lot of them love backyard nectar feeders, so if you’re getting serious about your backyard birdwatching, you might want to install feeders and bird boxes to attract more to your home.
Ultimately it’s important to become familiar with the migratory routes of each species to properly plan for which ones might come through your area. It’s been a little beyond the scope of this article – we’ll be sure to make a future article with more details on this subject – but hopefully there has been enough of a range here for you to identify a recent sighting in your area.