“Black bird” can mean a lot of different birds in North Carolina. Crows, grackles, starlings, cowbirds, blackbirds and even vultures can all look black at a glance, and several of them show up in the same yard or parking lot. Most can be sorted out by checking three things: size, tail shape and eye or bill details.
This guide goes through the black birds you are most likely to see in North Carolina (see also our full guide to the birds of North Carolina) and how to tell them apart. Which species are present depends on the region and season, so the coast, Piedmont and mountains can differ.
Quick Guide to Telling Black Birds Apart
- Size: Compare to a robin. Starlings and blackbirds are roughly robin-sized or a bit larger, grackles are noticeably longer, and crows are much bigger.
- Tail: A long, keel-shaped tail suggests a grackle. A short tail suggests a starling or cowbird.
- Bill: A long, pointed bill suggests a starling or grackle. A short, thick, finch-like bill suggests a cowbird.
- Eye color: A pale yellow eye is a grackle clue. Crows have dark eyes.
- Behavior: Flocks that walk across lawns, birds that perch on cattails, and birds soaring on thermals all point to different species.
Common Black Birds in North Carolina
American Crow
A large, all-black bird with a sturdy straight bill and a fan-shaped tail when seen in flight. Its call is a loud, familiar “caw.” Crows are found across the state and are often seen in groups.
Fish Crow
Nearly identical to the American crow in appearance but a little smaller. The most reliable difference is the voice: the fish crow gives a short, nasal “uh-uh” call rather than a full caw. It is most often found along the coast and near large rivers and lakes, and often nests and feeds near water, though it also shows up inland.
Common Raven
Larger than a crow, with a heavier bill, shaggy throat feathers and a wedge-shaped tail in flight. Ravens are mostly found in the mountains of western North Carolina. Their call is a deeper, croaking sound.
Common Grackle
A long-tailed, glossy blackbird with a pale yellow eye and a long, pointed bill. In good light the head can look purple or blue-green and the body bronze. The tail is long and may look V-shaped or keeled in flight. Common grackles gather in large noisy flocks, often at feeders and in open fields.
Boat-tailed Grackle
Larger than the common grackle, with a much longer tail. Males are glossy black, and females are smaller and brown. These grackles are mainly a coastal bird in North Carolina, often seen around marshes, parking lots and fast-food restaurants near the beach.
Red-winged Blackbird
Males are black with bright red-and-yellow shoulder patches (epaulets), though the red can be hidden when the bird is at rest. Females are brown and heavily streaked, and are often mistaken for large sparrows. You will see them in marshes, ditches and fields.
European Starling
A stocky, short-tailed bird with a long, pointed bill. In fall and winter it is dark and speckled with white spots, and the bill is dark. In spring and summer the plumage is glossier with fewer spots and the bill turns yellow. Starlings walk rather than hop and often feed in flocks. They were introduced to North America and are very common.
Brown-headed Cowbird
Males are glossy black with a brown head, and the bill is short and thick. Females are plain gray-brown. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. They often feed on the ground with other birds.
Rusty Blackbird
A less common blackbird that visits the state in winter. It looks dull black, and in fall and winter it has rusty edging on the feathers. It prefers wooded wetlands. Populations have declined, so a sighting is notable.
Other Dark Birds
- Black vulture: A black bird with a bare, gray head and short tail, with pale patches under the wingtips. It soars with flat wings.
- Turkey vulture: Soars with its wings held in a V, and the adult has a red, featherless head.
- Eastern towhee (male): Black above with rusty sides and a white belly, often scratching in leaf litter.
- Purple martin: A glossy blue-black swallow that nests in martin houses, including gourd birdhouses, and eats flying insects.
- Pileated woodpecker: A crow-sized black woodpecker with a red crest and white face stripes. See our guide to birds with a red head for more.
Crow, Grackle or Blackbird?
How can I tell if a black bird is a crow?
Crows are big, about the size of a pigeon or larger, with a thick straight bill, a dark eye and a short, rounded or fan-shaped tail. They walk with a confident strut and are typically all black without any glossy color on the head. If the bird is slim and long-tailed, it is more likely a grackle.
How can I tell the difference between a grackle and a blackbird?
Grackles are larger and longer-tailed than red-winged blackbirds, and the common grackle has a pale yellow eye and a glossy purplish head. A male red-winged blackbird is shorter-tailed and has red shoulder patches. Both are in the same family, so they can look similar from a distance.
What are the black birds in my backyard?
At a feeder, the black birds most likely to visit are common grackles, European starlings, brown-headed cowbirds and red-winged blackbirds. Crows will usually stay on the ground or in trees nearby. If the bird has a red crest and is as big as a crow, it is a pileated woodpecker.
Can you give me a list of black birds?
For North Carolina, the main ones are American crow, fish crow, common raven, common grackle, boat-tailed grackle, red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, rusty blackbird, European starling, and black vulture. Several other birds, such as the purple martin, can look black at a distance.
Black Birds at Your Feeder
Grackles, starlings and cowbirds are all fond of cracked corn, suet and mixed seed, and they can crowd out smaller birds. Some people use feeders that favor smaller birds or offer foods like nyjer or safflower, which these birds tend to eat less. If you are trying to name a brown bird rather than a black one, see our guide to common brown birds in Virginia, which also applies to much of the mid-Atlantic.