Grey and White Birds: Identification, Pictures, and Facts (2024)

This site is supported by our readers. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through links.

Are you interested in identifying and learning more about grey and white birds? As an experienced birdwatcher, I can tell you that there is a wide range of species to explore.

From the Grey Catbird to the Northern Mockingbird, American Robin, Steller’s Jay or even Gray Hawk – each has its own unique features and characteristics.

With this article we’ll take a look at some of these beautiful grey birds with black heads, white bellies as well as other gray-coloured species found across North America.

Alongside pictures for easy identification purposes we will also be covering interesting facts about their behaviour and habitats so let’s dive right in!

The Grey Catbird is a medium-sized songbird with a distinctive cat-like meowing call. It has a charcoal grey body, black cap and tail, and a chestnut colored patch under the tail.

The Northern Mockingbird is known for its ability to mimic other birds. It is grey above and white below with darker wings that flash white patches in flight.

The familiar American Robin has a gray back and head, rusty breast, and conspicuous eye ring.

Steller’s Jay is a crest blue jay with black head and upper body. It has a striking blue and black appearance.

The Gray Hawk is a medium-sized raptor with varying amounts of white, gray, and black plumage.

Grey Birds List

Greetings, friend. While birds come in a dazzling array of colors and plumages, some of the most memorable and elegant avian species are grey and white. The Grey Catbird, for example, is a slender, medium-sized songbird with a black tail, small black head, and reddish-brown patch under the tail.

The familiar Tufted Titmouse has silvery gray plumage with a rusty color on the sides, making it a common sight in eastern U.

More elusive is the delicately built Gray Vireo of the western states, with its soft gray and white plumage accented by a subtle light wingbar. Of all the grey birds, these three stand out for their recognizable patterns and prevalence across North America.

Grey Catbird

You’ve likely caught sight of that slender, gray songbird with the black cap and tail lurking in the underbrush of your backyard, its nasal mewing calls grabbing your attention as it skulks through the shrubs.

1. Meowing song unmistakable in thickets and gardens.
2. Tail often held upright and fanned.
3. Frequents shrubs and dense tangles.
4. Feeds on insects, fruits, berries.
5. One of the most variable plumages among birds.

Tufted Titmouse

Folks will spot the wee gray titmouse with rusty flanks flitting among backyard feeders come winter. This tiny songster’s a real charmer with its soft, whistled peter-peter-peter calls. It darts acrobatically between branches, snatching insects and seeds. Although sociable in winter flocks, it’s scrappy in spring, defending nest sites in tree cavities with raspy churrs.

Gray Vireo

You want to check out the delicately built Gray Vireo rocking those cool shades of gray and white plumage. My friend, the distinctive songster Gray Vireo migrates between Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Its subtle plumage provides camouflage amidst arid scrublands. Sadly, habitat loss threatens this species. We must take action to conserve the biodiversity of our feathered friends, including this extraordinary and little-known bird.

Grey Birds With Black Head

Greetings, fellow bird enthusiast! You’ll find several intriguing grey birds with black heads here in the eastern and western United States. The Black-capped Chickadee’s familiar chick-a-dee-dee-dee call echoes through wooded areas as this plump, round songster flits between branches with its black cap and bib.

Out west, the striking Black-throated Gray Warbler sports elegant black, gray, and white plumage accented by a bold yellow stripe over its eye.

And don’t overlook the energetic Red-breasted Nuthatch, buzzing up and down trunks and along limbs, probing bark crevices with its long bill. This spunky chickadee-sized bird bears a black cap and bluish-gray upperparts speckled with white.

Black-capped Chickadee

You’d be exaggerating if I said that the tiny, minuscule black-capped chickadee with its teensy-weensy white cheeks and itty-bitty grey plumage was a ginormous, behemoth bird instead of a little bitty thing.

This energetic bird with its signature chick-a-dee-dee call flits between trees, eating insects and seeds. Check your backyard feeder for these little sprites, as they are common from coast to coast across North America.

Black-throated Gray Warbler

You’ve surely seen that small warbler with black, gray, and white plumage and a yellow stripe above the eye before. Migrating thousands of miles each spring from Mexico, the black-throated gray warbler blends right into branches with its camouflage plumage.

Closing its eyes halfway while tilting its head during its soft, musical song, it vocalizes distinct regional dialects. Building a compact nest, this warbler selects a forked branch, weaving plant fibers and spider silk together.

With incredible diversity in its plumage and behavior across North America, observing this species brings an appreciation for nature’s artistry.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

The small, bluish-gray nuthatch with a long bill creeps down tree trunks, searching for insects. When winter arrives, this active little bird switches to eating seeds and nuts. Listen for its nasal yank-yank call echoing from the trees.

To find it, check mixed woods and suburban yards with mature trees. Though largely nonmigratory, some may wander south in winter. The agile red-breasted nuthatch thrives among conifers across much of North America.

Grey Birds With White Bellies

Let’s discuss a couple of grey birds with white bellies you may encounter in your backyard. The Carolina Chickadee sports a black cap, white cheeks, and light gray plumage on its back and wings that contrasts with its crisp white underside.

The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is a diminutive songbird with dark plumage juxtaposed against a bright white belly, a white eye ring, and a small black cap.

Carolina Chickadee

You’ve spotted a Carolina chickadee with its black cap, white cheeks, and light gray plumage in the garden today.

1. It travels in mixed flocks with nuthatches and titmice, constantly calling to stay in contact.
2. It eats insects and seeds, hanging upside down and hopping through branches with acrobatic skill.
3. Its chick-a-dee-dee-dee call is a familiar sound in eastern forests.
4. It excavates its own nesting cavity in dead wood, using its surprisingly strong beak.

The Carolina chickadee adapts well to winter, backyard feeders, and human development. Yet this resourceful songbird remains a constant backyard companion, while northern cardinals, hairy woodpeckers, and gray catbirds come and go with the seasons.

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

You’d mostly spy this slim, shady-capped bird flitting around the Southwest deserts. The black-tailed gnatcatcher is a tiny thing with slate-gray feathers covering its tiny body, its tail as long as can be.

It zips through scrub grabbing insects, spiders, building its nests low in thorny bushes. Their squeaky calls echo across the arroyos and washes while they peck and probe. As creatures of habit, these gnatcatchers stay local, darting through the creosote and mesquite.

Though petite, their gritty perseverance in barren climes inspires. So keep an eye peeled in the desert understory for this spunky soul, survivor of the sands.

Grey Birds

You’re about to learn more about four fascinating gray birds: the Gray Hawk, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, and Great Gray Owl. These birds exhibit an array of gray plumage tones, and each species has unique identifying features, behaviors, and habitats that set them apart from other gray birds.

The Gray Hawk is a small raptor found in open woodlands and forest edges across the southwestern United States and Mexico. Adults have slate-gray upperparts, white underparts with fine gray barring, and bright red shoulders.

They are agile fliers that feed on lizards, rodents, and insects by swooping down from high perches.

The Gray-cheeked Thrush is a secretive songbird that breeds in boreal forests across Canada and Alaska. It has brownish-gray upperparts and white underparts with bold black streaks on the breast. During migration, these thrushes stop over in dense thickets where they forage for insects and berries.

With its complex mimicry, the omnivorous Northern Mockingbird is one of the most well-known gray birds. This lean songbird has gray upperparts, whitish underparts, and white patches on its wings and tail.

Mockingbirds are common backyard birds in the southern and western U.S. Males sing loud musical songs late into the night, imitating other birds and even mechanical sounds.

The Great Gray Owl is the largest owl in North America and can have a wingspan over 5 feet. Adults are lined with intricate white and brown markings on a background of silvery gray. They hunt at dawn and dusk, using their incredible hearing to locate small mammals under the snow.

These owls reside year-round in boreal and montane forests across Canada, Alaska, and the northern U.

Gray Hawk

See that medium-sized raptor soaring above with pale gray plumage and barred chest? That’s a Gray Hawk, one of the gray birds with a striking appearance you have to keep an eye out for. Perched aloft scoping the terrain, this unique raptor inhabits arid woodlands and riparian corridors.

Spot its handsome barred pattern and pale plumage contrasting against the summer sky. Though elusive, seek its piercing cries as it defends its breeding grounds across the Southwest.

Gray-cheeked Thrush

For you glimpse the shy thrush, see if you can spot its yellow bill ‘midst the undergrowth first. The gray-cheeked thrush’s shy nature keeps it hidden in thickets. But its ethereal song gives away its presence in northern boreal forests during the breeding season before it migrates south for winter.

• Vocalizations include a sharp, nasal pseet call.
• The species exhibits geographic plumage variations.
• Nests on the ground concealed by shrubs or downed branches.
• Feeds on insects and berries by hopping along the forest floor.

Its cryptic gray plumage blends into the dim light of the northern forest understory.

Northern Mockingbird

You’ll recognize the Northern Mockingbird by its grayish-brown plumage, white wing-bars, and long tail. The Northern Mockingbird is well known for its mimicking songs and aggressive territorial behavior.

Females are less aggressive than males when defending nesting sites. Their diet consists of insects, fruits, and berries.

Male	Female
Song	Complex songs with multiple phrases	Less complex songs
Territory	Aggressive defense	Less aggressive defense
Nest	Twigs, grass	Same materials
Incubation	May assist with incubation	Main incubator

Great Gray Owl

You’d be surprised by the Great Gray Owl’s massive silhouette when spotted roosting in a pine tree during your morning hike through the forest. With its giant facial disk directing sound to its ears and the ability to blend into bark, this species can take even experienced birders by surprise.

• The Great Gray Owl has the longest wingspan of any owl in North America.
• It hunts voles and other small mammals, even under deep snow.
• Its year-round range is the northern boreal forests.
• In some regions, it is endangered by logging and habitat loss.

Gray Partridge

You’ve probably glimpsed a gray partridge scurrying across a field or roadside. Avoiding humans, they blend into the landscape with gray, brown and rust plumage. Omnivorous, with a varied diet of seeds and insects, partridges mate for life, producing one brood per season.

Though once abundant, intensive farming has decimated populations in recent decades.

Gray Jay Bird

You could spot the sociable Canada Jay with its gray and white plumage during a hike through the coniferous forest. The Canada Jay is an opportunistic omnivore, feeding on insects, small vertebrates, carrion, fungi, seeds, and human food scraps.

These resourceful birds cache food to eat later. Jays prefer the cool, dense conifer and mixed forests of northern North America. They build nests of twigs, lichen, moss, and feathers in conifers or on rock ledges.

Vocal and social, with a complex communication system, Jays may join mixed flocks with chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers.

Unlike migratory songbirds, the hardy Canada Jay is well adapted to harsh winters at the northernmost reaches of bird life. When deep snow covers the ground, Canada Jays recur to their hidden food caches of seeds and meat.

Their ingenious survival skills allow them to thrive in the boreal forest.

American Robin

I reckon you’ve caught sight of that ruddy-breasted songbird pecking at the lawn. That’s the American Robin, one of the most familiar birds across North America. Robins start migrating north by February, signaling spring’s arrival with their cheery song.

You’ll find their large, grass-lined nests in trees or on man-made structures. The 3-5 aqua-colored eggs hatch into hungry nestlings, inspiring parents to tirelessly deliver worms and berries.

Though considered a harbinger of spring, robins increasingly live in towns year-round where they scour lawns for their main course – juicy earthworms. Compare their reddish-orange breast and dark head to other North American thrushes like the olive-backed Swainson’s or spotted Hermit.

Robins hold their own among urban birds like starlings, goldfinches, woodpeckers and cranes. Hardy and conspicuous, the robin solidifies its role in city and wilderness ecosystems alike.

Northern Cardinal

Warm red Northern Cardinals brighten up grey winter days as cheerful songsters broadcasting their whistles across backyards.

1. Cardinals’re non-migratory, remaining in the same territories year-round.
2. They prefer edge habitats like gardens, thickets, and woodland edges.
3. Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, and insects.
4. Females build cup nests of twigs, bark, and grasses in dense shrubs or small trees.

With a vibrant crimson plumage and a whistled song, Northern Cardinals stand out against winter snow and bare tree branches. Their territorial behaviors and year-round residency allow people to become familiar with individual birds over time.

Watch for mated pairs dueting, or females giving chipping calls to beg food from their mates. The Northern Cardinal‘s a beloved backyard bird whose presence lifts spirits on cold winter days.

Blue Jay

In the current context of our blue jay discussion, I noticed you have a flock of them squawking in the oak tree. They must love those acorns. As an avid birder, I’ve always found blue jays fascinating to observe.

Their intelligence shows in their various vocalizations – from their typical harsh jay! jay! calls to their remarkable ability to mimic other birds.

Blue jays are versatile in their habitat but thrive most in oak and pine woodlands, where they can feast on nuts and seeds. That blue crest certainly stands out against the oak leaves! During nesting season, both sexes build an impressive cup nest of twigs and bark strips high in a tree.

The female incubates the eggs while the male brings food. Young jays stay with their parents for some time, learning those clever behaviors.

With their bold beauty and brains, it’s no wonder blue jays captivate us. I hope you continue to enjoy their antics in your yard.

Steller’s Jay

Though smaller and bluer, Steller’s jays’ striking black heads contrast against lighter bodies not unlike blue jays’, you’ll observe regions dividing the two amidst western mountains.

Having traversed these slopes observing avians for decades, I’ve noted Steller’s prefer higher elevations than blue jays. Their harsh shaar often echoes through subalpine fir as they forage insects, seeds, and fruits.

Unlike more omnivorous blue jays, Steller’s rely little on acorns, inhabiting coniferous rather than deciduous forests.

Ranging along the Rockies and Sierra Nevada into Alaska, they contrast blue jays east of the Great Plains. Approach a Steller’s with care, as though curious, they remain wary. Note white eye crescents distinguishing them from blue jays.

Listen for their loud, descending whistles and rattles when spotting food or predators.

Marvel at how their dark heads camouflage in shadows, while pale blue plumage blends into snowy branches. From Montana to Washington, keep an eye peeled for these striking jays animating evergreen woods with their noisy antics.

Mourning Dove

You’d spot that delicate whitish-gray mourning dove pecking along the ground, cooing its haunting song as it blends into the weathered wood of an old barn. With a soft gray body and delicate markings, the mourning dove’s plumage provides camouflage as it forages for seeds on the ground.

You may glimpse the male performing a mating dance, spinning to impress the female before building a flimsy nest of twigs in a tree. Listen for the bird’s recognizable cooing – it uses a variety of vocalizations to strengthen pair bonds and communicate.

The mournful coo sounds like it’s saying woo-oo, wooo, woo rising in pitch at the end.

At dusk, watch hundreds flock together near a roost, their wings whistling during take-off. When spotted, this common visitor blending into the rural landscape provides a glimpse into its gentle nature.

American Crow

The diminutive Mourning Dove, with its soft plumage in varying shades of mauve and brown, provides a marked contrast to the bold black American Crow. Your acute vision spies a Crow foraging upside-down along a tree branch, its thick bill prying for insects beneath the bark.

The bird’s raucous cawing pierces the air as it voices the rowdy cacophony that gives it the nickname June bug.

This highly intelligent and social creature lives cooperatively in familial groups, its tight bonds evident in communal roosts. Resourceful and adaptable, the Crow thrives across diverse habitats from woodlands to cities.

Yet its numbers have dropped over the decades due to habitat loss, pesticides, collisions, and illegal killing.

Support conservation efforts to sustain healthy populations of this remarkable bird, whose cunning behavior and vocal virtuosity you find so captivating.

European Starling

Round many a cold dark eve, that bold speckled songbird struts. Though originally native to Europe, the adaptable European Starling now flourishes across much of North America. Its short triangular bill allows for a diverse diet, from berries to insects. Look for its distinctive plumage—iridescent purples and greens that can appear black from afar—and listen for its repertoire of chirps, whistles, clicks and songs.

This social bird forms large flocks, sometimes numbering in the millions, creating impressive aerial displays across open country. Its aggressive nature enables it to displace many native cavity nesters, though it still faces pressure from habitat loss.

While a notorious pest, one must admire the European Starling’s resourcefulness and admire its glossy plumage glinting in the winter sun.

Perhaps we too can learn from its adaptability in the face of adversity.

Black-billed Magpie

You’ll spot the black-billed magpie’s striking black and white plumage in open country across western North America. Easily recognizable by their long, blue-green iridescent tail feathers and black hoods, these large songbirds are highly intelligent and have complex social behaviors.

Magpies are notorious for their curiosity and thievery, often stealing shiny objects to include in large, domed nests or communal winter roosts. Though considered pests by some, magpies play an important role in mythology and culture across their range.

• Forage on ground for large insects, carrion and seeds.
• Exhibit ability to count, recognize themselves in mirrors.
• Featured in Native American and Eurasian folk tales.
• Prefer semi-open areas like fields, farms and roadsides.
• Make a range of calls like rattles, gurgles, and harsh chatter.

Magpies symbolize many things, from curiosity to mischief to wisdom. Observing their resourcefulness and social bonds in the wild allows us to gain perspective on their unique place in the natural world.

Dark-eyed Junco

You’d be foolish not to notice the soft gray plumage and white belly of the junco on that snowy branch. As an avid birdwatcher, the Dark-eyed Junco is one of my favorites to observe during the winter months.

Its subtle beauty belies an incredible survivor. Juncos thrive in cold climates, perfectly camouflaged against the snow. But their plumage varies geographically – from the striking black hoods of the Oregon form to the brown backs of the Pink-sided.

They forage seeds and insects on the ground, often in flocks. But come spring, they disperse to breed across Canada and the western mountains. The females build nests of grasses and moss in concealed spots on the ground. After rearing their young, huge flocks migrate south again when the weather turns.

The junco exemplifies nature’s infinite capacity for variation and adaptation. With each sighting, I’m filled with admiration for its quiet resilience.

White-breasted Nuthatch

You’ve likely heard the nasal yank-yank call of the White-breasted Nuthatch, a small gray bird with powder-blue upperparts that creeps headfirst down tree trunks.

Their nasal, repetitious call echoes through deciduous forests as they forage for insects hidden in bark crevices.

With strong claws that dig into bark, they defy gravity and move with ease up, down and sideways along trunks and branches.

To find a mate, the male sings a mellow, piping song early in spring before nesting season begins.

Come winter, they join roaming flocks of chickadees, titmice and other songbirds, calling constantly to stay in contact.

The White-breasted Nuthatch thrives in mature forests with old trees that provide great nesting and foraging habitat. Next time you’re outdoors, listen for their nasal yank-yank calls – you’re likely to spot these agile birds marching headfirst down tree trunks.