Black birds with yellow beaks are a striking sight in the avian world, combining dark, elegant plumage with a vivid pop of color. These unique birds can be found in various habitats, from dense forests to open fields, and even urban areas. Their contrasting features make them easy to identify, helping bird watchers and nature enthusiasts spot them effortlessly.
Whether you’re looking for a small songbird or a powerful raptor, the diversity of black birds with yellow beaks is impressive. Some species, like the Common Blackbird, are widespread, while others, such as the Yellow-billed Magpie, are more regionally specific. These birds play essential roles in their ecosystems, from seed dispersal to pest control.
In this guide, we’ll explore 32 fascinating black birds with yellow beaks, providing pictures and detailed identification tips. Each species will be highlighted with key characteristics, habitat preferences, and interesting facts. If you’ve ever been curious about a black bird with a yellow beak you’ve seen, this list will help you identify it with confidence!
Different Types of Black Birds with Yellow Beaks
American Robin
The American Robin is one of the most recognizable songbirds in North America, known for its orange breast, dark head, and yellow beak. Though they are commonly associated with spring, many robins remain in their range year-round, often gathering in large flocks during the colder months. They are active birds, hopping across lawns in search of worms and insects.
These birds are known for their melodious songs and early-morning calls, making them a favorite among birdwatchers. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in various habitats, including woodlands, gardens, and urban parks. They are also one of the first birds to begin nesting in the spring, often producing multiple broods in a single season.
American Robins build sturdy cup-shaped nests from mud and grass, typically placing them in trees, shrubs, or even on human-made structures. Their eggs are a distinctive pale blue color. Within two weeks of hatching, young robins leave the nest and are taught to fly by their parents.
Common Black Hawk
The Common Black Hawk is a striking bird of prey found in warm regions stretching from the southern United States to South America. It has broad wings, a short tail, and a nearly uniform black body, except for its yellow legs and beak. Its preferred habitats include coastal mangroves, riverbanks, and tropical forests.
As a carnivorous species, the Common Black Hawk primarily feeds on crabs, making it a specialist hunter in wetland environments. It also preys on small vertebrates, fish, and amphibians. These raptors are often seen soaring over water or perched on low branches near streams, scanning for movement below.
The breeding season typically lasts from late February to May. They build large stick nests high in trees, where they lay one to three eggs. Both parents participate in raising the young, which fledge after about six weeks. Despite their formidable hunting skills, they face threats from habitat loss and human disturbances.
Double-crested Cormorant
The Double-crested Cormorant is a large, dark waterbird frequently seen near lakes, rivers, and coastal areas in North America. It has a long neck, a slender body, and a sharp yellow beak, which it uses to catch fish. During the breeding season, it develops distinctive double crests of feathers on its head, giving it its name.
These birds are exceptional divers, capable of plunging more than 24 feet underwater to pursue fish. Unlike many other waterbirds, their feathers are not fully waterproof, which allows them to reduce buoyancy and stay submerged longer. However, this means they must frequently dry their wings by spreading them open while perched.
Double-crested Cormorants nest in large colonies, often on cliffs, islands, or trees near water. They construct bulky stick nests and lay up to five eggs per clutch. While their populations have rebounded in recent decades, they still face challenges from habitat destruction and conflicts with fisheries.
Western Koel
The Western Koel, also known as the Asian Koel, is a large, long-tailed cuckoo native to tropical southern Asia. Males are glossy black with striking yellow beaks, while females have a brown, spotted appearance. These birds are often more easily heard than seen, as they produce loud, repetitive calls that echo through dense foliage.
During the breeding season, male Asian Koels engage in playful chases with females, often darting through tree branches in elaborate courtship displays. Unlike many other birds, they do not build their own nests but instead lay their eggs in the nests of crows and other host species, a behavior known as brood parasitism.
Western Koels have an omnivorous diet, feeding on a variety of fruits, berries, insects, and small vertebrates. Their adaptability allows them to thrive in urban gardens, farmlands, and forests, making them one of the most widespread cuckoos in their range.
Andean Coot
The Andean Coot, also called the Slate-Colored Coot, is a stocky, dark waterbird found at high elevations in the Andes Mountains. Unlike many coots, it has a distinct yellow bill and a partially white frontal shield, which contrasts against its dark gray-black plumage. It inhabits freshwater lakes and marshes, where it is often seen swimming or wading through dense aquatic vegetation.
Unlike the omnivorous diet of other coots, Andean Coots are primarily herbivores. They graze on submerged plants, reeds, and algae, often diving underwater to reach food. They have strong legs and lobed feet, which make them excellent swimmers but relatively poor fliers.
Andean Coots have a highly flexible breeding season, with nesting typically occurring during the dry months between July and August. They build floating nests from reeds and lay several eggs at a time. Both parents are involved in raising the chicks, which quickly learn to forage on their own.
Common Blackbird
The Common Blackbird, also known as the Eurasian Blackbird, is a widespread songbird native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. Males are entirely black with a bright yellow beak and eye-ring, while females and juveniles are brownish with a duller beak. They thrive in woodlands, gardens, and farmlands, often seen hopping on the ground in search of insects and berries.
These birds are famous for their melodious songs, which are often heard at dawn and dusk during the breeding season. Males sing to establish territories and attract mates, and they become highly defensive of their nesting area. If another male intrudes, they engage in aggressive chases and sometimes even physical confrontations.
Common Blackbirds are adaptable and often nest close to human settlements. They build cup-shaped nests in trees, shrubs, or even on buildings, laying up to five eggs per clutch. Despite their territorial nature, they coexist well with other birds and can be seen foraging in mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season.
European Starling
The European Starling, also known as the Common Starling, is a highly social and vocal bird originally from Europe but now widespread across many continents, including North America, where it is considered invasive. It has glossy black plumage with an iridescent sheen and a sharp yellow beak that darkens in winter.
European Starlings are known for their remarkable ability to mimic sounds, including the calls of other birds, human speech, and mechanical noises. They often gather in massive flocks, called murmurations, that move in synchronized waves across the sky, creating breathtaking aerial displays.
These birds are highly adaptable and thrive in urban environments, farmlands, and woodlands. They nest in tree cavities, buildings, and birdhouses, often competing aggressively with native species. Their diet consists of insects, seeds, and fruits, making them opportunistic feeders.
Spotless Starling
The Spotless Starling closely resembles the European Starling but has a completely black, glossy appearance without the white speckles found in its relative. It is primarily found in Southern Europe, particularly in Spain, Portugal, and parts of Italy, as well as North Africa.
Like other starlings, the Spotless Starling is an excellent mimic, capable of imitating the calls of numerous bird species. Males sing elaborate, continuous songs filled with whistles and clicks, often incorporating the sounds of their environment into their repertoire.
Their diet is highly varied, changing with the seasons. In the warmer months, they consume insects, spiders, and larvae, while in autumn and winter, they shift to fruits, seeds, and buds. They are social birds and often form large, noisy flocks outside the breeding season.
Golden-headed Manakin
The Golden-headed Manakin is a tiny, energetic bird native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. Males are strikingly colored, with jet-black bodies, golden-yellow heads, and short yellow beaks. Females and juveniles, on the other hand, are olive-green with less prominent markings.
These birds are best known for their elaborate courtship displays. Males gather in leks, where they perform synchronized movements, hopping and sliding along branches while making buzzing calls to attract females. These displays can involve multiple males competing for a single female’s attention.
After mating, the female builds a small, cup-shaped nest in a tree and lays two eggs. She raises the chicks alone, feeding them insects and small fruits. Despite their small size, Golden-headed Manakins play a crucial role in forest ecosystems by helping disperse seeds.
Yellow-billed Chough
The Yellow-billed Chough, also called the Alpine Chough, is a member of the crow family found in mountainous regions across Southern Europe, Central Asia, and North Africa. It is recognizable by its glossy black plumage, bright yellow beak, and red legs.
These birds are known for their exceptional aerial abilities, performing acrobatic flight maneuvers as they soar over rugged landscapes. They communicate with a variety of calls, including high-pitched whistles and rolling trills, which echo through mountain valleys.
Yellow-billed Choughs are monogamous and nest at high elevations, often in crevices of cliffs or abandoned buildings. They lay three to five speckled eggs, and both parents share incubation duties. Opportunistic feeders, they consume insects, small vertebrates, and human food scraps, often scavenging at high-altitude tourist sites.
Common Hill Myna
The Common Hill Myna is a striking black bird with a bright yellow beak and distinctive yellow wattles on its head. Native to South and Southeast Asia, this intelligent bird has also been introduced to places like Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Its glossy black feathers shimmer in the sunlight, creating a stunning contrast with its vibrant yellow facial markings.
Famous for its exceptional vocal mimicry, the Common Hill Myna is considered one of the best talking birds in the world. It can imitate human speech, bird calls, and even mechanical noises with incredible accuracy. This talent has made it a highly sought-after pet, often preferred over parrots for its ability to learn new words and sounds quickly.
In the wild, these birds thrive in tropical forests, feeding on fruits, nectar, and insects. They nest in tree cavities and lay two to three pale blue eggs. Due to their intelligence and social nature, they are often seen in pairs or small flocks, chattering loudly as they move through the treetops.
Yellow-throated Toucan
The Yellow-throated Toucan, also known as the Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, is a large and colorful bird native to Central and South America. It has jet-black plumage, a vibrant yellow throat, and a massive yellow and chestnut-colored bill that helps it access a variety of fruits in the rainforest canopy.
These toucans are highly social and often move in small groups, communicating through loud, yelping calls that sound like “Dios-te-de” or “God grant you.” Their diet consists primarily of fruit, but they also consume insects, eggs, and small vertebrates when the opportunity arises. Their large bills allow them to reach deep into tree cavities to extract food.
During the breeding season, which lasts from March to June, Yellow-throated Toucans nest in tree holes, laying two to four white eggs. Both parents take turns incubating and feeding the chicks. Their presence plays a crucial role in seed dispersal, helping maintain the balance of their rainforest ecosystems.
Yellow-knobbed Curassow
The Yellow-knobbed Curassow is a large, ground-dwelling bird native to the forests and grasslands of Colombia and Venezuela. It is named for the prominent yellow knob at the base of its black beak, which stands out against its glossy black plumage. Males display this feature more prominently than females.
These birds are primarily herbivores, feeding on fruits, seeds, and vegetation. They forage on the forest floor, using their strong legs to scratch through leaf litter. While they are generally shy and elusive, they can be heard making deep, resonant calls that carry through the dense undergrowth.
Due to habitat loss and hunting, the Yellow-knobbed Curassow is classified as Near Threatened. Populations are estimated to be between 10,000 and 40,000 individuals. Conservation efforts are focused on protecting their natural habitat and reducing hunting pressure to ensure their survival.
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
The Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill is a distinctive bird found throughout Southern Africa, often called the “flying banana” due to its large, downward-curving yellow beak. Its plumage is a mix of black, white, and gray, with a white belly and black-and-white patterned wings.
These hornbills are highly adaptable, thriving in dry savannas and open woodlands where they forage for insects, small reptiles, and fruits. They are often seen perched on branches or hopping along the ground, using their massive beaks to dig for food. Their loud, cackling calls are a common sound in the African bush.
During the breeding season, the female seals herself inside a tree cavity using mud and her own droppings, leaving only a small opening through which the male delivers food. She remains inside until the chicks are partially grown, providing them with protection from predators during their most vulnerable stage.
Steller’s Sea-eagle
Steller’s Sea-eagle is one of the largest and most powerful eagles in the world, native to the coastal regions of northeastern Asia. Its striking black-and-white plumage, massive yellow beak, and piercing yellow eyes make it an imposing sight. It primarily inhabits coastal cliffs and riverbanks where fish are abundant.
Unlike many other eagles, Steller’s Sea-eagle often hunts while flying, swooping down to snatch fish from the water with its powerful talons. It also preys on water birds, small mammals, and carrion when fish are scarce. These eagles are solitary hunters but can be seen gathering in large numbers during winter near open water.
During the breeding season, they build enormous stick nests in tall trees or on cliffs, often reusing the same nest for multiple years. Their deep, gull-like calls echo through their breeding grounds as pairs reinforce their bonds. Classified as Vulnerable, Steller’s Sea-eagle faces threats from habitat loss and declining fish populations.
Indian Blackbird
The Indian Blackbird is a species of true thrush, closely related to the Eurasian Blackbird. It is mainly found in India and Sri Lanka, where it inhabits forests, plantations, and gardens. This bird is easily recognized by its glossy black plumage, bright yellow beak, and the small, teardrop-shaped patch of orange skin around its eyes.
During winter, Indian Blackbirds migrate to lower elevations, often coming closer to human settlements, though they tend to avoid highly urbanized areas. They are known for their melodious, fluting songs, which they use to establish territories and attract mates. Their calls can often be heard echoing through forest edges and orchards.
Indian Blackbirds are omnivores, feeding on fruits, seeds, and insects. They forage on the ground, using their strong beaks to uncover hidden prey. During the breeding season, they build cup-shaped nests in trees or shrubs, where the female lays two to four eggs.
Yellow-legged Thrush
The Yellow-legged Thrush is a striking songbird native to northern and eastern South America. It prefers living in secondary woodlands, overgrown plantations, and tropical rainforests. Males have glossy black plumage with grayish backs and underparts, while females appear duller with a more brownish tint. Both sexes feature bright yellow beaks and legs, making them stand out in their natural habitat.
These thrushes are known for their melodious songs, which are often compared to those of the Eurasian Blackbird. Their vocalizations follow a distinct syllabic pattern, often described as “sree-sree-sree.” Their calls can be heard resonating through the dense rainforest, especially during the early morning hours.
Yellow-legged Thrushes primarily feed on fruits, berries, and insects. They play an essential role in seed dispersal, helping maintain the health of their ecosystems. Their nests are usually built in trees, where the female lays a small clutch of eggs, which both parents help to incubate.
Golden-crested Myna
The Golden-crested Myna is a visually striking bird with glossy black feathers, a bright yellow-orange beak, and a distinctive golden-yellow crown. This species is found in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. It thrives in tropical and subtropical forests but can also adapt to heavily degraded habitats.
Golden-crested Mynas are social and vocal birds, known for their wide range of calls, including gurgles, croaks, and high-pitched notes. They are also excellent mimics, sometimes imitating the sounds of other birds and animals in their environment. This ability helps them blend into their surroundings while also communicating with their flock.
Their diet mainly consists of fruits, insects, and small invertebrates. They are cavity nesters, often using tree holes or abandoned nests to lay their eggs. The female typically lays three to five eggs, which both parents take turns incubating.
Yellow-billed Loon
The Yellow-billed Loon, also called the White-billed Diver, is the largest of all loon species. It inhabits the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia, breeding in tundra lakes and wintering in coastal waters. With its pale yellow beak, green-black head, and striking black-and-white patterned plumage, it is a remarkable sight among waterbirds.
These loons are powerful swimmers and excellent divers, often plunging deep underwater to catch fish. Unlike most waterbirds, they have solid bones, which help them stay submerged for extended periods. Their eerie, wailing calls are a common sound in their breeding territories, adding to the mystique of the Arctic wilderness.
Despite their resilience, Yellow-billed Loons face threats from climate change, oil spills, and unsustainable hunting practices by indigenous communities. Conservation efforts are essential to protect their breeding habitats and ensure their populations remain stable.
Ross’s Turaco
The Ross’s Turaco, also known as Lady Ross’s Turaco, is a vibrant African bird found in riparian forests, woodlands, and savannas. It is easily identified by its deep blue-black plumage, bright red head crown, and striking yellow beak. A unique feature of this species is its forehead shield, which extends into a medium-orange crest.
These turacos are arboreal, spending most of their time in the treetops. They move through the canopy with remarkable agility, using their strong feet and claws to grip branches. Their calls are a series of loud, rhythmic caws, which help them communicate within their flocks.
Ross’s Turacos primarily feed on fruits, especially figs, but they also consume flowers and leaves. They build platform-like nests in trees, where the female lays two eggs. Both parents share incubation duties and care for the chicks until they are ready to fledge.
Yellow-rumped Cacique
The Yellow-rumped Cacique is a striking bird native to the northern regions of South America, including southern Brazil, Peru, Panama, and Trinidad. It inhabits open woodlands, mangrove forests, and agricultural areas with scattered trees. These birds have glossy black plumage, bright yellow rumps, bellies, and tail bases, as well as sharp yellow beaks.
Males engage in elaborate courtship displays, flapping their wings and showcasing their vibrant yellow feathers to attract a mate. Their vocal repertoire includes a mix of whistles, clicks, and mechanical-sounding notes, making them one of the most vocal birds in their range.
After mating, females build long, woven nests high in trees, often near wasp nests for added protection. They lay one to three bluish-white eggs, which they incubate while the males defend the nesting site. Yellow-rumped Caciques feed primarily on insects and fruit, playing a crucial role in seed dispersal.
Black Scoter
The Black Scoter, also called the American Scoter, is a large sea duck that breeds in the Arctic tundra and winters along the coastal waters of the northeastern United States. These ducks are highly social, forming large flocks during migration and winter months. Males have an entirely black body with a distinctive yellow-orange knob at the base of their bill, while females are brown with a paler face.
Black Scoters are known for their unique vocalizations, which include low, growling “tooo-it” calls, rattling “tuka-tuka” sounds, and high-pitched whistles during courtship. Their communication is essential for maintaining social cohesion within flocks.
These ducks primarily feed by diving underwater to catch mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. Due to habitat loss and oil spills affecting their wintering grounds, Black Scoters are classified as Near Threatened, prompting conservation efforts to protect their populations.
Yellow-billed Duck
The Yellow-billed Duck is a non-migratory dabbling duck commonly found in freshwater habitats across southern and eastern Africa. It thrives in wetlands, rivers, and lakes but tends to avoid highly urbanized areas. This duck is easily recognized by its dark grayish-brown plumage and bright yellow bill, which contrasts with its otherwise subdued coloration.
During the dry season, Yellow-billed Ducks move in search of water, but they do not undertake long migrations. They are often seen foraging in shallow waters, feeding on aquatic plants, insects, and small invertebrates. They also dabble at the water’s surface, much like their close relatives, the Mallards.
A unique characteristic of Yellow-billed Ducks is their annual molting process, during which they lose all their flight feathers at once. This renders them temporarily flightless for several weeks, making them more vulnerable to predators. Despite this, they remain widespread and stable in their population.
Yellow-billed Magpie
The Yellow-billed Magpie, also called the California Magpie, is a striking member of the crow family found exclusively in California’s Central Valley and surrounding foothills. It closely resembles the more widespread Black-billed Magpie but can be distinguished by its bright yellow bill and a matching yellow patch around its eyes. Its glossy black and white plumage adds to its striking appearance.
These birds are highly intelligent and social, often gathering in large groups. Like crows, they are known for their complex behaviors, including a ritualistic response to the death of a fellow magpie, where they call loudly and gather around the deceased bird. This behavior suggests an advanced level of social awareness.
Yellow-billed Magpies build large, domed nests in trees and are highly territorial during the breeding season. They primarily feed on insects, seeds, and carrion, playing an essential role in maintaining ecological balance. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and West Nile virus have led to population declines, making them a Vulnerable species.
Javan Myna
The Javan Myna, also known as the White-vented Myna, is a highly adaptable bird native to Java and Bali in Indonesia. It thrives in urban and rural environments, often seen near human settlements, parks, and agricultural areas. These birds are known for their bold and sociable nature, frequently foraging in groups and roosting communally in large numbers.
Resembling the Common Myna, Javan Mynas have glossy black plumage, a bright yellow-orange beak, and yellow eye rings. Their wings and tail appear slightly grayish, and they have striking yellow legs and feet. They are also excellent mimics, often imitating human-made sounds and calls of other birds.
As omnivores, Javan Mynas have a varied diet that includes seeds, fruits, nectar, insects, and even human food waste. Their rapid spread beyond their native range has led to concerns about competition with native bird species, contributing to their classification as an invasive species in several countries.
Verreaux’s Eagle
The Verreaux’s Eagle is a majestic bird of prey native to the rocky, mountainous regions of eastern and southern Africa. It is easily recognizable by its striking all-black plumage, powerful talons, and sharp, curved beak. With an impressive wingspan of up to 90 inches (230 cm), this eagle is a formidable aerial hunter.
Unlike many other eagle species, Verreaux’s Eagles prefer to nest on rocky cliff ledges rather than in trees. Their nests, built from sticks and lined with fresh green leaves, can grow to enormous sizes, sometimes reaching six feet in diameter. Pairs often reuse the same nest for years, strengthening their bond through mutual nest-building activities.
These eagles specialize in hunting rock hyraxes, which make up the majority of their diet. Their hunting technique involves soaring high above rocky terrain before diving down with incredible speed and precision. Due to their specialized habitat and diet, Verreaux’s Eagles are considered a key species for monitoring ecosystem health in their native range.
Bateleur
The Bateleur, named after the French word for “tight-rope walker,” is a striking medium-sized eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. This name refers to its distinctive, unsteady flight pattern, which involves frequent rocking side to side. The Bateleur is famous for its striking appearance, featuring black and white plumage, a bright red face and legs, and a short tail that makes its long wings appear even more dramatic in flight.
Bateleurs are skilled hunters and scavengers, spending up to nine hours a day soaring over open savannas and woodlands in search of prey. Their diet is diverse, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. Their keen eyesight allows them to detect prey from great distances, and they are known to steal food from other birds.
One of the most fascinating behaviors of Bateleurs is their unique hygiene practice. They engage in “anting,” where they allow ants to crawl over their feathers, helping to remove parasites and dead skin. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction and poisoning from carrion laced with pesticides, Bateleurs are classified as Endangered, with conservation efforts focused on protecting their declining populations.
Black Thrush
The Black Thrush is a striking songbird native to the highland forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is part of the Turdidae family, which includes robins and other thrush species. These birds are often found in humid montane forests, where they forage in the understory for insects and fruits.
A key characteristic of the Black Thrush is its sexual dimorphism. Males are entirely black with brown eyes and striking orange-yellow markings on their legs, bill, and eye orbits. Females, in contrast, have a brownish plumage with gray eyes, blending more seamlessly into their forested surroundings. This difference in coloration helps them stay camouflaged while nesting.
Black Thrushes are known for their melodious songs, which they use to establish territory and attract mates. Their calls are a mix of rich, flute-like notes and whistles, making them an important part of the soundscape in their native forests. While they are currently classified as Least Concern, habitat destruction poses a potential threat to their populations.
