You can spot these creatures in subarctic ... You can distinguish them from seagulls and other birds with white heads based on the black smudge on their eyes and their long, dark wings.

On freshly molted birds, black plumage has white spots all over; by winter, spots start to disappear; and by spring, the birds are glossy black all over, with strong suffusions of iridescent pinks ...

This black-and-white patterned woodpecker ... there are 129 spots in Alabama where you can get some birdwatching done. For a memorable bird watching adventure, don't forget the essentials ...

From helping them find mates to bettering their ability to camouflage, marks on animals and birds serve various purposes.