Pied

Pied is a color pattern description used for animals, fabrics, and other surfaces that show irregular patches of two or more colors, typically with white interspersed among a darker base. The pattern is usually nonuniform and can occur in a variety of species due to genetic factors or natural variation. Pied is related to the term piebald and is commonly used descriptively rather than as a formal classification.

In birds, pied coloration is especially well known and widely referenced in common names. Examples include the pied wagtail (Motacilla alba), which features contrasting black and white plumage; the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), with dark upper parts and lighter underparts; and the pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), which bears black-and-white markings across its body. The term can also apply to other animals that display similar two-tone patches.

Outside birds, the descriptor pied may be used for mammals and domestic stock that exhibit irregular white patches on a darker coat. In practice, pied coloration is often discussed alongside related terms such as piebald, pigmentation patterns, and spotting, and can vary in appearance from species to species.

Etymology-wise, pied derives from the French pie, meaning magpie, a bird whose black-and-white plumage has long served as a reference for this two-tone pattern. The concept is studied within animal coloration and genetics, emphasizing patterns of pigment distribution rather than a single fixed color.