A composite oxide black pigment has characteristics to absorb visible rays and near infrared rays, and is composed of an oxide of main constituent metals including copper, manganese and iron. In a wavelength region of 400 to 1,000 nm, the composite oxide black pigment has a minimum wavelength, at which a transmittance becomes minimum, in a wavelength region of 600 to 800 nm, a molar ratio of manganese/iron is 3/1 to 30/1, and a molar ratio of copper/(manganese+iron) is 1/2 to 1.2/2. Its sole use makes it possible to obtain a transparent vivid bluish, neutral gray color, and also to maximize an absorption in a near infrared region. It is, therefore, excellent in near infrared absorption characteristics.