Black-billed Magpie

A striking black-and-white western corvid with a long tail and iridescent wings, often found in open country, ranchlands, and riparian corridors.

Overview

Common Name

Black-billed Magpie

Scientific Name

Pica hudsonia

Family

Corvidae

Order

Passeriformes

Class

Aves

Region

North American

Group

Bird

Native Range

Western North America, Northern Great Plains, Rocky Mountain region, Parts of Canada

Habitats

Open country, Ranchlands, Grasslands, Riparian areas, Wooded edges, Farmland

Diet

Insects, Carrion, Seeds, Fruit, Small animals, Eggs, Human-associated foods

Conservation Status

Generally widespread in western range; verify current local status.

Verification

needs_bird_review

Fun Facts

Black-billed Magpies have very long tails compared with many other corvids.
Their black feathers can show blue-green iridescence in good light.
They build large dome-like stick nests.
They are bold, social, and highly visible in many western landscapes.

Notes

This entry is intended as a general informational bird reference.
Local abundance may vary by habitat and region.

Reference Links

Quick Info

Entry URL

/north-american/bird/pica-hudsonia

Entry Type

fauna entry

Slug

pica-hudsonia

Navigation

Site Note

Fauna details may vary by region, habitat, season, taxonomy updates, and source documentation. Confirm important wildlife, safety, conservation, legal, or ecological information with authoritative sources.

Independent Informational Hosting Notice

This site is an independent informational hosting page. Fauna entries are provided for general reference, public browsing, educational organization, and discovery.

Visitors should confirm important wildlife, ecological, conservation, safety, legal, or time-sensitive information with authoritative sources before relying on it.