Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

Range & Recent Observations

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About the Black-billed Magpie

The black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia), also known as the American magpie, is a bird in the corvid family found in the western half of North America. It is black and white, with the wings and tail showing black areas and iridescent hints of blue and blue-green. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of Pica pica (Eurasian magpie), but was separated as a species in its own in 2000 based on genetic studies. This species prefers generally open habitats with clumps of trees, but can also commonly be found in farmlands and suburban areas. Historically associated with bison herds, it now lands on the backs of cattle to glean ticks and insects from them. Black-billed magpies commonly follow large predators, such as wolves, to scavenge from their kills.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Pica hudsonia
Family: Crows, Jays, and Magpies
Order: Passeriformes

Similar species

Other members of the crows, jays, and magpies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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