science education resource

Magpie (Black-billed)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Pica hudsonia
Magpie (Black-billed)

Range

They are found west of the Rocky Mountains, along the southern coast of Alaska south to Arizona and in Canada East to Ontario.

Habitat

They live in open grassland or shrubby areas and are common around homes and in parks.

Body Traits

They are large birds with a black head, chest and upper shoulders. They have a white belly and shoulder-patch. They have a very long tail that is longest in the middle and tapers shorter off to the sides. Their wings and tail though look dark-colored but in sunlight are iridescent blue-green. They have a big, black beak and dark eyes and legs. Males and females look alike (no sexual dimorphism).

Habits

They will pick insects and ticks off of hooved wildlife (deer, etc.).

Diet

They eat insects, seeds, nuts, small mammals and even dead animals (carrion).

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Females lay up to 7 light brownish-green eggs with some spots in a very large nest of mud and sticks. They often build their nest up on telephone poles.

Magpie (Black-billed)

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Magpie (Black-billed)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 26, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/Magpie-Black-billed >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.