Black-billed Magpie

(Pica hudsonia)

Conservation Status
Black-billed Magpie
Photo by Andy Witchger
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

This is the only bird in Minnesota with a tail as long or longer than the body.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

18 to 22 in length

25 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
  A loud, nasal yeck, or quick yeck-yeck-yeck, repeated many times  
     
 

Similar Species

 
  No similar species in Minnesota  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Open areas with scattered trees, forest edges, shrubby areas, farmlands with willow or alder, aspen groves.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

 

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon year-round resident, increasing breeder in Minnesota

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Corvidae (crows, jays, and magpies)  
 

Genus

Pica (true magpies)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Pica pica hudsonia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Royanne Jurgensen

 
 

These birds had black chests not white. First time seeing them

 
    Black-billed Magpie   Black-billed Magpie  
 

Sandy W.

 
 

This is my 3rd sighting in this area over the past few years. This is the first time I was able to get a picture.

The first sighting was a huge surprise. I counted 9 of them in the bushes along the banks of a stream.  I've also seen one near Bigfork, MN and one near Side Lake, MN.

  Black-billed Magpie  
 

Cindi Rad

 
 

beautiful, was alone, from what we could tell

 
    Black-billed Magpie      
 

Andy Witchger

 
    Black-billed Magpie      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 

Black-billed Magpie
JMC Nature Photos

  Black-billed Magpie  

Black-billed Magpies
crossarthur76

  Black-billed Magpies  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Black-billed Magpies Calling Out (Pica hudsonia)
Wandering Sole Images
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 3, 2013

The call of the Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia). Black-billed Magpies are members of the crow family and are one of only four North American songbirds whose tail makes up half or more of their total body length. They are omnivores that eat insects, larvae, and carrion. Magpies are known to be intelligent and bold, flipping items over to look for food, following predators, and sometimes stealing food from other birds. They can use scent to find food, which is a rarity among birds. Black-billed Magpies are monogamous and find long term mates.

 
  Black-Billed Magpie, Rocky Mountain NP in HD
Anthony Francher
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 23, 2014

I am an avid naturalist, photographer, bird, and animal enthusiast. Please do not approach or feed animals. The result of human-feeding shows in this video where a wild animal shows no fear for me and begs for scraps.

 
  Close Up Black-Billed Magpie Flying Slow Motion
AliasAnimo
 
   
 
About

Published on Jun 2, 2015

Close Up Black-Billed Magpie Flying Slow Motion

 
  Black Billed Magpie - Time For A Bath
AliasAnimo
 
   
 
About

Published on Feb 14, 2015

Black Billed Magpie - Time For A Bath

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Allison
6/25/2022

Location: near Marcell, MN

saw several while driving with my sibling who lives near there. He said he sees a lot of them around there. 

 
  Royanne Jurgensen
6/10/2022

Location: Apple Valley, Mn

These birds had black chests not white. First time seeing them

Black-billed Magpie  
  Samantha Shimota
7/23/2021

Location: Saw a pair just south of Newfolden off of Highway 59.

First time seeing them in MN

 
  Scott Perrault
6/19/2021

Location: near Camp Rabideu CCC camp north of Cass Lake MN 

 
  Danyce
5/16/2021

Location: Walker Mn

 
  Sandy W.
6/27/2018

Location: St. Louis County - Cherry, MN

This is my 3rd sighting in this area over the past few years. This is the first time I was able to get a picture.

The first sighting was a huge surprise. I counted 9 of them in the bushes along the banks of a stream.  I've also seen one near Bigfork, MN and one near Side Lake, MN.

Black-billed Magpie  
  Cindi Rad
1/3/2018

Location: Townline & 25, Hibbing, MN

beautiful, was alone, from what we could tell

Black-billed Magpie  
  Linda SJ
September 2017

Location: Roseau and St Louis Counties

I have Seen These In Roseau County Also In 2015 and Once Prior But don't remember the year.    I Did Not Remember seeing those in years Prior to 2000, and I was Born in Northern Minnesota

 
  Andy Witchger
11/28/2015

Location: Sax-Zim Bog, St. Louis County

Black-billed Magpie  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 8/5/2016

Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.