Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

23-30 cm (9-12") Common. Western North America. Open coniferous forests, range lands, streamsides.

Unmistakable large black and white bird with a long black tapered tail. Tail is longer than the body. White patches in wings flash in flight. Wings and tail may show a greenish irridescence.

This conspicuous and gregarious bird is frequently seen along highways.

Song: harsh rapid "guey guey guey guey".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Eugene Beckes

Credit: Chuck Roberts

Credit: Jonathan Fox

Credit: Chuck Roberts

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

black billed maggie eating a worm

Credit: Jim French

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

Loading the rebuilt map…

Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-billed Magpie

2 rules

Rule 1 15 criteria confidence 5

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:905-black-billed-magpie:1:1 Source: 905 Black-billed Magpie, row 1

Rule 2 15 criteria confidence 1

Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: Yes · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:905-black-billed-magpie:2:1 Source: 905 Black-billed Magpie, row 2