North American field guide
Yellow-billed Magpie
Pica nuttalli
Identification
Field notes
42 cm (16-17") Common in its restricted range in California; Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, adjacent low foothills, coastal valleys from San Francisco Bay to Santa Barbara County. Open woodlands, stream groves, ranches, farms, open oak.
Nearly identical to Black-billed Magpie but for yellow bill instead of black and some bare yellow skin around eye.
Song: rapid series of harsh cries.
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
Yellow-Billed Magpies - Thu 31 Jan 2013 [HD]
Credit: Paul1953Hyellow billed magpies canon powershot sx1
Credit: Jim FrenchWhere it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 1 rule
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
Yellow-billed Magpie
1 ruleRule 1 15 criteria · confidence 4
- 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 ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · 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 ?
- Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · 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