Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia (Sabine, 1823)

Black-billed Magpie, Pica hudsonia, is a corvid breeding across North America from south Alaska and western Canada into the western and central United States. It is a black-and-white bird with dark wings and tail that show blue and blue-green sheen. Once treated as part of the Eurasian magpie, it was recognised as a separate species in 2000 after genetic work. It uses open country with scattered trees, and is also found in farmland and suburban areas. It nests in a domed structure of twigs placed high in trees.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Corvidae — Crows, Jays

Breeding range

North America: s Alaska, w Canada and w USA to c Canada and c USA