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Home/Species/ Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia

(Sabine, 1823)

Black-billed Magpie

G5Secure Found in 235 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104685
Element CodeABPAV09010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilyCorvidae
GenusPica
Other Common Names
black-billed magpie (EN) Pie d'Amérique (FR)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 2000. Forty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 117:847-858
Taxonomic Comments
This species formerly was included within the (now) Eurasian P. pica, but split from that species on the basis of a number of morphologic, behavioral, and genetic characters (AOU 2000, Birkhead 1991, Enggist-Dublin and Birkhead 1992, Zink et al. 1995). Considered conspecific with P. nuttalli by some authors (e.g., Phillips [1986], who treated P. pica as a subspecies of P. pica) and constituting a superspecies with it (AOU 1998).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-12-02
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
RESIDENT: in North America, south-coastal and southern Alaska south through western Canada to eastern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, extreme northeastern Arizona, northern New Mexico, western and northeastern Oklahoma, western Kansas; Old World from northern Eurasia south to Mediterranean area, northwestern Africa, Iran, Southeast Asia, Japan. WANDERS: widely.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Open country (including grasslands), open situations with scattered trees, shrubby areas, riparian and open woodland, forest edge and farmlands, in either arid or humid habitats (AOU 1983). Roosts in dense thickets of deciduous trees or scrub, or, especially in north in winter, in dense conifers (Reebs 1987). BREEDING: Usually nests in bushes or trees. Nest may be used in subsequent years. Tends to nest in the same territory in successive years, often with the same mate (Can. J. Zool. 70:633).

Ecology

Usually seen in small family flocks of 6-10 birds; larger flocks may form in winter. Abandoned magpie nests often are used by other bird species as shelter, day-time retreat or nest. May roost communally after breeding season and especially in winter (up to 150 birds in February-March in Alberta, Reebs 1987).

Reproduction

Clutch size usually 5-8. Incubation 16-18 days, by female. Monogamous; often retains mate for several years. Mature in 1 year. Nests in scattered loose colonies. Alberta study indicates that male parental care required for successful rearing of young (Dunn and Hannon 1989). See Reese and Kadlec (1985) for data from Utah.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralSavannaGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
AlbertaS5Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS5Yes
SaskatchewanS5Yes
OntarioS2Yes
ManitobaS4Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Navajo NationS4Yes
WyomingS5B,S5NYes
OklahomaS3Yes
WashingtonS5Yes
ColoradoS5Yes
New MexicoS4B,S4NYes
UtahS5Yes
NebraskaS2Yes
IdahoS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
OregonS5Yes
ArizonaS2Yes
NevadaS4Yes
South DakotaS4Yes
AlaskaS5Yes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MontanaS5Yes
KansasS3Yes
Roadless Areas (235)
Alaska (20)
AreaForestAcres
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Green RocksTongass National Forest11,093
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
California (18)
AreaForestAcres
Black CanyonInyo National Forest32,421
Devil's Gate (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest9,946
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
Hoover - Green Ck NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest7,155
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Hoover - Virginia LksHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,050
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Log Cabin SaddlebagInyo National Forest15,165
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
Nevahbe RidgeInyo National Forest302
PaiuteInyo National Forest58,712
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
SherwinInyo National Forest3,140
SoldierModoc National Forest10,102
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
Colorado (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
HermosaSan Juan NF148,103
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Pagoda PeakRoutt NF57,676
Red TableWhite River NF39,122
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Idaho (8)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Italian PeakCaribou-Targhee National Forest141,158
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Montana (35)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cherry PeakLolo National Forest37,862
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Deadhorse Ridge Ra 1128Flathead National Forest23,648
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
Garfield MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest41,891
HolterHelena National Forest1,965
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Italian PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest90,401
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
North SiegelLolo National Forest9,208
Patricks Knob - North CutoffLolo National Forest16,970
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Silver KingLolo National Forest12,816
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
South Siegel - South CutoffLolo National Forest13,474
Teepee - Spring CreekLolo National Forest13,902
Ten Lakes #683Kootenai National Forest48,545
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
Nevada (27)
AreaForestAcres
Arc Dome - Secret BsnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest74,782
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Bank SpringsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest18,126
Chineese Camp (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,207
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
North Shoshone PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest40,667
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Pine Grove NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,749
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Rose - Dutch LouieHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest363
Rose - EvansHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,782
Rose - GalenaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest3,711
Rose - Hunter Lk NoHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest149
Rose - NortheastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest550
Rose - Whites CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,568
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - ChokecherryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest30,845
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Toiyabe RangeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest99,225
WildhorseHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,204
New Mexico (17)
AreaForestAcres
Arroyo de los FrijolesSanta Fe National Forest5,277
Black CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,922
Bull CanyonCarson National Forest11,512
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Chama WildernessSanta Fe National Forest1,295
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Comales CanyonCarson National Forest4,389
GallinasSanta Fe National Forest13,208
Holy GhostSanta Fe National Forest2,352
Juan de Gabaldon GrantSanta Fe National Forest8,023
McClure ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest375
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Pacheco CanyonSanta Fe National Forest1,012
PecosCarson National Forest13,436
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Tesuque CreekSanta Fe National Forest810
Thompson PeakSanta Fe National Forest33,001
North Dakota (2)
AreaForestAcres
Long X DivideDakota Prairie Grasslands10,099
WannaganDakota Prairie Grasslands6,026
Oregon (12)
AreaForestAcres
BearwallowsDeschutes National Forest7,317
Brattain ButteFremont National Forest5,959
Crane MountainFremont National Forest23,096
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
Hurricane CreekWallowa-Whitman National Forest1,606
Imnaha FaceWallowa-Whitman National Forest29,575
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Lookout MountainOchoco National Forest14,115
Sheep DivideWallowa-Whitman National Forest16,201
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
South Dakota (1)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekBuffalo Gap National Grassland24,666
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (49)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401002Ashley National Forest36,113
0401023Ashley National Forest8,352
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0401030Ashley National Forest531
0401031Ashley National Forest7,110
0401032Ashley National Forest6,471
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418002Uinta National Forest19,152
418013Uinta National Forest14,643
418016Uinta National Forest35,240
418017Uinta National Forest19,631
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418028Uinta National Forest34,002
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,852
Boulder Mtn. / Boulder Top / Deer LakeDixie National Forest110,690
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
Casto BluffDixie National Forest87,466
Cedar KnollManti-Lasal National Forest22,502
Circleville MountainFishlake National Forest24,142
Clarkston Mtn.Caribou National Forest7,099
Clear CreekSawtooth National Forest7,188
Dairy ForkManti-Lasal National Forest30,222
East MountainManti-Lasal National Forest30,705
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Little CreekFishlake National Forest11,479
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Stump CreekCaribou National Forest355
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
Washington (3)
AreaForestAcres
Granite MountainOkanogan National Forest27,428
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Slide RidgeWenatchee National Forest11,430
Wyoming (33)
AreaForestAcres
0401035Ashley National Forest5,465
0401036Ashley National Forest6,309
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Dunoir Special Management UnitShoshone National Forest29,719
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Illinois CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,711
Little Sheep MountainBridger-Teton National Forest14,192
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Monument RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest17,720
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
Munger MountainBridger-Teton National Forest12,827
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
Piney CreekBighorn National Forest22,240
Platte River AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,962
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Salt River RangeBridger-Teton National Forest235,661
Sheep MountainMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest17,626
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South ForkShoshone National Forest64,903
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Wapiti Valley SouthShoshone National Forest43,517
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
Windy MountainShoshone National Forest31,283
References (25)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 2000. Forty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds. The Auk 117:847-858
  3. Balda, R. P., and G. C. Bateman. 1971. Flocking and annual cycle of the piñon jay, <i>Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus</i>. Condor 73:287-302.
  4. Birkhead, T. R. 1991. The ecology and behavior of black-billed and yellow-billed magpies. Academic Press. 259 pp.
  5. Droege, S., and J.R. Sauer. 1990. North American Breeding Bird Survey, annual summary, 1989. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 90(8). 22 pp.
  6. Dunn, P. O., and S. J. Hannon. 1989. Evidence for obligate male parental care in black-billed magpies. Auk 106:635-644.
  7. Enggist-Dublin, P. and T. R. Birkhead. 1992. Differences in the calls of European and North American Black-billed Magpies and the Yellow-billed Magpie. Bioacoustics 4:185-194.
  8. Goodwin, D. 1986. Crows of the world. Second edition. Univ. Washington Press. 300 pp.
  9. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  10. Horn, H. S. 1968. The adaptive significance of colonial nesting in the Brewer's Blackbird. Ecology 49:682-694.
  11. Ligon, J. D. 1971. Late summer-autumnal breeding of the piñon jay in New Mexico. Condor 73:147-153.
  12. Linsdale, J.M. 1937. The natural history of magpies. Pacific Coast Avifauna, No. 25. 234 pp.
  13. Moore, W. S., and R. A. Dolbeer. 1989. The use of banding recovery data to estimate dispersal rates and gene flow in avian species: case studies in the Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle. Condor 91:242-253.
  14. Mugaas, J. N., and J. R. King. 1981. Annual variation of daily energy expenditure by the black-billed magpie. Cooper Ornitholog. Soc. 78 pp.
  15. Phillips, A. R. 1986. The known birds of North and Middle America: distribution and variations, migrations, changes, hybrids, etc. Part I, Hirundinidae to Mimidae, Certhiidae. Published by the author, Denver, Colorado. lxi + 259 pp.
  16. Reebs, S. G. 1987. Roost characteristics and roosting behavior of black-billed magpies, PICA PICA, in Edmonton, Alberta. Canadian Field-Nat. 101:519-525.
  17. Reed, J. A., J. L. Sincock, and J. P. Hailman. 1985. Light attraction in endangered procellariiform birds: reduction by shielding upward radiation. Auk 102:377-383.
  18. Reese, K. P., and J. A. Kadlec. 1985. Influence of high density and parental age on the habitat selection and reproduction of black-billed magpies. Condor 87:96-105.
  19. Tarvin, K. A., and G. E. Woolfenden. 1999. Blue Jay (<i>Cyanocitta cristata</i>). No. 469 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  20. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  21. Thompson, F. R., III. 1994. Temporal and spatial patterns of breeding brown-headed cowbirds in the midwestern United States. Auk 111:979-990.
  22. Verbeek, N.A.M. 1973. The exploitation system of the yellow-billed magpie. University of California Publications in Zoology, Vol. 99, University of California Press, Berkeley.
  23. Williams, L. 1952b. Breeding behavior of the Brewer blackbird. Condor 54:3-47.
  24. Willson, M. F. 1966. Breeding ecology of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Ecological Monographs 36:51-77.
  25. Zink, R. M., S. Rohwer, A. V. Andreev, and D. L. Dittman. 1995. Trans-Beringia comparisons of mitochondrial DNA differentiation in birds. Condor 97:639-649.