Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia

Magpies like to eat insects and small rodents. They are often seen with cattle and sheep, perching on their backs and picking off ticks and maggots. Magpies living in western America appear shy of humans, but their behavior in the Old World is very different. In northern Finland magpies live in the middle of human settlements. In captivity a magpie may be trained to imitate the human voice.

Look For : A dramatic, black-and-white bird with green iridescent wings and long tail.

Length : 17-22".

Habitat : Open woods, prairies, farms.

Range : Alaska, Great Plains to Pacific Northwest.