Black-billed magpie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-billed magpie |
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| Pica hudsonia |
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The black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia) is a smart and beautiful bird. It's a type of magpie and belongs to the crow family. This bird has shiny black and white feathers and a black beak. Black-billed magpies live in North America, mostly west of the Appalaches and north of the large deserts. They like open areas with a mild climate.
These magpies are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their main foods are insects, dead animals (carrion), and seeds. They also eat small vertebrates and bird eggs. The breeding season for black-billed magpies starts in May. Their chicks usually leave the nest by the end of June. These birds form pairs that stay together for their whole lives.
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About the Black-billed Magpie
The black-billed magpie is a medium-sized songbird. It is known for its striking black and white feathers. Its long tail makes up about half of its total length. Magpies are very intelligent birds. They are often seen in open fields, farmlands, and even near towns.
Where Magpies Live
Black-billed magpies are found across a large part of North America. They live in the western and central areas. You can spot them from Alaska down to the central United States. They prefer places with open spaces and scattered trees. This includes grasslands, river valleys, and even suburban areas.
What Magpies Eat
Black-billed magpies are not picky eaters. They have a very varied diet. They often search for insects on the ground. They also act as scavengers, cleaning up dead animals. Seeds and berries are also an important part of their diet. Sometimes, they will eat eggs or young birds from other nests. This helps them get enough protein.
Magpie Family Life
Black-billed magpies are known for their strong pair bonds. They usually mate for life. They build large, dome-shaped nests out of sticks and mud. These nests are often found high in trees or shrubs. Both parents help to build the nest and raise the young. The female lays several eggs, and the chicks hatch after a few weeks. They grow quickly and are ready to fly by late June.
Magpie Relatives
The black-billed magpie is closely related to the North American yellow-billed magpie (P. nuttalli). Both species came from a common ancestor. This ancestor traveled from the Kamtchatka Peninsula to Alaska a long time ago. This was during the Pleistocene ice age.
The two types of magpies became different because of the glaciers in the Rocky Mountains. The yellow-billed magpie became separated in the warmer climate of California. It adapted to its new environment.
Magpie Conservation Status
The number of black-billed magpies is currently stable. This means their population is not decreasing. Because of this, they are not considered an endangered species. They are a common sight in many parts of their range.
Images for kids
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In Yellowstone Bear World (near Idaho Falls, Idaho)
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Back view showing dark blue-green feathers
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Scavenging the remains of a large animal
See also
In Spanish: Urraca de Hudson para niños
