Black-billed Magpie

On January 14, 2020January 14, 2020 By Mike and Christy

Magpie_2314_bw

Noisy yes, but oh so beautiful, especially in flight, a Black-billed Magpie sits quietly on a snowy afternoon. The magpies in our area are very skittish and difficult to sneak up on for a photograph. We see them all the time but even a quick look in their direction has them flying away.

“Historically associated with bison herds, it now lands on the back of cattle to clean ticks and insects from them. Large predators such as wolves are commonly followed by black-billed magpies, who scavenge from their kills. The species also walks on the ground, where it obtains such food items as beetles, grasshoppers, worms, and small rodents.”

Intelligent and pretty good looking and a fine way to brighten a cold snowy day.

10 thoughts on “Black-billed Magpie”

-N-

Magpies are among my faves, and this photo is just stunning in B&W as well!

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January 14, 2020 at 3:43 pm Reply
1. Mike and Christy
  
  Thanks, Magpies are so beautiful and photograph well in both color and BW depending on the light. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
  
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  January 19, 2020 at 2:36 pm Reply
arlingwoman

What a fine catch. I’ve always loved the look of these birds, but never really see them much.

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January 14, 2020 at 6:54 pm Reply
1. Mike and Christy
  
  Magpies are fun birds to see with those extra long tails. We have very few long tailed birds in the US.
  
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  January 19, 2020 at 2:37 pm Reply
Jet Eliot

I love magpies, so gregarious and bold and beautiful, and your photo enhances their beauty very well here, Mike. I never knew they were associated with bison herds, interesting.

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January 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm Reply
1. Mike and Christy
  
  Hi Jet, it is an interesting fact and how they have adapted to cattle as well. We occasionally see them scavenging on carcasses patiently waiting their turn after the ravens.
  
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  January 19, 2020 at 2:38 pm Reply
Kit Dunsmore

I am a magpie fan. They remind me of flappers from the 1920s with their big wings and tails. Also, I love that while they look black and white most of the time, they have iridescent blue feathers as well.

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January 15, 2020 at 4:04 pm Reply
1. Mike and Christy
  
  Hi Kit, that iridescence is a wonderful thing in Magpies. When the light is just right the brilliant blues and greens are amazing. We have always wanted to get a good photo of them in flight as their wings are beautiful but have yet to do so. We are in you camp as magpie fans.
  
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  January 19, 2020 at 2:40 pm Reply
SoyBend

Nice capture of a beautiful bird! I noticed that they are skittish too. I have lots of just okay pictures of them.

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January 15, 2020 at 4:37 pm Reply
1. Mike and Christy
  
  It is funny how certain populations of birds are skittish like that. We can just turn to look or point the camera at a magpie and they are gone.
  
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  January 19, 2020 at 2:42 pm Reply