Yellow-Billed Magpie
We have a lot of Yellow-Billed Magpies in the Santa Barbara County in California. When you are around these Magpies you’ll notice two things right away. First, they are large, striking birds, from 16-18″ long. Secondly, they are extremely smart.
While you watch them, they keep a good eye on you too, especially when you are eating! They are very opportunistic and seem to work in pairs. Within seconds of vacating a picnic table, they will check it out and call loudly back and forth.
Description
The Yellow-Billed Magpie has, as its name suggests, has a yellow bill and also a bare yellow skin patch behind its dark eye. The size of this yellow patch varies in size from bird to bird. Its head, breast and underparts are iridescent blue-black with a white belly and shoulders. You will see large white patches on its wings which flash in the light as it flies. The Yellow-Billed Magpie also has long wedge-shaped tail which is longer than its body and is also iridescent blue-black. The legs and feet are black and the sexes are similar in appearance. The juvenile lacks the eye spot.
Range
The Yellow-Billed Magpie is the only species of bird that is restricted to California. It does not venture into the Black-Billed Magpie’s area even though the birds are related. The Sierra Nevada Mountains seem to form a natural barrier to keep the two apart. You will find the Yellow-Billed Magpie in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, and also in the valleys of the Coastal ranges from San Francisco to Santa Barbara Counties. The Yellow-Billed Magpie prefers oaks and open country near heavy brush. They are often seen by streams, ranches and farms, and open fields.
Behavior
Yellow-Billed Magpies are very intelligent and learn quickly. Although they are boisterous, they are shy and secretive when they sense danger. They are not wandering birds and stay in the same area most of the year. After nesting it is common to find them roosting and feeding in loose flocks of up to 20 birds. At that time you will find them calling and socializing together. They are very vocal with a call that sounds like a descending whine. They also give loud, harsh “clucking” noises. They feed by walking (more like strutting), running and hopping on the ground. They eat acorns, insects, carrion, fruit, berries and garbage, holding the food with their feet as they peck at it. They are also known to take nestlings of other birds to feed their own. You might find them storing extra food in hole they dig in the ground with their beaks. They are known to sometimes work collectively to mob predators.
Breeding and Nesting
The Yellow-Billed Magpie’s nest is hard to see. It is used year after year and most often found in oak trees overgrown with mistletoe. The nest is found in the upper branches of the tree. It is a very large dome of sticks with an entrance on each side. Magpies nest in loose colonies. The female lays 5-8 olive colored eggs spotted with brown. She does the incubating with the young fledge within 3-4 weeks after hatching. They forage with the adults and will form into large flocks with the adults in the winter.
Photo Gallery Yellow-Billed Magpie
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Alamo Canyon
San Luis Obispo County, CA
The Yellow-Billed Magpie is only found in the central and coastal valleys of California.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
They prefer open fields, farms, ranches, and brush areas studded with oak trees and near water.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
They have big yellow bills and black eyes. There is a patch of bare yellow skin near or around the eye in the adults.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
You will find that the patch of bare, yellow skin varies in size from bird to bird.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
Their heads, breasts and backs are iridescent blue-black; they have large white wing patches.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
These large birds have white bellies and black legs and feet. Males and females look alike.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
A noticable field mark is the long iridescent blue-black tail, which is wedge shaped.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
They do not migrate, and they do not cross over into the Black-Billed Magpie's territory.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Foxen Canyon
Santa Barbara County, CA
Young birds are like the adults but do not have the bare yellow patches of skin.
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yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
Like other Corvids, Yellow-Billed Magpies are very intelligent.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Alamo Canyon
San Luis Obispo County, CA
This bird was one of group of six which were foraging for food on a county road.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
Magpies are very social. They have loud, harsh voices which sounds like descending whines.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
These two Magpies were just starting to repair their nest when a Red-Shouldered Hawk showed up.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
The nest is a large, domed structure made of a mud base and sticks; it has two openings on each side.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
The nest is usually built high up in oak trees, hidden by the mistletoe. Notice the adult leaving the nest.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Cat Canyon Road
Santa Barbara County, CA
This Magpie was warming up in the early morning sun.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
They eat acorns, insects, fruit, berries, carrion and garbage. Acorns are placed between the feet to crack open.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
When plenty of food is available, you might see them using their beaks to bury food for a later time.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
They are opportunists; watching and waiting for food to be left on picnic tables and in parks.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
They hang out together in small flocks after breeding to roost, socialize and forage for food.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
Magpie flying with its long tail streaming behind. Their tails are as longer than their bodies.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
You can see around the neck that this Magpie is starting to molt.
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
Notice the beautiful feathers shinning blue in the sun!
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Yellow-Billed Magpie
Los Alamos Park
Los Alamos, CA
The white patches on their wings are quite visible when they fly.
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While you watch them, they keep a good eye on you too, especially when you are eating! They are very opportunistic and seem to work in pairs. Within seconds of vacating a picnic table, they will check it out and call loudly back and forth.
