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Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia

Photo by EmilyMarino
Published on Project Noah
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39.6708, -105.203

Field Notes

Description:

These birds are black and white overall with blue-green iridescent flashes in the wing and tail. The upper parts are mostly black with a white patch in the outer wing and two white stripes (“backpack straps”) on the back.

Habitat:

Scrub brush in the foothills

Notes:

This may be one of my all time favorite pictures! I just love the colors!

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (19)
ChristyHolland
Finally getting to your pics!!! This is definitely one for the picture frames!! ;-)
EmilyMarino
Thank you Seema and Adarsha! This is one of my favorites right now! It helps when the subject cooperates, so I can't take all the credit! ;)
Seema
loved the picture..........
EmilyMarino
Thank you so much for the kind words AntónioGinjaGinja, Jakubko and LaurenZarate!
Jacob Gorneau
Spectacular photo of a spectacular bird! I can see how this can be one of your favorite pictures! It is now one of my all time favorites as well! :-)
AntónioGinjaGinja
Wow,gorgeous capture Emily,beautiful bird and great photo,congrats and thanks for sharing
EmilyMarino
Thank you Glen and Yuko! I love magpies and other corvids. They are so inquisitive, thoughtful and socially intelligent. I often find that they are more trusting of me than other birds! This was indeed true with this little guy. He let me get very close to take several pictures and was happily calling to another magpie near by while I snapped away.
EmilyMarino
Thank you Ava! Thank you Mona! ...I am kind of in love with this photo!
EmilyMarino
Thank you Noel and thank you Neil! I love corvids of all kinds! We have magpies everywhere in Colorado and I often take them for granted. Pictures like this remind me to stop and appreciate even the most common of sights!
Neil Ross
A beautiful photo, Emily. No wonder it's one of your favourites. Magpies (worldwide) are amazing birds. Nice find. Neil :-)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Birds of the World
Mission
Rocky Mountain Wildlife Watch
Mission
Front Range Life of Colorado
Mission
Colorado's Feathered Friends
Photographed
PublishedMay 6, 2013

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