4 Things You Must Know About Black-Billed Magpies

Visual Charm and Nesting Habits

Black-billed Magpies bring considerable life to western North American scenery—not only with their striking looks, but also through their large, bushel-basket-like nests built in trees. In the past, farmers and ranchers attempted to wipe out this species, yet their efforts proved fruitless. Today, the birds are widespread in open rural areas and even inhabit towns across the mountainous western regions.

Migration and Residence Patterns

The majority of Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents. Some populations move to higher elevations in autumn, while a small number shift southward or to lower slopes when winter arrives. Individual birds rarely stray far east of their breeding territories.

Physical Identification

Measuring 17.5 to 22 inches (44 to 56 centimeters) in length, these magpies are easily recognizable in most regions. Their wings and long tails have a glossy green and blue sheen, and large white patches on their wings stand out prominently during flight. In California, they may be confused with the Yellow-billed Magpie, so careful observation of bill color is key.

Preferred Habitats

Black-billed Magpies thrive in a range of semi-open environments in the West, including rangelands, coniferous stands, stream banks, forest edges, and farmlands. They avoid dense, unbroken forests, as well as treeless grasslands and extreme desert conditions. They are most abundant in tree groves along streams in open areas, agricultural lands, and some suburban neighborhoods.

That Wānaka Tree: New Zealand’s Most Famous Tree

We all dream of becoming famous at some point. These days, you can try your luck through controversial reality shows, gain attention by doing ridiculous things online, or become well known because you genuinely excel at something. Another option is to simply be a partially submerged willow tree standing by itself in Lake Wānaka.

The Healing Power of Art and Drawing

Stuck one evening in heavy traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard, exhausted physician Kurlen Payton, MD, noticed a green-and-gold ficus tree glowing under streetlights. At the time, he was in the early stage of his career as a neonatal intensive care specialist at Cedars-Sinai and raising two young children. That brief moment inspired him to make a quick sketch—and that single drawing marked the beginning of a lasting habit.

Homestyle Potato Chips

Making potato chips from scratch is simple, enjoyable, and incredibly rewarding. Once you taste these freshly fried chips, it's hard to go back to store-bought versions. A food processor equipped with a slicing blade can make preparation much easier, although a mandoline slicer works equally well for achieving thin, even slices. Feel free to adjust the thickness to suit your preference—some people enjoy extra-thin chips, while others prefer a slightly thicker crunch.

Oriental Pearl Tower

Standing at 468 meters tall, the Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Shanghai. It ranks as the fourth tallest tower in Asia and the sixth tallest tower of its kind in the world. Construction began on July 30, 1991, and the tower was officially completed on October 1, 1994.

Sea Surface Topography

Ocean surface topography refers to the height of the ocean surface relative to the geoid, a reference shape of Earth where gravity is considered uniform. Although the sea appears flat when viewed from shore, it is constantly shaped by waves, tides, ocean currents, and atmospheric pressure differences, all of which create subtle variations in sea level across the globe. Studying these variations helps scientists better understand how ocean circulation and current systems function.