[Leica] IMG: Yellow-billed Magpie

[Doug Herr]

The Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nutalli) is a large member of the crow family that is endemic to California.  Other magpies are found elsewhere and the very similar Black-billed Magpie is widespread in North America... I'll bet you can deduce what the primary difference between these two species is.  The Yellow-billed Magpie prefers the open oak woodlands in sheltered valleys of California's Central Valley and adjacent foothills but can also be found on lawns and in parks in the Central Valley's cities and towns.

This species is particularly susceptible to the West Nile virus and a 2005 outbreak of this disease reduced the Yellow-billed Magpie population by 50%.  For a number of years following the outbreak there were no magpies near my home but in the last few years the populations appear to have recovered; my theory which I must emphasize has not been tested is that among the birds present in 2005 there were varying degrees of resistance to the virus and the more resistant individuals survived and re-populated the Central Valley.  Yellow-billed Magpies are again regular visitors to my yard.

For many years I've wanted to showcase the iridescence of its tail and wing feathers.  What do you think?

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/pica/ybmagp05.html

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com
http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com