Bird

Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia
Bird Near the mouth of White River, South Dakota New to Western Science
Black-billed Magpie

Photo: Polinova, CC BY-SA 4.0

Common Names
Magpie
Habitat
Chamberlain, SD
Conservation
Secure
First Observed
1804-09-17
Observed At
Near the mouth of White River, South Dakota

First classified as subspecies of European Magpie, now has species status. Builds large nests in bushes or small trees.

Recent sightings

Where it’s being seen today

13 research-grade iNaturalist observations between 2016–2025. Most recent: 2025-08-28. Sourced from Terrain360 trail captures, cached locally.

Journal References

14 journal entries mention Black-billed Magpie

Sep 18 1804
Missouri River near Big Bend — Patrick Gass: September 18, 1804
...unting killed a bird not common in the states: it is like a magpie and is a bird of prey. This day we killed eleven deer and a wolf, and halted and encamped on the so...
Nov 18 1804
Fort Mandan, North Dakota — Patrick Gass: November 18, 1804
...nting killed a bird not common in the states : it is like a magpie and is a bird of prey. This day we killed eleven deer and a wolf, and halted and encamped on the so...
Feb 13 1805
Clark: February 13, 1805
...ich was killed yesterday & had escaped the wolves, Raven & Magpie, (which are verry noumerous about this Place) and put into a close pen made of logs to secure it f...
Apr 3 1805
Clark: April 3, 1805
...n. a Carrote of Ricaras Tobacco a red fox Skin Containing a Magpie. No. 14 Minitarras Buffalow robe Containing Some articles of Indian dress. No. 15 a Mandan robe con...
Apr 7 1805
John Ordway: April 7, 1805
...ountain Rams horns a prarie hen & badgers Some birds cauled magpies & a nomber of other curious things too tedious to mention &.C. we took with us 2 large perogues an...
Apr 12 1805
Clark: April 12, 1805
...hite fur & other parts assumeing the Short grey, I Saw the Magpie in pars, flocks of Grouse, the old field lark & Crows, & observed the leaf of the wild Chery half ...
Apr 14 1805
Clark: April 14, 1805
...w Several gees nests on trees, also the nests & egs of the Magpies, a large grey owl killed, booted & with ears &c.
Apr 14 1805
Lewis: April 14, 1805
...est of this bird on or near the ground. we saw a number of Magpies their nests and eggs. their nests are built in trees and composed of small sticks leaves and gras...
Apr 26 1805
Clark: April 26, 1805
...is also plenty beaver is in every bend. I observe that the Magpie Goose duck & Eagle all have their nests in the Same neighbourhood, and it is not uncommon for the ...
Apr 27 1805
Lewis: April 27, 1805
...dant, the party kill several of them every day. The Eagles, Magpies, and gees have their nests in trees adjacent to each other; the magpye particularly appears fond...
Nov 29 1805
Clark: November 29, 1805
...ge red tailed Hawks, ravens & Crows in abundance, the blue Magpie, a Small brown bird which frequents logs & about the roots of treesSnakes, Lizards, Small bugs, wo...
Jun 12 1806
Bitterroot crossing attempt, turned back by snow — Patrick Gass: June 12, 1806
.... We killed several of them since we came to this camp. The magpie is also plenty here, and woodpeckers of a different kind from any I had before seen. They are about...
Sep 18 1806
Missouri River through Kansas-Missouri area — Patrick Gass: September 18, 1806
...nen, Captain, 287 M’Clelland, Mr., 285 Madison river, 121 Magpie, 243 Maha creek, 12, 20 Index Maha Indians, 19, 20, 23, 39, 285 Maha village, 20, 254, 283 Mandan, ...
Oct 30 1806
Patrick Gass: October 30, 1806
.... We killed several them since We came to this camp. ‘The magpie a ie plenty here, and anateeigac” of a diff | Rind from any T had before seen.’ They at _ the s...

Our Partners