Bird
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
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...