Black-billed Magpie
Black-billed MagpieBlack-billed MagpieBlack-billed MagpieBlack-billed Magpie

Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Denali National Park
932 Verified records at Denali National Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia), also known as the American magpie, is a bird in the corvid family found in the western half of North America. It is black and white, with the wings and tail showing black areas and iridescent hints of blue and blue-green. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of Pica pica (Eurasian magpie), but was separated as a species in its own in 2000 based on genetic studies. This species prefers generally open habitats with clumps of trees, but can also commonly be found in farmlands and suburban areas. Historically associated with bison herds, it now lands on the backs of cattle to glean ticks and insects from them. Black-billed magpies commonly follow large predators, such as wolves, to scavenge from their kills. Wikipedia →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a Black-billed Magpie sighting in Denali National Park, based on 932 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Denali National Park

Gray Jay
LC

Gray Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Perisoreus canadensis

20–30% · Possible
Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

20–30% · Possible
Steller's Jay
LC Endemic

Steller's Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta stelleri

Insufficient data
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

40–50% · Possible
Dark-eyed Junco
LC

Dark-eyed Junco

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Junco hyemalis

30–40% · Possible
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

20–30% · Possible
Boreal Chickadee
LC

Boreal Chickadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Poecile hudsonicus

10–20% · With luck
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

10–20% · With luck
Swainson's Thrush
LC

Swainson's Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Catharus ustulatus

10–20% · With luck
Wilson's Warbler
LC

Wilson's Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardellina pusilla

10–20% · With luck
American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizelloides arborea

10–20% · With luck
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

40–50
Jan
30–40
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
20–30
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
30–40
Aug
30–40
Sep
30–40
Oct
30–40
Nov
40–50
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
70–80%
2 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
60–70%
3 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
50–60%
4 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
40–50%
5 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
40–50%
6 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
30–40%
7 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
8 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
9 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
10 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
11 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
12 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
13 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
14 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
15 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
16 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
17 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
20 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
21 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-billed Magpie in Denali National Park?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Black-billed Magpie sighting in Denali National Park, based on 932 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-billed Magpie in Denali National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Black-billed Magpie in Denali National Park in our monthly data.

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