Yellow-billed magpie (Pica nutalli)

Coyote Valley OSP, California, USA. Aug 15th, 2019

comments (5)

Thibaud Aronson

Lion

Magpies of the genus Pica are a funny thing. They occur throughout Europe, North Africa, one isolated population in Saudi, much of Asia, and western North America. This one is entirely endemic to California, and looks identical to the more widespread american species (which does not co-occur with it), except for its yellow bill and facial skin. When I first heard about it, I was skeptical, though of course California birders are very attached to its validity as a species. But now, taxonomic studies are messing with things. The North African and Himalayan populations have recently been split off as separate species, and in order to keep the yellow-billed one as a valid species, at least one Korean population will also probably be split.
Regardless, it's a very neat bird, and I was pleased to see them (entirely thanks to the preposterous amount of info on eBird for California!) Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Splitting means more birds, keep splitting :) Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
    
    Lion
    
    Some people have extrapolated from recent genetic studies and are saying we could end up with 18000 bird species! Posted 5 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Good thing birders don't count their life score in percentage :) Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Thibaud Aronson
        
        Lion
        
        Hehe indeed! Posted 5 years ago

The Yellow-billed magpie

The yellow-billed magpie is a large bird in the crow family that is restricted to the U.S. state of California. It inhabits the Central Valley and the adjacent chaparral foothills and mountains. Apart from its having a yellow bill and a yellow streak around the eye, it is virtually identical to the black-billed magpie found in much of the rest of North America.
The scientific name commemorates the English naturalist Thomas Nuttall.

Info 1 0

Similar species: Perching Birds

Species identified by Thibaud Aronson

By Thibaud Aronson

Uploaded Oct 25, 2019. Captured Aug 15, 2019 17:03 in 615 Palm Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037, USA.

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Canon EOS 7D Mark II
f/14.0
1/166s
ISO2500
490mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.