WESTERN BIRDS Magpie 



to twenty feet from the ground in willows, thorn bushes, 

 mulberry bushes, small oaks, cottonwoods, and pines. 



Henshaw says: "Maggie, as this bird is familiarly 

 known in the west, possesses dual traits. He is beautiful 

 of plumage and adds much to the interest of the land- 

 scape as he flies from field to field, his long tail extending 

 behind him like a rudder. 



"Of eminently social disposition, this bird is rarely seen 

 alone. He prefers flocks of family size to fifty and up- 

 wards. In more ways than one the Magpie is like the 

 Crow and his sagacity has developed along much the 

 same lines. In most localities he is suspicious and wary, 

 as he has good cause to be, for he is not a favorite with 

 either farmer or ranchman. He is eminently carnivorous, 

 a carrion feeder by preference, an insect eater by neces- 

 sity, and he performs good service in the latter role. 

 He eats also many wild fruits and berries, but he is an 

 incorrigible thief and well he knows his way to the poul- 

 try yard. No sound is sweeter in 'Maggie's' ears than 

 the cackle of the exultant hen that has just laid an egg, 

 and the hen house must be well protected that keeps 

 him from his plunder. Perhaps his worst trait, however, 

 is his fondness for the eggs and nestlings of small birds." 



Olive Thorne Miller in "A Bird Lover in the West," 

 gives an interesting experience with these inquisitive, 

 suspicious birds. 



The Yellow-billed Magpie (P. nuttalli) is smaller and 

 the bill and naked bill back of eye is yellow. It is found 

 chiefly in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, 

 California. 



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