104 BIRDS OF SOUTH DAKOTA 



475. MAGPIE (Pica pica hudsonia.) 



The Magpie is more or less common along the Missouri 

 River and westward in our State, where it is an annual resident. 

 It strays eastward sometimes during the winter. Specimens 

 have been taken at Vermillion in December and January. 



The bird is about twenty inches in length, including a 

 very long tail. Head and back black; tail and large wing feath- 

 ers glossy black; upper wing feathers and belly white. 



There is no mistaking this beautiful, interesting and rogu- 

 ish bird. Its harsh notes inform you of its presence and warn 

 you that you are intruding upon its premises. The nest is a 

 bulky affair, sometimes two or three feet in diameter, built of 

 coarse sticks and placed in low, bushy trees. The nest proper is 

 placed in the center of the mass of sticks, and it is almost im- 

 possible for a larger animal to get near the seven to nine eggs. 



477. BLUE JAY (Cyanocitta cristata cristata.) 



About eleven inches in length. Above, including its crest, 

 light blue, slightly marked with white and black; below, gray. 

 Easily identified by its harsh call, "jay, jay." 



The beautiful color of the Blue Jay belies his character. 

 While ideal about their own nests, these birds frequently rifle 

 other birds* nests and kill their young. They have thieving pro- 

 pensities and often secrete food like Woodpeckers. 



484. CANADA JAY; CAMP ROBBER (Perisoreus canadensis canadensis.) 



An annual resident of the Black Hills. Same in size as 

 the Blue Jay. Above, gray except back part of head, which is 

 much darker ; below, whitish. Considered a pest around logging 

 camps. 



486. RAVEN (Corvus corax sinuatus.) 



While frequently seen along the Missouri River and west- 

 ward in early days, it is found at present only as a straggler in 

 the Black Hills. 



It is similar to the common Crow in plumage, but larger, 

 and easily identified by its size, particularly by its large bill. 



Habits much the same as the Crow except that in nesting 

 it is more likely to choose a rock shelf or cliff than a tree. 



