A new net won’t catch an old bird.
An Italian proverb
Yellow-billed Magpie
The Yellow-billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli, is a large bird in the crow family found only in 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 (Pica hudsonia) found in much of the rest of North America.
Identification Tips:
• Length: 16 inches
• Large, striking bird
• Yellow sturdy bill
• Long, iridiscent tail
• Black head, breast, back, rump and undertail coverts
• White belly
• Iridiscent wings with white patches in flight
• Dark legs
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The Yellow-billed Magpie can be told from the very similar Black-billed Magpie by its yellow bill.
The Yellow-billed Magpie prefers groves of tall trees along rivers and near open areas, though in some cities they have begun to nest in vacant lots and other weedy places.
Nests – Eggs: They nest in small colonies. These birds are permanent residents and do not usually wander far outside of their breeding range.
These birds forage on the ground, mainly eating insects, especially grasshoppers, but also carrion, acorns and fruit in fall and winter.
A new net won’t catch an old bird.
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A new net won’t catch an old bird.
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