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Yellow-billed magpies, with their distinctive yellow bills and face markings, black-and-white plumage and long tails, are a California specialty -- the only bird species endemic to the state. They occur mainly in the Central Valley, and in some of the more coastal valleys, moving around in small, noisy flocks (they patronize backyard feeders in many cities and towns, like Sacramento). Yellow-billed magpies are close relatives of the bigger and somewhat less colorful black-billed, or American magpie, which is found across much of North America. Most of these birds were at my favorite yellow-billed magpie 'spot', a rest area on Highway 101 in southern Monterey County. |
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