Magpie Beauty
by Judi Dressler
Title
Magpie Beauty
Artist
Judi Dressler
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
I have always found Black-billed Magpies (Pica Hudsonia) fascinating due to their flashy appearance, although they are not everyone's favorite bird since they can be noisy. As you in see in this photo, they are quite beautiful in the light, with their black and white feathers with shades of fluorescence. This one was with several others who had found some roadkill, and they were flying back and forth every time a car came by.
In an earlier era, farmers and ranchers tried to exterminate Black-billed Magpies because they were considered detrimental to game-bird populations and domestic stock, but to no avail.
They are common today in open country and even in towns in the American west. Though they like open areas, these birds, who are in the crow family, stay close to cover for protection from raptors. Often their nesting territories will follow stream courses. Magpies don’t avoid human development, often spending time near barnyards, feedlots, and grain elevators, where they have access to food.
Black-billed Magpies are intelligent birds in the Corvid (Corvidae) family, and are related to jays, crows, and ravens.
Photo taken on December 3rd, 2018, near Hygiene, Colorado
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Tied for 1st Place in FAA's WINGS IN NATURE contest on 5/15/20
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Descriptive tags and keywords for this image include magpie, magpies, black-billed magpie, american west, crows, blackbirds, flying, jay, corvidae, pica-pica, pica, wings, pica hudsonia, passerine, black and white, wild, sun, birds, wildlife, fields, flashy, colorado, wildlife, nature, phot, photograph, photography, judi dressler, and dressler.
Uploaded
December 17th, 2018
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Comments (47)
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #15 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.....L/F/Tw
Nicklas Gustafsson
I'm nominating this awesome picture for a special feature in the 1000 Views group!
Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group l/f/p
Shoal Hollingsworth
Absolutely amazing capture here. The action, colors, composition and details are all stunning.
Morris Finkelstein
Revisiting your stunning flight shot of a Magpie, Judi! Congratulations on your image being selected by William as a Weekly Wowie! F/L
Sandra Huston
Stunning capture Judi, congratulations on receiving a "Wowie" recognition in the Wild Birds of the World group! l/f
Janet Marie
Oh my, Judy! What a fabulous action shot. This really showcases the total beauty of this magpie. Marvelous photography. Simply stunning. Lovely close-up capture. Congrats on William's Weekly Wowie! Wonderful you could make the list. LF Janet💕
HH Photography of Florida
Congratulations Judi, on being chosen for a William's WoWie in the Wild Birds of the World group. Fabulous in-flight capture. L/tw