Black-billed Magpie

Pica hudsonia (pica)

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABPAV09010
Common Name: 
Black-billed Magpie
Scientific Name: 
Pica hudsonia (pica)
Synonyms: 
pica
Naming References: 
ASC4
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Passeriformes
Family: 
Corvidae
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

Non-game species; Perceived as an alien or exotic species in many NWT communities
References: 
H126
Habitat
Open places, tree patches, edges, nest in tall trees
References: 
B004
H126
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Plains
References: 
B004
H126

Distribution

Present near Wrigley, Fort Resolution, Fort Smith and Yellowknife; present in most communities in Deh Cho, and east, and also north to Norman Wells where overwintering records were noted. Increasing over-wintering range in NT as far north as Colville Lake, NT.(H228; DD6); Range extent visually estimated from range map (Canadian Wildlife Service – Prairie & Northern Region 2009. Bird distributions in Nunavut & the Northwest Territories: 2009 Review.)
Score: 
G
References: 
B004
H126
DD6
H228
Winter Distribution Description: 
in breeding range

Number of Occurrences

More than 21 up to 300?: if only near communities (H126); north to Lac Rendez-Vous (Inuvialuit R. 2001, W113), Norman Wells (2007), Tulita (2003), Bracket Lake (2007) (W113); overwintering intering in Deline, Colville Lake, Fort Good Hope, Tulita in January 2008; confirmed over-wintering near Norman Wells in winter 2008-09 (P002); many sightings near Yellowknife, Hay River, Ft Smith (including along roads away from communities (W113); Nesting in Yellowknife (H126)
Score: 
CD
References: 
H126
P002
W113

Historical Distribution

Presence unpredictable until recently, expansion
References: 
H126

Area of Occupancy

Expansion
Score: 
-
References: 
H126
Population

Population Size

PIF population estimate is 50 but data reliability is low and there is evidence that the population is increasing. (DD16) Accessed on <January 25, 2015>.)
References: 
DD16
Trends

Trends

Wintering and total population increasing (H126); Not enough data on this species to generate trends through either the BBS or Liard Valley Long-term Monitoring Program but it is suspected that the species is increasing in the NWT
Score: 
GI
References: 
H126
Threats

Threats

Threats to species are low, human disturbance is low but species seems adapted to humanized areas by it's presence in suburban areas and parks (H307). Human persecution (birds sometimes shot at sight near communities)(H126) but threats considered low.
Score: 
C
References: 
H126

Intrinsic Vulnerability

None known
Score: 
-
References: 
H126
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Northern expansion, so small no. of occurences, and trends in numbers unknown; Increasing over-wintering range in NT as far north as Colville Lake, NT (2009).Perceived as an alien or exotic species in many NWT communities
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by S. Carriere mostly based on printed material in 2000. Reviewed by ENR in 2005.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed in 2015, no change; Reviewed by Emily Upham-Mills CWS in 2015, no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
March 2, 2021

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Economic Status

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Naming

  • AOU (2000) Forty-second supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds.. AUK 117:847-858 - ASC4 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Environment Canada (2009) NWT/Nunavut Bird Checklist Survey Spring 2009 Newsletter. - P002 Return
  • Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada (2015) http://ebird.org/content/canada/ - W113 Return

Population Size

Partners in Flight Science Committee 2013. Population Estimates Database, version 2013. Available at http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates. Accessed on <January 25, 2015>. (2013) http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates - DD16 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service, Prairie & Northern Region (2009). (2009) Northwest Territories/Nunavut Bird Checklist Survey program data (unpublished).. Retrieved 31 March 2009, from Checklist database. E-mail CWS Review: General Species Rankings for NT - Birds (attachment) from Lindsay Amer to S Carriere - DD6 Return
  • Amer, Lindsay (2009) CWS Review: General Species Rankings for NT - Birds E-mail to S Carriere (16/09/2009). Lindsay Armer, Ornis oikos Consulting, 950 Westmount Court, Bathurst NB, E2A 4V9; Phone (506) 545-7261; Email: linds.armer@mac.com - H228 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Threats

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return