The handsome magpie is almost as sassy as his cousin the blue jay. The common magpie of North America has a yellow billed cousin who occupies a slightly different range of territory. Both species are year round stay at homes, but their ancestors were world travelers and immigrated to make their homes here many generations ago. Unlike the starlings and house sparrows which were brought here by the settlers, the magpies flew on their own wing power.

Slim and stylish magpies are very common birds in the Orient and Australia’s magpie has been known to stop telephone conversations. He tends to build his shaggy nest perched on the wires, which often cuts the circuit. The two magpies of North America are descended from ancestors who emigrated from Asia by way of Siberia and Alaska.

The black billed magpie enjoys life throughout the year on the northern prairies almost as far south as Arizona. The yellow billed magpie makes his home in the rich valleys of California. Apart from their bills, these close cousins of the crows and the sassy jays are dressed alike. They are trim, slim birds, maybe 18 inches long   though the tail makes up more than half this length.

You could not mistake the handsome, long tailed, black and white magpie for any other bird. His breast is snowy white and he wears a deep, V shaped shawl over his shoulders which comes to a point in the middle of his back. The splendid blue black plumage of his head and neck, wings and tail glistens with brassy greens.

Birds of this family tend to be smart and full of impudent pep   and the magpie is rated as a pest or a charming fellow, depending upon who is judging him.

With a flock of friends and relatives, he tends to hang around ranches where he may raid the baby chicks. On mischief bent, he also may peck at the sheep, just after they are shorn and most sensitive. He devours melons and berries and has been known to steal bits of bright jewelry.

On the good side, the magpie devours hosts of grasshoppers and other crop eating insects. For this reason he can be rated as a pest control. He also eats rodents and keeps the countryside clean of carrion. In character he is a chatty, sassy and sociable fellow. With a flock of his friends, he keeps up an endless conversation of gabby gossip.

 Mr. Magpie is often willing to adopt a human family and, from all reports, he makes a charming and intelligent pet. True, he may loot a little jewelry and cast admiring glances at the spoons. But soon he startles his human friends by imitating their words   and all is forgiven.