Pica hudsonia
Range
They are found west of the Rocky Mountains, along the southern coast of Alaska south to Arizona and in Canada East to Ontario.
Habitat
They live in open grassland or shrubby areas and are common around homes and in parks.
Body Traits
They are large birds with a black head, chest and upper shoulders. They have a white belly and shoulder-patch. They have a very long tail that is longest in the middle and tapers shorter off to the sides. Their wings and tail though look dark-colored but in sunlight are iridescent blue-green. They have a big, black beak and dark eyes and legs. Males and females look alike (no sexual dimorphism).
Habits
They will pick insects and ticks off of hooved wildlife (deer, etc.).
Diet
They eat insects, seeds, nuts, small mammals and even dead animals (carrion).
Reproduction
Females lay up to 7 light brownish-green eggs with some spots in a very large nest of mud and sticks. They often build their nest up on telephone poles.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Corvidae
Genus: Picamagpies
Species: Pica hudsonia