Black-billed Magpie

This feather belongs to the Black-billed Magpie, a large, flamboyant corvid known for its long tail and striking black-and-white plumage. In flight, their wings show brilliant white flashes created by these specific primary feathers. The bird itself has a black head, breast, and back, with white shoulders and a white belly.

Distinctive duo-tone: a bold white patch on the inner vane that stops abruptly, transitioning to a deep black or iridescent blue-black tip. The outer vane is primarily black.

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs providing a rigid, wind-resistant surface for flight; plumulaceous barbs are absent at the tip but present near the base (calamus).

Smooth and stiff to the touch; the black portions exhibit a slight structural iridescence (sheen) common in corvids, while the white area is matte.

Dramatic color contrast between the white inner vane and the black tip; extreme asymmetry of the vane; stiff rachis; approximately 5-6 inches long.

Open woodlands, riparian thickets, sagebrush plains, farms, and suburban areas across the Western United States.

Resident throughout Western North America, from southern Alaska and central Canada south to Arizona and New Mexico, and east to the Great Plains.

Omnivorous scavengers and predators; they play a vital role in cleaning up carrion and controlling insect populations. They also serve as an early warning system for other wildlife due to their loud alarm calls.

Steller's Jay feathers (pure blue/black, no white), American Crow (all black), or California Scrub-Jay (blue/grey). The specific black-tip-on-white pattern is unique to the Magpie among Utah corvids.

Black-billed Magpies are highly intelligent and are one of the few non-mammal species known to be able to recognize themselves in a mirror test. They also build massive, domed nests that can be several feet in diameter.

Fair to Good; the feather shows some separation of the barbs (venting) along the trailing edge, likely due to natural wear or the molting process.

Utah