Black-billed Magpie (American Magpie)

A stunning black and white primary flight feather from the Black-billed Magpie, a charismatic corvid known for its long, dramatic tail and intelligent, social behavior.

Strikingly bicolored with deep glossy black and contrasting crisp white patches, showing structural blue-black iridescence along the outer vane edge characteristic of magpie remiges.

Strongly pennaceous along the upper vane with tightly interlocked barbicels; basal region features short plumulaceous barbs with a small, rudimentary afterfeather.

Smooth, glossy, and firm with a high degree of rigidity along the leading edge to cut through the air efficiently.

Distinctive bold contrast of glossy black and pure white, stiff asymmetrical vane, and characteristic outer web notch typical of corvid primary feathers.

Open country, shrublands, agricultural fields, edge habitats, and riparian corridors across western North America.

Western and central North America, ranging from Alaska down through the western United States and into the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions.

Acts as an omnivore and scavenger, helping to control insect populations and clean up carrion, while also serving as a key nest-builder used by other secondary cavity nesters.

Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli), though geographic range usually separates them; certain jay species have blue tones rather than the stark black and white.

Black-billed Magpies are among the few North American birds that build large, domed stick nests with multiple entrances.

Good condition, clean vane with minimal wear, suggesting it was naturally molted in a healthy state.