Black-billed Magpies in Alberta
When magpies are present in Alberta, when they nest, which native Alberta plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 2a–4b yard.
- Status in Alberta
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
When to expect magpies in Alberta
Black-billed Magpies live in Alberta all year. Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward carrion and seeds.
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Nesting in Alberta
Across Alberta, magpies typically nest from May–June. Nest site: huge domed stick nest in trees or shrubs. Females lay 5–8 eggs, incubate for 16–21 days, and young leave the nest after 25–29 days.
Warm, sunny summers with long days.
- Black-billed Magpies don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, rabbitbrush for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Alberta plants that attract magpies
Of the regional native plants we track for Alberta, these 8 provide food or cover magpies use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Feeding magpies through the Alberta year
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
- In Alberta's winter: Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south.
Frequently asked
Are magpies in Alberta year-round?
Yes. Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents in Alberta.
When do magpies nest in Alberta?
Nesting in Alberta typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract magpies in Alberta?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush are native plants in Alberta that provide food or cover for magpies.
Black-billed Magpies in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alberta
Sources
- Black-billed Magpie — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-billed Magpie life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-billed Magpie — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.