Black-billed Magpies in Manitoba
When magpies are present in Manitoba, when they nest, which native Manitoba plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.
- Status in Manitoba
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–3b
When to expect magpies in Manitoba
Black-billed Magpies live in Manitoba all year. Very cold winters to −30°F. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward carrion and seeds.
Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.
Nesting in Manitoba
Across Manitoba, 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 summers with a short, intense nesting season.
- Black-billed Magpies don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, american elderberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Manitoba plants that attract magpies
Of the regional native plants we track for Manitoba, these 8 provide food or cover magpies use:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding magpies through the Manitoba year
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
- In Manitoba's winter: Very cold winters to −30°F.
Frequently asked
Are magpies in Manitoba year-round?
Yes. Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents in Manitoba.
When do magpies nest in Manitoba?
Nesting in Manitoba typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract magpies in Manitoba?
Bur oak, American elderberry, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Manitoba that provide food or cover for magpies.
Black-billed Magpies in other regions
Other backyard birds in Manitoba
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 — Manitoba
- 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.