Black-billed Magpies in Nebraska
When magpies are present in Nebraska, when they nest, which native Nebraska plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–5b yard.
- Status in Nebraska
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–5b
When to expect magpies in Nebraska
Black-billed Magpies live in Nebraska all year. Cold, windy winters; the Platte River corridor holds most wintering birds. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward carrion and seeds.
Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.
Nesting in Nebraska
Across Nebraska, magpies typically nest from April–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.
Hot summers with thunderstorms.
- Black-billed Magpies don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, serviceberry, white oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Nebraska plants that attract magpies
Of the regional native plants we track for Nebraska, these 8 provide food or cover magpies use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.
Feeding magpies through the Nebraska year
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
- In Nebraska's winter: Cold, windy winters; the Platte River corridor holds most wintering birds.
Frequently asked
Are magpies in Nebraska year-round?
Yes. Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents in Nebraska.
When do magpies nest in Nebraska?
Nesting in Nebraska typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract magpies in Nebraska?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower are native plants in Nebraska that provide food or cover for magpies.
Black-billed Magpies in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nebraska
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 — Nebraska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.