Black-billed Magpies in North Dakota
When magpies are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
When to expect magpies in North Dakota
Black-billed Magpies live in North Dakota all year. Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward carrion and seeds.
Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Nesting in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, 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.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
- Black-billed Magpies don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native North Dakota plants that attract magpies
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover magpies use:
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.
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.
Feeding magpies through the North Dakota year
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
- In North Dakota's winter: Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.
Frequently asked
Are magpies in North Dakota year-round?
Yes. Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents in North Dakota.
When do magpies nest in North Dakota?
Nesting in North Dakota typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract magpies in North Dakota?
Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for magpies.
Black-billed Magpies in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Dakota
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 — North Dakota
- 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.