Black-billed Magpies in Oregon
When magpies are present in Oregon, when they nest, which native Oregon plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4b–9b yard.
- Status in Oregon
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–9b
When to expect magpies in Oregon
Black-billed Magpies live in Oregon all year. Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward carrion and seeds.
Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades; high desert to the east.
Nesting in Oregon
Across Oregon, 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.
Dry summers west of the Cascades; hot days in the high desert.
- Black-billed Magpies don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, chokecherry, ponderosa pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Oregon plants that attract magpies
Of the regional native plants we track for Oregon, 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.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Feeding magpies through the Oregon year
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
- In Oregon's winter: Mild, rainy winters in the Willamette Valley; cold, snowy winters east of the Cascades.
Frequently asked
Are magpies in Oregon year-round?
Yes. Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents in Oregon.
When do magpies nest in Oregon?
Nesting in Oregon typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract magpies in Oregon?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine are native plants in Oregon that provide food or cover for magpies.
Black-billed Magpies in other regions
Other backyard birds in Oregon
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 — Oregon
- 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.