Black-billed Magpies in South Dakota
When magpies are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.
- Status in South Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
When to expect magpies in South Dakota
Black-billed Magpies live in South Dakota all year. Cold, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward carrion and seeds.
Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.
Nesting in South Dakota
Across South Dakota, 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.
Warm summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.
- 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 South Dakota plants that attract magpies
Of the regional native plants we track for South 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 South Dakota year
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
- In South Dakota's winter: Cold, windy winters.
Frequently asked
Are magpies in South Dakota year-round?
Yes. Black-billed Magpies are year-round residents in South Dakota.
When do magpies nest in South Dakota?
Nesting in South Dakota typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 5–8 eggs, incubated for 16–21 days.
What native plants attract magpies in South Dakota?
Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for magpies.
Black-billed Magpies in other regions
Other backyard birds in South 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 — South 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.