Diet
What do magpies eat?
Omnivore — insects, carrion, seeds and small animals.
Crows and jays (Corvidae)Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia
Spring and summer diet
- Grasshoppers, beetles and ticks
Fall and winter diet
- Carrion and seeds
Best feeder foods
- Suet
- Peanuts
- Cracked corn
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
Where magpies need winter food
Regions where magpies are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do magpies eat?
Omnivore — insects, carrion, seeds and small animals.
What is the best food to feed magpies?
Suet, Peanuts, Cracked corn.
What do magpies eat in winter?
Carrion and seeds.
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
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.