Black-billed Magpie in September
Where magpies are in September, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
September in the Black-billed Magpie's year
September is the peak of fall migration. Huge numbers of birds move south on cold fronts, mixed flocks form, and summer residents slip away almost unnoticed. Young birds making their first migration appear in places the species rarely visits.
For the Black-billed Magpie specifically, September is a fall month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 19 states and provinces where magpies occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where magpies are in September
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In September, magpies are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in September
Magpies are not nesting in September. The season runs April–June at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, magpies put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in September
- Grasshoppers, beetles and ticks
Magpies are intelligent and wary; they visit platform feeders near open country and pastures.
Migrants passing through may stop at feeders for a day and never return — September rewards watching closely. Natural seed and fruit crops are abundant, so feeder traffic can be uneven.
Full Black-billed Magpie diet guide → · Best feeder for magpies →
Watching magpies this month
Magpies are settled and predictable in September, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region magpies are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Black-billed Magpie month by month
Black-billed Magpie by state
Frequently asked
Where are magpies in September?
In September, magpies are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do magpies nest in September?
No — magpies typically nest April through June at mid-latitudes.
What do magpies eat in September?
Grasshoppers, beetles and ticks.
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.