Magpie in OC? (1 Viewer)

M

Matt_RTH

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2008

• #1

South Orange County, CA. Today I spotted a pair of gorgeous black and white birds. Near as I can recall, they had a black upper body with white lower, starting at mid breast down. I recall a striking black on top of taile and white on bottom of tail. This seems to be out of range for Magpies. Any other possibilities? They definitely seemed out of place!

Thanks,
Matt

 

Jacana

Will Jones

• Jan 11, 2008

• #2

could have been yellow billed magpies instead of black billed. though the white on the underside of the tail is a bit odd. are you sure that was the case?

 

mb1848

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2008

• #3

Matt & all:
You may have seen the exotic Black-throated Magpie-Jay. They are dark blue and white but from a distance they look black. They have a dark blue upper breast with a white lower breast and they have white under the tail. They are a widely kept bird by Mexican-American immigrants in California, from the pet trade in Tijuana and have become naturalized in Northern San Diego County. I do not know their status in Orange County.

 

Gentoo

Guest

• Jan 11, 2008

• #4

mb1848 said:

Matt & all:
You may have seen the exotic Black-throated Magpie-Jay. They are dark blue and white but from a distance they look black. They have a dark blue upper breast with a white lower breast and they have white under the tail. They are a widely kept bird by Mexican-American immigrants in California, from the pet trade in Tijuana and have become naturalized in Northern San Diego County. I do not know their status in Orange County.

Click to expand...

Would you happen to know where? I live in San Diego but have never heard of this population in the county.

 

Jeff Hopkins

Just another...observer

• Jan 11, 2008

• #5

There's a population right down near the border near Smugglers' Gulch and Border Field State Park. Don't know of one in North County.

 

DavidP

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2008

• #6

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=52940

This bird was seen close to the border in south San Diego, has a really long tail and I think it probably was a magpie jay. Never saw one in OC.

 

mb1848

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2008

• #7

The "San Diego County Bird Atlas" says that these birds have been seen in Jamul, Escandido, and Fallbrook. I guess naturalized is slightly too strong a word concerning North County. The main populations are in riparian woodlands in southwestern S.D.Co. Tijuana River valley, Goat Canyon, Smugglers Gulch, and in Bonita.