a flock of black-billed magpies, native to western north america, perch on a sheep. this behavior is noted in many corvid species, and is typically done so the birds can eat ticks off of the animal’s body, making it mutually beneficial for the birds and the sheep.
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a black-billed magpie hitches a ride on the back of a truck. magpies are known for their intelligence, which helps them to take advantage of situations presented in urban environments like this.
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a leucistic black-billed magpie hangs out with normally-colored flockmates. normally, leucistic birds have shorter lifespans – melanin is component that strengthens feathers, and leucistic birds’ feathers degrade faster as a lack of that pigment; as well as making them more visible to predators.
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australian magpies are medium-sized passerine birds native to australia. typically black and white, this unusually pale member of the species likely is leucistic. leucistic birds have a lack of pigmentation that can display either as overall paler birds, like this one, or ‘pied’ birds.
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the australian magpie is a medium-sized black and white bird native to australia. despite their name, they are not ‘true’ magpies, or members of the corvid family at all; they are a part of the butcherbird family. however, they display similar intelligence and skills.
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an australian magpie, a medium-sized member of the currawong family, forages on the ground next to galah cockatoos.
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a pied australian magpie. typically, the birds are solid black and white; this bird’s appearance comes from leucism, a mutation that causes a reduction in pigmentation.
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though very hard to visibly differentiate from the european magpie, the black-billed magpie is native to the western half of north america, and is more genetically similar to the yellow-billed magpie, another north american species. magpies are known for their intelligence, and black-bilked magpies have adapted well to urban environments.
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a young black-billed magpie, native to western north america, investigates a rabbit. magpies are known for their intelligence and curious nature – and boldness.
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today's bird 