Least Concern Black-billed Magpies are familiar and entertaining birds of western North America, living among the meadows, grasslands, and sagebrush plains of the West. Their nesting territories often follow stream courses. Though they like open areas and are not found in dense woods, they stay close to cover for protection from raptors. Magpies don’t avoid human development, often spending time near barnyards, livestock areas, and grain elevators where they have ready access to food. They sit on fenceposts and road signs or flap across rangelands, their white wing patches flashing and their very long tails trailing behind them. This large, flashy relative of jays and crows is a social creature, gathering in numbers to feed at carrion. They’re also vocal birds and keep up a regular stream of raucous or querulous calls. Black-billed Magpies have a wide-ranging diet. They eat wild fruit and grain, as well as grasshoppers and beetles that they find while foraging on the ground (they sometimes find beetles by flipping cow dung). They also kill small mammals such as squirrels and voles, and raid birds’ nests. Carrion is also a main food source, as are the fly maggots found in carrion. Black-billed Magpies populations have been decreasing approximately 9% per year for a cumulative decline of about 38% between 1966 to 2019. Even though they are rated as Least Concern, Black-billed Magpies are vulnerable to toxic chemicals, particularly topical pesticides applied to the backs of cattle which magpies ingest when picking ticks off livestock. In the past, Black-billed Magpies were persecuted by farmers, ranchers, and game managers who considered them to be vermin, but today they are fully protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Fun Fact: Historical records of the American West indicate that Black-billed Magpies have been associates of people for a long time. Magpies frequently followed hunting parties of Plains Indians and fed on leftovers from bison kills. On their expedition, Lewis and Clark reported magpies boldly entering their tents to steal food.


Hudson joined our clan in April, 2014, very early after it was founded, and is beloved of clan members both young and old. He stepped naturally into the role of a warrior, being one of our first dragons to brave the challenges of the Coliseum and the enemies who lurk there. Now, he no longer fights in the venues as often, and instead fills his time by patrolling the edges of clan territory, making certain nothing is amiss.

In spite of his fierce battle style, when he's not on the field he is not intimidating in the slightest, and is often trailed by a small herd of hatchlings eager to hear him tell stories of the terrifying "monsters" he's faced (and defeated). He indulges their whims gladly, usually settling near a campfire to regale them with stories as twilight shadows darken the edges of the clan's territory.

Hippojay

Familiar

Hippojays are happiest in the sky, but never pass up an opportunity to nap in the grasslands.

9000

Ermine

Meat

Ermine now.

62

7

Java Sparrow

Meat

Known for staying awake for days on end, the Java Sparrow is an excellent source of energy.

15

2

Damaged Battlehorn

Trinkets

A chipped battlehorn that no longer produces sound. Can be patched up and turned into a drinking horn if the need arises.

85

Swiftfoot Warrior's Belt

Dragonmade

A coarse fabric with intricate patterns along its surface. If you're going to fight, you may as well look good doing it!

29

Magpie

Meat

Magpies are hunted for both their meat and their amazing collections of shiny things.

55

6