Two Yellow-billed Magpies Return Home
In May, Pacific Wildlife Care received an uncommon pair of patients: two Yellow-billed Magpie nestlings found in Atascadero after their parent was discovered dead nearby. Our Hotline Volunteer, Kat H. responded to the call and Rescue Transport Volunteer, Randy R., quickly brought the birds to our clinic for care.
Thankfully, their intake exams found no injuries, just two hungry and growing youngsters. Because they couldn’t be put back in a nest and cared for by both parents, they entered our Baby Bird Room, where staff and volunteers provided round-the-clock feedings. In just eight days, each bird’s weight increased by 30%!
As they grew, the magpies moved from indoor care to our outdoor transition aviary, then to a larger pre-release aviary, where they learned to perch and hop before practicing short flights. After 46 days in care, the pair was ready to return to the wild and they were released back in Atascadero.
Yellow-billed Magpies are found only in California, making them one of the state’s few truly endemic bird species. They’re most often seen in oak woodlands and grassy savannas of the Central Valley and coastal ranges. You might have seen their close cousin, the Black-billed Magpie, in other western states, but the Yellow-billed Magpie’s namesake bright yellow bill sets it apart.
These intelligent birds belong to the Corvid family, with relatives like crows, ravens, and jays. Their varied diet includes insects, acorns, grains, and even ticks! Unfortunately, the species has faced major challenges. Outbreaks of West Nile virus in the early 2000s caused steep population declines. But perhaps most threatening is the ongoing habitat loss across California that continues to threaten their survival. The 2025 State of the Birds report lists the Yellow-billed Magpie as a Red Alert Tipping Point species, meaning its population has dropped by more than 50% in the past 50 years.
Every successful release like these two is a small victory for the species. So next time you’re driving the 101 over the Cuesta Grade or south through Nipomo, keep an eye out for flashes of black, white, and yellow — you might just spot one of these charismatic California natives.
