Black-billed Magpie

Description:

Large, noisy jay, mostly black, with very long tail and dark, stout bill. Wings and tail are iridescent blue and green-black. White belly and sides. Eats insects, larvae, carrion. Direct flight on shallow, steady wing beats. Often glides between perches or from perch to ground. also: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black...

Habitat:

Resident from Alaska and western Canada south to California and the Great Plains. Preferred habitats include open woodlands, savannas, brush-covered country, and stream sides. This one was at Cripple Creek, Colorado which sits on the southwestern slopes of Pikes Peak (Rocky Mountains). This historic town is 45 minutes from Colorado Springs and just over an hour from Denver

Notes:

This is not my pic. I posted this with permission from the photographer/copyright holder. Before she left for a trip to Colorado Springs, she asked to borrow my camera, specifically taking these Rocky Mountain pics for this mission and Bioblitz for Project Noah.