Overview

• A Nature Alberta poll in May attracted over 40,000 participants, with the black-billed magpie earning 16,018 votes to claim the title.
• Magpies have long thrived across neighbourhoods and now feature prominently in local murals, festivals and public art.
• Resident Nita Jalkanen describes daily backyard visits where magpies drink from her birdbath and play with her dog Ariel, reflecting strong community bonds.
• Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute avian ecologist Elly Knight highlights magpies’ intelligence, monogamous pairings, recurring nest reuse and potential 20-year lifespan in captivity.
• Despite their celebrated status, the species can be noisy nuisances, engaging in territorial skirmishes with crows and occasionally preying on small wildlife.