Hi Steve, I believe, from reading a long time ago, the juv/imm magpies form non-adult gangs in the fall/winter of their first year. And separate from adults during that time. This sounds like what you witnessed. I see the same thing down there every fall.
Jeff J Jones ([email protected]) Teller County - 8500' - Montane Woodlands -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steven Brown Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 9:53 AM To: COBIRDS . Subject: [Bulk] [cobirds] BB Magpies - El Paso Co Hi COBirders, Yesterday at dusk, my wife and I were walking in Mountain Shadows Park when a flock of "jays" went by in a long line. Being low light we couldn't see color, but all had short tails. Then they squawked, and we realized they were all hatch-year Black-billed Magpies (or at least short-tailed - molting tails?). Only one had a medium-long tail - all others had a Scrub Jay or Pinyon Jay type profile in the dusk. About 35 went by - all short-tailed. I've seen large flocks here in the winter - but that was a first for seeing a large group of "juveniles", with no "adults" around. Also had Calliope (M,F), Rufous (M - several), and Broad-tailed (M,F) Hummingbirds in the yard yesterday. Still watching for first Black-chinned here. Steve Brown Mountain Shadows neighborhood, Colorado Springs -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en.
