"Pica. rustica hudsonica. Lustrous black, with green, purple, violet, and even golden iridescence, especially on the tail and wings. Below, from the breast to the crissum, a scapular patch, and a great part of the inner webs of the primary quills, white; some whitish touches on the throat; lower back showing gray, owing to mixture of white with black; bill and feet black; eyes blackish." Elliot Coues, 1884

magpie

"Pica. rustica hudsonica. Lustrous black, with green, purple, violet, and even golden iridescence, especially…