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Black-billed magpie
A long tail and black-and-white body make this visitor to open western neighborhoods easy to notice. The wings can shine blue-green when the light catches them, and white patches flash in flight. In parts of California, check the bill color because yellow-billed magpies look similar.
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California scrub jay
On the Pacific side of the continent, a blue jay-shaped bird with a flat head may be a California scrub-jay. Look for a blue head, wings, and tail, a gray-brown back, and a patch of white at the throat. It lacks the tall crest of a Steller’s jay.
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Lesser goldfinch
Look for a compact finch with a dark cap on the male and a bright yellow underside. Along the Pacific Coast, males often have green backs. Farther east within the species’ range, from Colorado to Texas, black backs are common. White flashes in the wings help when the bird moves.
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Eurasian collared dove
A smooth pale body and thin black half-collar on the back of the neck help identify an adult. In flight, look for a blunt, nearly square tail. The mourning dove’s longer tail comes to a point and its wings have dark spots.
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White-winged dove
In the Southwest, look for a larger dove with a clean white stripe along the folded wing. When it takes off, the stripe becomes a big white patch. The shorter tail helps separate it from a mourning dove, even before the wing opens.
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