magpie

{The names “jay” and “magpie” are, in some places, used interchangeably}

a kind of bird – song bird – related to jays; belongs to the crow family – medium-sized with 3 types: holarctic (black & white); oriental (blue or green) and azure-winged (different kinds and types with different feather colours) but mostly or traditionally black and white feathers, sharp pointed beak (bill) (with different coloured beaks – black beak being very common, but yellow and red also found), very long tail; size: on average 1-2 feet long including the tail, and weight: 150-250 grams (some species can grow to 2 Kg); feeds on insects, warms, snails, slugs, (during breeding season) nestlings and eggs of the other birds, and plant matter; lives for, on average 4-6 years (some individuals are known to live for 30 years); about 17 (?) species (kinds) found in most parts of the world

male ~~ cock

female ~~ hen

baby ~~ chick

group ~~ tiding, tribe, charm, flock, gulp, murder, tittering

voice (call) ~~ warble

home ~~ nest (for laying eggs and raising chicks)

Some common magpies are: European magpie, black-billed magpie, yellow-billed magpie, Korean magpie, red-billed magpie, gold-billed magpie, white-winged magpie, Sri Lankan magpie, green magpie, short-tailed magpie, azure-winged magpie

Some other animals with ‘magpie’ in their names: magpie goose, magpie duck, magpie (harlequin) rabbit, magpie robin

Special Features:

The ‘Formosan blue magpie’ is the national bird of Taiwan, Asia.

[The best way to get to know the ‘magpie’ is to read and understand the observations by the great ornithologists Chris Mead and David Tomlin:  “Magpies are the birds that everybody loves to hate.  It is difficult to find more anyone who has a good word to say about these handsome rogues; in many people’s eyes magpies are the avian equivalents of the football hooligans. …”]

Magpies are thieving birds, i.e. they are notorious for stealing bright house hold objects from kitchens and back-yards; stealing and eating nestlings (baby chicks) and eggs of other birds (during breeding season, of course)!

Magpies are noisy, i.e. they make a lot of noise with their loud calls!

However, magpies are considered ‘symbols of good luck’ in some parts of Asia, Britain and Ireland in Europe.  In Britain, the superstition is based on the number of magpies one usually encounters, i.e. if a person sees a single magpie, it means ‘sorrow’; two magpies, it means ‘joy’ and so on!

Magpies are used metaphorically to mean ‘vanity (show off) and talkativeness’!

The European magpie is the only non-mammal known to be able to recognise itself in a mirror!!

Figures of Speech:

1.

magpie (noun)  =

(a)  a chatterer; a foolish talker (a person who talks too quickly and unnecessarily)

(b)  a person who collects and stores small shiny objects

(c)  a woman who scolds others habitually

(d)  a person who shows more importance to physical appearance – brightly coloured clothes, facial make-up, etc.

2.

magpie-mind [said of someone who is attracted to simple, unimportant matters]

3.

(a)  as talkative as a magpie

(b)  as proud as a magpie

4.

chatter like a magpie

[Return to"'magpie" in People & Professions.]

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