Talk:Magpie

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where does the magpie live?

in edmonton, is the magpie a pest bird/legal to hunt freely? 198.166.226.14 22:08, 2 May 2006 (UTC)


Contents

[edit] Colour/Pattern

I'd like to know why the magpie has such a distinct colour/pattern. Every other bird I've seen is camouflaged in one way or another, but I can't find any image of a magpie in an environment that let it blend in. Pipatron (talk) 10:53, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Magpies in Popular Culture?

Shouldnt the magpie poem and it's speculation be entered?

The poem-

Magpie Poem

One for sorrow.
Two for joy.
Three for a letter.
Four for a boy.
Five for silver.
Six for gold.
Seven for a secret never to be told.

(The version I know is: One for Sorrow Two for Joy Three for a Girl Four for a Boy Five for Silver Six for Gold Seven for a Secret, never to be told Eight for a Wish Nine for a Kiss Ten's the bird you should not miss.

Apparently, if you see more than 10, the secondary number is greatly more significant..so if you see 14 magpies, a BOY you will shortly see has great significance to your life at the time!)


DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO TELL MALE/FEMALE APART?


—Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.138.12.190 (talk) 17:42, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

That should defintly be worked in somewhere other than the talk. Also I just went to all the Corvidae family articles, and aside from crows (murder of) they are all missing info on the name for what a group is called. If someone wants to work that in, its a tiding of magpies. Highlandlord 03:12, 21 June 2006 (UTC)


Seems relevant enough to me. Maybe a whole "Magpies in Popular Culture" section might be warranted, and could include that poem. There must be lots of magpie references. Off the top of my head I can think of Infocom's Trinity and Roger Waters's "What God Wants Part III" from Amused to Death . . . I'm not a big pop-culture guy. --63.25.18.170 04:58, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

The magpie poem refers to European Magpie, certainly not all 13 species, similarly the group names. I thing it would need sourcing if it is suggested that all magpies or crows are known by the names made up usually for one European species in each case. These supposed group names are actually literary conceits with no real currency. Magpies and crow occur in flocks. Jimfbleak.talk.06:52, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Elevation at which magpies live

Maybe someone could add a reference to which the elevations at which magpies live? I know here in New Mexico, magpies only live in the mountainous areas above 7500 feet (or so).

There are 13 species of magpie, so likely to vary. Yours is the Black-billed Magpie, I'll post a height range if I find one on that page. jimfbleak 05:24, 8 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mapgies as symbols of luck in Chinese Culture

This statement that "In general, the magpie is a symbol of happiness in Chinese culture" is linked to a page the broad overview of Chinese culture that makes no references to Magpies or symbols of happiness. Needs a better link. Dr algorythm 11:11, 13 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Magpie Keepers?, cmbp

In researching the history of my family, I found that my family members who came to the United States were originally from Department of Loire' Atlantique, France.

My french name origin is described as "Keepers of the Magpies."

In pre-revolution France, could royalty, piety, or deity have had reason to "Keep" magpies?

cmbp, October 13, 2006

[edit] Image of Australian Magpie

The bird in the image above the taxobox is in fact a Currawong, not a Magpie. 124.176.8.153 (talk) 04:45, 24 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Tail length

What is the explanation for the length of the magpie's tail. It must be an adaptation to something, but to what? Since both sexes have the same tail length it cannot be sexual selection. 217.42.89.22 (talk) 14:17, 10 May 2008 (UTC)