magpies
Noisy piebald birds
Magpies are medium-sized birds in the crow family, known for their striking black-and-white plumage and long tails.
They have a reputation for collecting shiny objects, which gives rise to the figurative use: a magpie is someone who compulsively gathers or hoards things, especially trinkets or bits of information.
She's a magpie for vintage jewelry.
The birds are also known for their noisy chattering, so calling someone a magpie can mean they talk too much.
Without color gradations
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- wingspanTip-to-tip extent
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
perching · flight · nesting · roosting · fledglings · chicks · incubation · avian
Baseless belief in omens
- omenProphetic indicator
- luckChance affecting outcomes
- rhymeMatching terminal sounds
- countingDetermining quantity sequentially
salute · sorrow · joy · trickster · thief · mythology · fortune
Excessive accumulation of goods
- shinyReflecting light smoothly
- trinketsMinor decorative objects
- cacheConcealed storage spot
- stashingConcealing for safekeeping
thievery · gathering · baubles · treasure · objects · pilfering · attracted · glittering
Copy of the original
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- callsContacts by telephone
- soundsAudible vibrations
- mimickingCopying another's behavior
Eats plants and animals
- scavengingGathering discarded or dead material
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- insectsSix-legged arthropods
- seedsPlant embryos in casings
fruits · carrion · nuts · berries · worms · grubs · opportunistic · eggs
Addressing challenges methodically
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- memoryMind's retention capacity
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- reasoningDrawing logical conclusions
self-recognition · curiosity · cunning · cleverness · adaptability · resourcefulness
black-and-white
Without color gradations
beak · perching · flight · nesting · roosting · fledglings · chicks · incubation · avian · passerine
superstition
Baseless belief in omens
counting · salute · sorrow · joy · trickster · thief · mythology · fortune
hoarding
Excessive accumulation of goods
stashing · thievery · gathering · baubles · treasure · objects · pilfering · attracted · glittering · accumulating
imitation
Copy of the original
- vocalizationProducing sounds with voice
- callsContacts by telephone
- soundsAudible vibrations
mimicking · chatter · squawk · songs · repertoire · echo · copying
omnivore
Eats plants and animals
- scavengingGathering discarded or dead material
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- insectsSix-legged arthropods
seeds · fruits · carrion · nuts · berries · worms · grubs · opportunistic · eggs · nestlings
problem-solving
Addressing challenges methodically
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- memoryMind's retention capacity
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
reasoning · self-recognition · curiosity · cunning · cleverness · adaptability · resourcefulness