Magpie \Mag"pie\, n. [OE. & Prov. E. magot pie, maggoty pie, fr.
   Mag, Maggot, equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and
   common name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita
   pearl, Gr. ?, prob. of Eastern origin. See Pie magpie, and
   cf. the analogous names Tomtit, and Jackdaw.] (Zool.)
   Any one of numerous species of the genus Pica and related
   genera, allied to the jays, but having a long graduated tail.
   [1913 Webster]

   2. Any one of several black-and-white birds, such as
      Gymnorhina tibicen, not belonging to the genus Pica.
      [PJC]

   Note: The common European magpie (Pica pica, or Pica
         caudata) is a black and white noisy and mischievous
         bird. It can be taught to speak. The American magpie
         (Pica Hudsonica) is very similar. The yellow-belled
         magpie (Pica Nuttalli) inhabits California. The blue
         magpie (Cyanopolius Cooki) inhabits Spain. Other
         allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and
         Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white
         magpie (Gymnorhina organicum), the black magpie
         (Strepera fuliginosa), and the Australian magpie
         (Cracticus picatus).
         [1913 Webster]

   3. A talkative person; a chatterbox.
      [PJC]

   Magpie lark (Zool.), a common Australian bird (Grallina
      picata), conspicuously marked with black and white; --
      called also little magpie.

   Magpie moth (Zool.), a black and white European geometrid
      moth (Abraxas grossulariata); the harlequin moth. Its
      larva feeds on currant and gooseberry bushes.
      [1913 Webster]