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Actually, in the passage I\'m quoting from in Mortal Dictata, it\'s the entire species as a whole that gets compared to magpies, with Skirmishers just being the ones who are noted to be particularly attracted to shiny things.
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* In ''VideoGame/HaloReach'', the Skirmisher subspecies of Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are directly compared to magpies for their attraction to shiny objects.
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* In ''VideoGame/HaloReach'', While the Skirmisher subspecies of bird-like Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) of ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' are directly compared comparable to magpies as a whole for their attraction thieving and pirating ways, the [[VideoGame/HaloReach Skirmisher]] subspecies are particularly attracted to shiny objects.
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* HeckleAndJeckle are two wise-cracking magpies who, by trait, con their way into getting whatever they need. They also make life miserable for two dogs, a lugubrious bloodhound (Dimwit) and a tough bulldog (unofficially named Chesty).
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* HeckleAndJeckle ''HeckleAndJeckle'' are two wise-cracking magpies who, by trait, con their way into getting whatever they need. They also make life miserable for two dogs, a lugubrious bloodhound (Dimwit) and a tough bulldog (unofficially named Chesty).
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* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', the [[VideoGame/HaloReach Skirmisher]] subspecies of Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are directly compared to magpies for their attraction to shiny objects.
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* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', ''VideoGame/HaloReach'', the [[VideoGame/HaloReach Skirmisher]] Skirmisher subspecies of Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are directly compared to magpies for their attraction to shiny objects.
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* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', the Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are a sentient alien version of this, being a species inclined towards piracy, with the [[VideoGame/HaloReach Skirmisher]] subspecies being particularly attracted to shiny objects; one Insurrectionist dealing with them even directly compares them to magpies.
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* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', the Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are a sentient alien version of this, being a species inclined towards piracy, with the [[VideoGame/HaloReach Skirmisher]] subspecies being particularly attracted of Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are directly compared to magpies for their attraction to shiny objects; one Insurrectionist dealing with them even directly compares them to magpies.
objects.
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* In ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', the Kig-Yar (aka Jackals) are a sentient alien version of this, being a species inclined towards piracy, with the [[VideoGame/HaloReach Skirmisher]] subspecies being particularly attracted to shiny objects; one Insurrectionist dealing with them even directly compares them to magpies.
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* Daniel Handler's Adverbs features magpies throughout. In one story, a magpie steals a lost diamond from Handler's actual life and delivers it to a story written by another author entirely. He's a fairly odd bird himself.
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* In Creator/AletheaKontis's ''Literature/{{Enchanted}}'', set of pirates sent to deliver gifts are Magpie and Crow, about which there is the line, "Mama would no doubt describe them as dirty rotten scoundrels with eyes on the silver."
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* In Creator/AletheaKontis's ''Literature/{{Enchanted}}'', a set of pirates sent to deliver gifts are Magpie and Crow, about which there is the line, "Mama would no doubt describe them as dirty rotten scoundrels with eyes on the silver."
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* In Creator/AletheaKontis's ''Literature/{{Enchanted (The Woodcutter Sisters)}}'', set of pirates sent to deliver gifts are Magpie and Crow, about which there is the line, "Mama would no doubt describe them as dirty rotten scoundrels with eyes on the silver."
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* In Creator/AletheaKontis's ''Literature/{{Enchanted (The Woodcutter Sisters)}}'', ''Literature/{{Enchanted}}'', set of pirates sent to deliver gifts are Magpie and Crow, about which there is the line, "Mama would no doubt describe them as dirty rotten scoundrels with eyes on the silver."
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* In Creator/AletheaKontis's ''Literature/{{Enchanted (The Woodcutter Sisters)}}'', set of pirates sent to deliver gifts are Magpie and Crow, about which there is the line, "Mama would no doubt describe them as dirty rotten scoundrels with eyes on the silver."
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An {{Animal Stereotype|s}}: Magpies (and by extension other corvids such as RavensAndCrows) have a compulsion to steal/StickyFingers, particularly in regard to shiny things. A common plot is for something to go missing, accusations of theft to be thrown around at everyone in sight, and the magpie to be revealed as the culprit at the last minute.
to:
An {{Animal Stereotype|s}}: Magpies (and by extension other corvids such as RavensAndCrows) [[StickyFingers have a compulsion to steal/StickyFingers, steal]], particularly in regard to shiny things. A common plot is for something to go missing, accusations of theft to be thrown around at everyone in sight, and the magpie to be revealed as the culprit at the last minute.
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[[AC: LiveActionTV]]
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Boom Town", the Slitheen disguised as Margaret Blaine described the Doctor as having a "magpie mind", i.e., one that's always collecting bits of information.
* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Boom Town", the Slitheen disguised as Margaret Blaine described the Doctor as having a "magpie mind", i.e., one that's always collecting bits of information.
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* In Swedish the name of the bird is ''skata'', which can be read as "will take". It's not the actual meaning of the word, but is sometimes pointed out as an accurate interpretation. The word skata was actually an euphemism or a "noa word" of skjora/skjura. [[SpeakOfTheDevil If you used their real name they could come and steal your soul]].
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* In Swedish the name of the bird is ''skata'', which can be read as "will take". It's not the actual meaning of the word, but is sometimes pointed out as an accurate interpretation. The word skata was actually an originally a euphemism or a "noa word" of skjora/skjura. [[SpeakOfTheDevil If you used their real name they could come and steal your soul]].
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* Alluded to in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'' -- one of the parallel universes is colloquially referred to by the name of the only city the main characters ever visit, Cittegazze -- "city of magpies". It's heavily infested with Spectres, ghostly things that attack adults and steal their souls, which is why the city is by now a (pre-)TeenageWasteland.
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* Alluded to in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'' -- one of the parallel universes is colloquially referred to by the name of the only city the main characters ever visit, Cittegazze -- "city of magpies". It's heavily infested with Spectres, ghostly things that attack adults and steal their souls, souls but leave children alone, which is why the city is by now a (pre-)TeenageWasteland.
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* Alluded to in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'' -- one of the parallel universes is colloquially referred to by the name of the only city the main characters ever visit, Cittegazze -- "city of magpies". It's heavily infested with Spectres, ghostly things that attack adults and steal their souls, which is why the city is a (pre-)TeenageWasteland.
to:
* Alluded to in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'' -- one of the parallel universes is colloquially referred to by the name of the only city the main characters ever visit, Cittegazze -- "city of magpies". It's heavily infested with Spectres, ghostly things that attack adults and steal their souls, which is why the city is by now a (pre-)TeenageWasteland.
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* Alluded to in ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'' -- one of the parallel universes is colloquially referred to by the name of the only city the main characters ever visit, Cittegazze -- "city of magpies". It's heavily infested with Spectres, ghostly things that attack adults and steal their souls, which is why the city is a (pre-)TeenageWasteland.
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* In Swedish the name of the bird is ''skata'', which can be read as "will take". It's not the actual meaning of the word, but is sometimes pointed out as an accurate interpretation. The word skata was actually an euphemism or a "noa word" of skjora/skjura. If you used [[IKnowYourTrueName their real name]] they could come and steal your soul.
to:
* In Swedish the name of the bird is ''skata'', which can be read as "will take". It's not the actual meaning of the word, but is sometimes pointed out as an accurate interpretation. The word skata was actually an euphemism or a "noa word" of skjora/skjura. [[SpeakOfTheDevil If you used [[IKnowYourTrueName used their real name]] name they could come and steal your soul.soul]].
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* Blackwing, Vaarsuvius' raven familiar in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', has a penchant for "shinies". It's mostly PlayedForLaughs, though at one point he does snag a useful ioun stone when he attacks an enemy caster.
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* Blackwing, Vaarsuvius' raven familiar in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', has a penchant for "shinies"."baubles". It's mostly PlayedForLaughs, though at one point he does snag a useful ioun stone when he attacks an enemy caster.
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[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
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* HeckleAndJeckle are two wise-cracking magpies who, by trait, con their way into getting whatever they need. They also make life miserable for two dogs, a lugubrious bloodhound (Dimwit) and a tough bulldog (unofficially named Chesty).
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An {{Animal Stereotype|s}}: Magpies (and by extension other corvids such as RavensAndCrows) have a compulsion to steal, particularly in regard to shiny things. A common plot is for something to go missing, accusations of theft to be thrown around at everyone in sight, and the magpie to be revealed as the culprit at the last minute.
to:
An {{Animal Stereotype|s}}: Magpies (and by extension other corvids such as RavensAndCrows) have a compulsion to steal, steal/StickyFingers, particularly in regard to shiny things. A common plot is for something to go missing, accusations of theft to be thrown around at everyone in sight, and the magpie to be revealed as the culprit at the last minute.
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* The TropeNamer (and probably TropeCodifier) is Rossini's ''La gazza ladra'', "The Thieving Magpie", which is also something of a SpoilerTitle; the titular magpie is revealed to be responsible for the thefts of silver cutlery that initially set off the plot. The music has been used as a {{Leitmotif}} for [[GeniusBonus thieving characters]] in both ''Film/AClockworkOrange'' and ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''.
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* The TropeNamer (and probably TropeCodifier) is Rossini's ''La gazza ladra'', Gazza Ladra'', "The Thieving Magpie", which is also something of a SpoilerTitle; the titular magpie is revealed to be responsible for the thefts of silver cutlery that initially set off the plot. The music has been used as a {{Leitmotif}} for [[GeniusBonus thieving characters]] in both ''Film/AClockworkOrange'' and ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). The EurekaMoment comes when Tintin hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' Gazza Ladra'' (see Opera below). The EurekaMoment comes when Tintin hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the said Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure -- sure enough, he finds the emerald jewel in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). This Tintin story has a EurekaMoment when the protagonist hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, Tintin finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
to:
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). This Tintin story has a The EurekaMoment comes when the protagonist Tintin hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, Tintin he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). This story has a EurekaMoment when Tintin hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). This Tintin story has a EurekaMoment when Tintin the protagonist hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, he Tintin finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). {{Tintin}} has a EurekaMoment when he hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). {{Tintin}} This story has a EurekaMoment when he Tintin hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). Sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). In ''Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald'', {{Tintin}} has a EurekaMoment when he hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). This gives our hero the EurekaMoment that solves the case--sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
to:
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). In ''Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald'', {{Tintin}} has a EurekaMoment when he hears that Bianca Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). This gives our hero the EurekaMoment that solves the case--sure Sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). It's also the show Bianca Castafiore is due to perform in, which gives our hero the EurekaMoment that solves the case.
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* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). It's also the show In ''Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald'', {{Tintin}} has a EurekaMoment when he hears that Bianca Castafiore is due to perform in, which Castafiore, still missing her emerald, will be performing in ''La Gazza Ladra'' (the Rossini opera mentioned below). This gives our hero the EurekaMoment that solves the case. case--sure enough, he finds the emerald in a magpie's nest.
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See also OneForSorrowTwoForJoy, which is about the association of certain numbers of magpies with bad luck and the rituals for warding it off.
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See also OneForSorrowTwoForJoy, which is about the association of certain numbers of magpies with bad (or sometimes good) luck and the rituals for warding it the bad luck off.
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* A person might be described as a "magpie" if they're an obsessive hoarder or CollectorOfTheStrange (not necessarily of stolen goods).
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* A person might be described as a "magpie" if they're an obsessive hoarder or CollectorOfTheStrange (not necessarily of stolen goods).goods).
* In AustralianRulesFootball, Collingwood's nickname of "the Magpies" comes from both the club's colors of black and white, and the reputation of the Collingwood area at the time of the team's founding (and indeed, for decades thereafter): it was widely seen as the home of thieves and other criminals.
* In AustralianRulesFootball, Collingwood's nickname of "the Magpies" comes from both the club's colors of black and white, and the reputation of the Collingwood area at the time of the team's founding (and indeed, for decades thereafter): it was widely seen as the home of thieves and other criminals.
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* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', there is a subquest to find a missing baby rattle, which turns out to be in a bird's nest.
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->''"Other birds collect twigs for their nests. Magpies steal jewels for theirs."''
-->-- FlavorText for '''Thieving Magpie''', ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''
An {{Animal Stereotype|s}}: Magpies (and by extension other corvids such as RavensAndCrows) have a compulsion to steal, particularly in regard to shiny things. A common plot is for something to go missing, accusations of theft to be thrown around at everyone in sight, and the magpie to be revealed as the culprit at the last minute.
This stereotype is based on the fact that magpies collect shiny objects to line their nests in order to attract a mate. Easy to see how people might think this was like a small-scale version of a DragonHoard.
This stereotype has also provided a handy AnimalMotif for the occasional fictional jewel thief (for when [[ClassyCatBurglar cats]] are too much of a cliché).
See also OneForSorrowTwoForJoy, which is about the association of certain numbers of magpies with bad luck and the rituals for warding it off.
----
!!Examples
[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). It's also the show Bianca Castafiore is due to perform in, which gives our hero the EurekaMoment that solves the case.
* A minor ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' villain was named Magpie for her kleptomania and the [[StevenUlyssesPerhero unfortunate birth name]] Margaret Pye.
* Alluded to in ComicBook/{{Blacksad}} with Cotton, a blind magpie who's always dreamed of going to LasVegas.
[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Quoth the Raven of Literature/{{Discworld}}, a familiar of Death and friend to the Death of Rats, always pounces on shiny things in the vain hope that they might be [[TrademarkFavouriteFood eyeballs]]. He claims that this tendency is where his genus' reputation for thievery comes from.
* In the ''Literature/ArabianNights'' tale "The Stolen Necklace", said necklace is actually stolen by a magpie, but a holy woman is unjustly accused.
* Invoked in ''[[Literature/LandOfOz The Magic of Oz]]'' where Kiki Aru, having learned a transformative [[MagicalIncantation magic word]], turns himself into a magpie in order to steal a piece of gold from an old man.
[[AC: NewspaperComics]]
* [[Literature/TheRaven Lenore]], Dethany's raven in ''On the Fast Track'' has a fondness for shiny things, including stealing people's keys.
[[AC:{{Opera}}]]
* The TropeNamer (and probably TropeCodifier) is Rossini's ''La gazza ladra'', "The Thieving Magpie", which is also something of a SpoilerTitle; the titular magpie is revealed to be responsible for the thefts of silver cutlery that initially set off the plot. The music has been used as a {{Leitmotif}} for [[GeniusBonus thieving characters]] in both ''Film/AClockworkOrange'' and ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''.
[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has a "[[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=45252 Thieving Magpie]]" card; whenever it deals damage to an opponent, you get to draw a card (representing something that the magpie picked up).
* The "Freedom City" setting for ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' has a GentlemanThief named Magpie who can [[TransportersAndTeleporters teleport]], but ''never'' would he teleport ''into'' a building-- he [[SelfImposedChallenge savors the challenge of breaking in the hard way]]. His power is used ''only'' for last-second escapes, and even then only if he can't vanish any other way.
* Both normal and giant magpies were described in the ''Creature Catalog'', a monster book for Basic/Expert/etc ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. Their stats made them weak in combat, but excellent filchers of unattended shiny objects; in effect, they were a potential hook for the DM to lure parties into other encounters, by having a magic item snatched up by this trope's embodiment and forcing them to pursue it.
* The BloodRavens chapter in Warhammer40K received the FanNickname of "Blood Magpies", as they have a ''startling'' amount of wargear [[KleptomaniacHero that originally belonged to other chapters in their possession]]. Given a nod in one of the novels, where a visitor sees their trophy room and notes that it looks like a magpies' nest.
[[AC:VideoGames]]
* One Summoning {{familiar}} in ''{{Runescape}}'' is the Magpie, which is useful for thieves. Its special ability can boost the player's thieving skill.
[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* Blackwing, Vaarsuvius' raven familiar in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', has a penchant for "shinies". It's mostly PlayedForLaughs, though at one point he does snag a useful ioun stone when he attacks an enemy caster.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Occurred in an episode of ''CliffordTheBigRedDog'', where a crow snatched shiny things and kept them in his nest, leaving Clifford to get blamed for stealing.
[[AC:Real Life]]
* In Swedish the name of the bird is ''skata'', which can be read as "will take". It's not the actual meaning of the word, but is sometimes pointed out as an accurate interpretation. The word skata was actually an euphemism or a "noa word" of skjora/skjura. If you used [[IKnowYourTrueName their real name]] they could come and steal your soul.
* Rooks have a similar reputation: an archaic/dialect word for a [[TheCityNarrows den of thieves or pickpocket-infested neighbourhood]] is a "rookery", and to "rook" someone is to steal from them or defraud them.
* A person might be described as a "magpie" if they're an obsessive hoarder or CollectorOfTheStrange (not necessarily of stolen goods).
-->-- FlavorText for '''Thieving Magpie''', ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''
An {{Animal Stereotype|s}}: Magpies (and by extension other corvids such as RavensAndCrows) have a compulsion to steal, particularly in regard to shiny things. A common plot is for something to go missing, accusations of theft to be thrown around at everyone in sight, and the magpie to be revealed as the culprit at the last minute.
This stereotype is based on the fact that magpies collect shiny objects to line their nests in order to attract a mate. Easy to see how people might think this was like a small-scale version of a DragonHoard.
This stereotype has also provided a handy AnimalMotif for the occasional fictional jewel thief (for when [[ClassyCatBurglar cats]] are too much of a cliché).
See also OneForSorrowTwoForJoy, which is about the association of certain numbers of magpies with bad luck and the rituals for warding it off.
----
!!Examples
[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'' story "[[Recap/TintinTheCastafioreEmerald The Castafiore Emerald]]" takes its plot resolution from ''La gazza ladra'' (see Opera below). It's also the show Bianca Castafiore is due to perform in, which gives our hero the EurekaMoment that solves the case.
* A minor ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' villain was named Magpie for her kleptomania and the [[StevenUlyssesPerhero unfortunate birth name]] Margaret Pye.
* Alluded to in ComicBook/{{Blacksad}} with Cotton, a blind magpie who's always dreamed of going to LasVegas.
[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* Quoth the Raven of Literature/{{Discworld}}, a familiar of Death and friend to the Death of Rats, always pounces on shiny things in the vain hope that they might be [[TrademarkFavouriteFood eyeballs]]. He claims that this tendency is where his genus' reputation for thievery comes from.
* In the ''Literature/ArabianNights'' tale "The Stolen Necklace", said necklace is actually stolen by a magpie, but a holy woman is unjustly accused.
* Invoked in ''[[Literature/LandOfOz The Magic of Oz]]'' where Kiki Aru, having learned a transformative [[MagicalIncantation magic word]], turns himself into a magpie in order to steal a piece of gold from an old man.
[[AC: NewspaperComics]]
* [[Literature/TheRaven Lenore]], Dethany's raven in ''On the Fast Track'' has a fondness for shiny things, including stealing people's keys.
[[AC:{{Opera}}]]
* The TropeNamer (and probably TropeCodifier) is Rossini's ''La gazza ladra'', "The Thieving Magpie", which is also something of a SpoilerTitle; the titular magpie is revealed to be responsible for the thefts of silver cutlery that initially set off the plot. The music has been used as a {{Leitmotif}} for [[GeniusBonus thieving characters]] in both ''Film/AClockworkOrange'' and ''Series/{{Sherlock}}''.
[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has a "[[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=45252 Thieving Magpie]]" card; whenever it deals damage to an opponent, you get to draw a card (representing something that the magpie picked up).
* The "Freedom City" setting for ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' has a GentlemanThief named Magpie who can [[TransportersAndTeleporters teleport]], but ''never'' would he teleport ''into'' a building-- he [[SelfImposedChallenge savors the challenge of breaking in the hard way]]. His power is used ''only'' for last-second escapes, and even then only if he can't vanish any other way.
* Both normal and giant magpies were described in the ''Creature Catalog'', a monster book for Basic/Expert/etc ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. Their stats made them weak in combat, but excellent filchers of unattended shiny objects; in effect, they were a potential hook for the DM to lure parties into other encounters, by having a magic item snatched up by this trope's embodiment and forcing them to pursue it.
* The BloodRavens chapter in Warhammer40K received the FanNickname of "Blood Magpies", as they have a ''startling'' amount of wargear [[KleptomaniacHero that originally belonged to other chapters in their possession]]. Given a nod in one of the novels, where a visitor sees their trophy room and notes that it looks like a magpies' nest.
[[AC:VideoGames]]
* One Summoning {{familiar}} in ''{{Runescape}}'' is the Magpie, which is useful for thieves. Its special ability can boost the player's thieving skill.
[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* Blackwing, Vaarsuvius' raven familiar in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', has a penchant for "shinies". It's mostly PlayedForLaughs, though at one point he does snag a useful ioun stone when he attacks an enemy caster.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Occurred in an episode of ''CliffordTheBigRedDog'', where a crow snatched shiny things and kept them in his nest, leaving Clifford to get blamed for stealing.
[[AC:Real Life]]
* In Swedish the name of the bird is ''skata'', which can be read as "will take". It's not the actual meaning of the word, but is sometimes pointed out as an accurate interpretation. The word skata was actually an euphemism or a "noa word" of skjora/skjura. If you used [[IKnowYourTrueName their real name]] they could come and steal your soul.
* Rooks have a similar reputation: an archaic/dialect word for a [[TheCityNarrows den of thieves or pickpocket-infested neighbourhood]] is a "rookery", and to "rook" someone is to steal from them or defraud them.
* A person might be described as a "magpie" if they're an obsessive hoarder or CollectorOfTheStrange (not necessarily of stolen goods).
