Magpies are birds of the crow family. The black and white Eurasian magpie is widely considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world and one of only a few non-mammal species able to recognize itself in a mirror test.

Magpies are generally found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia and western North America, with populations also present in Tibet and high elevation areas of India and Pakistan.

In East Asian culture, the magpie is a very popular kind of bird. It is a symbol of good luck and good fortune. The magpie is also a common subject in Chinese painting. It is also often found in traditional Chinese poetry and couplets.

In addition, in the folklore of China, all the magpies of the Qixi Festival every year will fly to the Tianhe River, set up a bridge, and the separated Cowherd and Weaver Girl will meet, so that in Chinese culture, the bridge often becomes a relationship between men and women.

The Korean magpie is a national bird and national symbol of Korea, sometimes referred to as the Asian magpie or Chinese magpie. Magpies have an important place in the birth myth of 'Ai Xinjue Luo Bukuri Yushun', the ancestor of the Qing Dynasty.

In European culture, the magpie is reputed to collect shiny objects, often in fiction things like wedding rings or other valuable or significant objects. Though recent research has shown that there is little truth in the legend, and that magpies are actually unsettled by shiny, blue, or otherwise unusual objects.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org