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Glite Dictionary
bell magpie

bell magpie

9.9
A blue-black bird that eats fruit and makes a bell-like call
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : pájaro campana
  • The bell magpie is often heard in the early morning, its call echoing through the forest.

Examples

  • Several bell magpies perched in the tall trees, searching for ripe fruit.

  • Birdwatchers come from afar to catch a glimpse of the elusive bell magpie.

  • The bell magpie is known for its beautiful plumage.

  • I spotted a bell magpie in the garden yesterday.

  • While walking through the park, I heard the distinct bell magpie calling from a nearby tree.

  • In spring, the garden is filled with bell magpies as they search for fruit among the blossoms.

  • The bright colors and melodic call of the bell magpie make it a favorite among birdwatchers.

Synonyms

currawong
vsbell magpie
  • Australian
1 9.9

A large dark Australian bird with a loud bell-like call that eats fruit

emphasizes fruit diet and bluish-black color rather than general appearance
Strepera
vsbell magpie
  • Specialized
9.9

Large crow-like birds that live in Australia and nearby islands

is about one bird, stressing color and diet rather than the broader genus

Surface Forms

bell magpie singular
bell magpies plural

Morphology

bell + magpie

The compound is a straightforward noun–noun combination where 'bell' qualifies what kind of magpie it is (one with a bell-like call). A B1 learner who knows 'bell' and 'magpie' can reasonably infer it denotes a type of magpie characterized by a bell-like sound, so the meaning is compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Bell magpie comes from the sound the bird makes. People said its call rang like a small bell, and the word magpie marks it as a noisy, fruit-eating bird, so the name points to a bird with a 'bell-like' call.