Possessives

• nest: Make no mistake, only an erudite writer could have held together such a magpie's nest of brilliant ideas.

Converse of object

• crow: Little ringed plovers have nested on these islands since 1997, in spite of heavy predation from crows, magpies and herons.

• join: Out-of-contract defender Matt Somner, 23, has also left Aldershot to join the Magpies on a two-year deal.

• see: The second half saw the Magpies stick to their task of breaking down probably the physically toughest side in the division.

• give: He believes a packed York Road will gives the Magpies the boost they need to defeat Lewes tomorrow ( Saturday ).

• keep: But up stepped man of the match Wilson with a top class display of quality goalkeeping to keep the Magpies in the game.

• put: Shearer played his part by putting the Magpies in the lead from the penalty spot.

Preposition: at

• bay: Time and again the Swindon defense were hard pushed to keep the rampant Magpies at bay.

Adjective modifier

• azure-winged: Large numbers of Azure-winged Magpies fed in the surrounding olive groves, with a flock of at least 70 seen going to roost.

• Australian: A pair of Australian Magpies were around the area.

• more: How times have changed: more magpies, fewer sparrows.

• young: With two of our players on first team duty, a number away on their holidays, things look bright for the young magpies.

• common: In the surrounding scrub there were lots of Common Magpies, of the local race with the bright blue mark behind the eye.

• black-billed: Keen-eyed Golden Eagle and Coyote patrol the area, while Black-billed Magpies watch for leftovers.

Modifies a noun

• robin: Star billing goes to the magpie robin, seventh rarest bird in the world, for whom Frégate was once the last refuge.

• boss: Magpies boss Dennis Greene has already logged on, with a promise to answer fans' questions throughout the season, within reason.

• manager: Magpies manager Alan Devonshire said: " It was good game.

• collection: This magpie collection also found a natural outlet in animated films, of which Paolozzi made three with different collaborators.

• fan: Magpies fans can now buy shares in the new company.

• connection: If you want to test your magpie connection now, then click Yes.