Do you salute magpies or feel a twinge of unease when one crosses your path, fearing it might bring bad luck? If so, you’re not alone. Even the most rational sceptics can sometimes feel their beliefs waver at the sight of a magpie.
In Britain, no other wild bird is so steeped in superstition as the magpie. For centuries, folklore surrounding magpies has flourished across the UK and Europe. During the Victorian era, such fear of the bird grew that it was nearly hunted to extinction.
However, before the spread of Christianity, magpies were seen very differently, often as symbols of good fortune and intelligence. The Romans admired the magpie for its cleverness and reasoning skills, while in Ancient Greece, magpies were sacred to Bacchus, the god of wine.
Farther afield, some Native American tribes viewed magpies as symbols of fearlessness, wearing their feathers as signs of bravery. Others believed the magpie to be a sacred messenger from the creator or a guardian with shamanic powers.
The Christian Church, however, cast the magpie in a far darker light. According to Church teachings, the magpie was the only bird that failed to weep or mourn during Jesus’ crucifixion, supposedly because of its black-and-white plumage. This led to many superstitions linking magpies to bad luck or evil.
In the 19th century, a vicar recorded one of his servants claiming that the magpie refused to enter Noah’s Ark, choosing instead to sit outside in the rain, chattering and swearing. Another story from the same period describes the magpie as a hybrid of the raven and the dove, making it the only bird not to have been baptised.
The Church also popularised the rumour that magpies carry a drop of the devil’s blood in their tongues. Supposedly, if their tongues were cut to release the blood, magpies would gain the ability to speak like humans.
But how did magpies, once revered in some cultures, come to be seen as harbingers of bad luck?
Much of this stems from the way our ancestors tried to make sense of the world around them. Without modern science to explain natural events, people often attributed mysterious occurrences to supernatural causes. The appearance of an animal, a change in the weather, an other natural phenomena were frequently linked to significant events that followed, especially those that couldn’t otherwise be explained.
Death was particularly challenging to predict or understand, and it naturally inspired fear of the unknown. This fear gave rise to many superstitions and old wives’ tales surrounding the subject. Magpies, with their behaviour and habits, naturally found themselves entwined in such beliefs.
Like other corvids, magpies have long been associated with death. During medieval times, they were often seen scavenging near battlefields, gallows, and field hospitals, where they fed on carrion. Their predatory behaviour during breeding season, such as raiding nests for eggs and chicks, also made them unpopular with gamekeepers and rural communities, particularly as they preyed on pheasants and other birds of value.
Magpies’ inquisitive and mischievous nature earned them another unwanted label: thieves. Known for their attraction to shiny objects, they were often blamed for missing jewellery or other valuables. If a treasured ring went missing, it was easy to shift the blame to a magpie.
This reputation for theft became so entrenched that it inspired cultural works like Rossini’s tragicomic opera La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie). In the story, a French girl is falsely accused of theft, convicted, and executed, only for the true culprit, a magpie, to be discovered later. The remorseful townspeople then hold an annual Mass of the Magpies to pray for the girl’s soul.
Over time, magpies’ reputation as “bad birds” evolved into the belief that they bring bad luck. However, as the famous nursery rhyme suggests, this superstition largely revolves around seeing a single magpie.
Magpies are known to mate for life, so encountering a lone magpie might suggest it has lost its mate, which could symbolise sorrow or misfortune. On the other hand, spotting a group of magpies is believed to bring good luck, joy, or even wealth, as the well known rhyme illustrates:
One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be tol
The rhyme encapsulates the dual nature of magpie superstitions: while a single bird may bring sorrow, more magpies suggest prosperity or happiness. These beliefs likely endure because they offer a way to interpret and find meaning in chance encounters, even if modern science tells us there’s no basis for such fears.
If you spot a lone magpie and fear it might bring bad luck, there are several things you can do to ward off misfortune:
Salute the magpie.
Say, “Good morning, General” or “Good morning, Captain.”
Greet it with, “Good morning, Mr Magpie, how is your lady wife today?”
Say, “Good morning, Mr Magpie, how are Mrs Magpie and all the little magpies?”
Address it as “Jack”, saying, “Hello Jack, how’s your brother?”
Doff your hat as a sign of respect.
Spit three times over your shoulder.
Blink rapidly to convince yourself you’ve seen two magpies instead of one.
Flap your arms like wings and mimic a magpie’s call to symbolically provide it with a mate.
The belief that a solitary magpie brings bad luck is widespread in the UK and Ireland, but some regions have their own specific superstitions.
Scotland: A single magpie near a house window signals an impending death.
Wales: Seeing a magpie crossing your path from right to left before a journey predicts danger on the road.
Ireland: Magpies are thought to represent the souls of gossiping or malicious women.
Yorkshire: Magpies are linked to witchcraft, and making the sign of the cross is said to ward off their evil influence.
Somerset: Carrying an onion offers protection from a magpie’s bad luck.
Northampton: A group of three magpies together predicts a fire.
Devon: A fisherman who sees a magpie in the morning will catch no fish that day.
Sussex: Unlike elsewhere, a magpie on the roof is considered a good omen, ensuring the house is safe from harm.
Outside the UK, magpies are often seen in a more positive light.
China: A singing magpie symbolises happiness, good fortune, and luck.
Korea: Magpies bring good news and attract good people into your life.
Mongolia: Magpies are believed to control the weather and are seen as highly intelligent.
France: Evil nuns are thought to be reincarnated as magpies.
Scandinavia: In Norse mythology, magpies are associated with Skadi, the goddess of winter. In Norway, they are considered cunning and are linked to the huldra, the mysterious underground people.
Science has confirmed that the Romans were right, and magpies are incredibly intelligent, with a brain-to-body ratio comparable to great apes. These remarkable birds can use tools, solve problems, work in teams, play games, and even mimic human speech.
So, the next time you see a magpie, offer it your best salute, not out of fear of bad luck, but out of respect for one of nature’s smartest creatures.
What do you do when you see a magpie? Let us know in the comments below.
109 Responses
20240419 Bullhead City, Arizona, USA
While watching an episode of ‘Endeavor’ I remember Inspector Thursday greeting a magpie in the morning on his way to the ‘nick.’ Because I see the odd magpie around our back yard which borders an arroyo in the Mojave Desert in Arizona, I thought I’d find out the meaning of his greeting to the bird. I knew magpies were relatives of jays. I’m familiar with Stellar’s Jays in Yosemite, which are beautiful, noisy and raucus. Anyway, magpies are comparatively tame compared to the hawks, falcons and roadrunners who frequent our back yard. Me? I said ‘hello’ w/o any ill effect.
In Australia, cyclists adorn their helmets with long spikes (not to injure) but to protect them from injury when swooped in spring. Now we know if we see one, make ‘eye’ contact with it and keep walking. They always swoop from behind, so by looking at it & walking away, the magpie knows 1. It can’t surprise swoop you & 2. You aren’t interested in their babies
Every time I have a magpie coming to my balcony something happens to me or I fall or I have some kind of accident! I’m not sure what is going on with the magpies, and why they still come around! It’s almost like I need to be hyper vigilant all the time! Very frustrating!
Honestly if you find that you are having accidents, 100% you need to be more careful. I don’t think it’s the bird.
In my garden I have 7 magpies mostly young, who visit everyday. I could not believe my eyes the first time they were all on the bird table. I put meal worms and fat balls out for them. They are delightful to watch.
My husband passed away on the 7th May 2023, we have our own business in a mill complex and have been there for 36years, myself and our son continue the business now. My husband always went to work Saturday’s, his work was his passion. Since the 23rd of September we have had a magpie visit our unit every Saturday and sometimes on Sundays. At first I only saw one then one day there were two. I see the magpie on the ring doorbell and always say good morning. I find it a comfort somehow.
This is lovely to hear. Our beautiful 18 year old cat Dotty died on Monday. Yesterday and today a lone magpie has stood at the glass doors at the back of our kitchen while I’ve been in there and pecked gently on the glass. This comforts me too, especially as our Dotty was black and white too.
W.A. Australia. We love our visits. We have several magpies, along with other birds. They all have been visiting for years. All very friendly, cheeky gentle and chatty. They sing to us to let us know they have arrived, if we ignore them. The magpies are so sweet and even if we have human visitors they are not detured from popping in to say hello. It is the same family line with many generations added. They always bring their young to show us. So friendly and trusting that they will enter the house to find us …
I see them as causing havoc in my garden, emptying my plant pots out and taking frogs from my nature pond, also took both my goldfish from another small pond.
They scare off all the smaller birds I put seed out for and try to stick their heads through the birds best boxes.
They are nest raiders and have seen eating small chick’s that they took from a starling nest.
I dont like them and always scare them off if in my garden, nasty things in my opinion.
I had one fall down my chimney I had to pull the board off it was behind was alive I picked it up and took it out and it flew away I hope I have good luck ????
Well done – you definitely deserve some
I had to chase one off after I heard pathetic mewing coming from the garden,it had managed to grab a new born kitten from somewhere and was relentlessly pecking at its little head,I managed to get the kitten,but unfortunately it passed during the night,I was rather shocked as I didn’t know they were carrion birds.
Honestly, how can you list places with links to Magpies and not mention the biggest of all – Newcastle.
I’m fortunate to have a family of magpies who built there nest in my skybox. The had 3 babies a few years ago it was lovely to watch them learn how to fly. Now they are back and another 2 at least are born. It’s the same family. I feed them most days they play around the garden and come up to the window. I feel honoured they chose my home to build there home.
I salute. Always have done.
However, anyone know why you only usually see very few? The most I have seen together is 27 on the roof of a house. Couldn’t believe it was that many.
If I was a bird, I would happily be a magpie. Love them. Intelligent, resourceful.
I was taught:
1 for sorrow,
2 for joy,
3 for a girl &
4 for a boy,
5 for silver,
6 for gold,
7 for a secret, never to be told.
I either wave or salute & say “Good Morning Captain”
God bless you mr magpie
I love magpies. They are beautiful, very entertaining, and highly intelligent birds. I watched them tease both our dig and the neighbour cat as I grew up, since they had a nest in a tree next to our porch. Very entertaining. I wish we could have had cellphones and Tiktok in those days, maaan! .
When i see one magpie I always salute and say sorry for your loss. When there are more then one I say good morning.
One for Sorrow
Two for Mirth
Three for a Funeral
Four for a Birth
Five for Heaven
Six for Hell
Seven for the Devil, his own self
1 for sorrow
2 for joy
3 for a letter
4 for a boy/girl
5 for money
6 for gold
7 for a story never been told
8 for love
9 for marriage
10 for baby horse and carriage.
It goes up to 50+ if I’m correct I’m only mid 30s but my Wiradjuri Mum told me this at a young age
One for a wish. Two for a kiss.
Three for a letter. For for something better.
Also, in a China, do they sing or just cackl? So is that like hens teeth etc.
Norfolk = morning admiral
Magpies are very intelligent,but quite nasty birds.They sit,in Spring,and watch and wait while smaller birds are nesting,then they go in and catch the fledglings or the eggs for food. Last spring 1 magpie had a quite well grown young black bird in my garden,and,even though I ran out to chase it off,it did not go till it had the blackbird safe in its beak. That’s what sort of bird they are!!
I wonder how many eggs you’ve eaten in a lifetime?
I have a pair of Magpies who come every year with their baby, also mum comes inside eats from my hand, allows me to hold the hose in summer whilst she gets under and has a bath it is so beautiful to have such an amazing time for my family her name is joyanne, dad who isn’t keen to be friendly at all just sits and watches from a distance when baby is with dad (Charlie) he is very protective and sharpens his snozzle to let us know he’s watching and protecting his young. Joyanne brings her baby with her and eats from my hand and takes it to her young one, every morning I sit out on the stairs with coffee along she comes and when I say I will get you some food she follows me up the stairs and inside the door waits patiently for her brekkie then eats and feeds her young and off she goes for a few hours then back. Very lovely and relaxing to be around here in Australia most people are scared as they swoop every where you go but I find them an absolute pleasure
My mom sat and watched a lone magpie fly from a tree limb to the ground for an hour! She was concerned that there was something wrong with the bird but after the hour, she left the magpie to its own devices and went inside.
There’s been a magpie perched outside my window on cables or sometimes pecking inside the ventilator during the summer for 2 years now, I think he/she is eating wasps coz I believe that there is a wasps’ nest but but the wasps stopped coming since the magpie has been here.