Birds have been associated with myths and omens since early mankind with many ancient people believing our feathered friends to be messengers from the gods or even representations of the gods themselves.
Today most cultures throughout the world have superstitions that are centred around birds – some of these are universal while others are regional and it seems nobody can agree on whether birds bring good or bad luck.
Here we take a look at some bird superstitions from around the world, both well known and more unusual. If you know of any others, let us know in the comments below.
In fact seeing crows anywhere tends to bring bad luck, unless you happen to find a dead crow in the road, which surprisingly will bring you good luck.
Running second only to black cats, crows have a very bad press when it comes to omens. In just about any creepy scene in a film you will hear the background noise of crows calling and of course Alfred Hitchcock made a whole film about what happens when these birds attack. A particularly suspenseful scene in The Birds is of a murder of crows gathering quietly in a playground behind an oblivious Tippi Hedren.
As far back as Ancient Greece, it was believed that the arrival of a crow at a wedding reception would mean an inevitable divorce. And another crow superstition associated with marriage is that two crows should be released during the ceremony; if the two birds flew away together the marriage would be happy and successful, but if the two crows parted company then the bride and groom too would soon be separated.
Although it will probably result in the worst bad hair day ever, you shouldn’t fret if you have the misfortune to have a bird deposit its droppings on your head or shoulders because this unfortunate event is actually supposed to bring good luck and even wealth.
There isn’t a consensus on the origin of this superstition, but one idea put forward is that it is such an unlikely, yet disgusting occurrence that it is only right that something positive makes up for it.
This is an old superstition, with an even earlier version claiming that keeping peacock feathers in the house not only brings bad luck but also dooms any unmarried woman to spinsterhood.
Many actors refuse to allow peacock feathers on stage, whether as props or costume elements. Veteran performers and directors have even shared stories of sets collapsing during performances that featured peacock feathers.
The superstition is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean, where the feather’s distinctive eye-like markings are said to represent the gaze of the she-devil Lilith, who is blamed for the mysterious deaths of children. Keeping peacock feathers indoors is thought to invite her presence, allowing her to watch over the household.
However, in India, China, and Japan, peacock feathers are considered symbols of good fortune. Bringing them into the home is believed to offer protection by providing extra eyes to guard against danger.
Throughout the centuries, woodpeckers have been associated with a variety of superstitions particularly around misfortune, and many cultures believe that if a woodpecker knocks on your house, it is foretelling a death. There is a similar belief held around pigeons knocking on windows, as well as white birds or crows flying into windows, as well as the many predictions associated with a bird flying into your house.
In Slavic countries, it’s said that wood that has been drilled into by woodpeckers should not be used for building houses and other infrastructure, as it’s unstable and could quickly catch alight.
However, the ancient Romans and Babylonians looked much more favourably upon woodpeckers, and saw them as signs of fertility and abundance. In Origo gentis Romanae, a literary work that tells the origin of the Roman people, there is a reference to a woodpecker bringing food to Romulus and Remus, twin brothers who in mythology founded Rome, when they were abandoned in the wild.
This is one of many sailors’ superstitions and is referenced in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, published in 1798.
Traditionally sailors considered seeing an albatross to be a sign of good luck, probably originating from the early days of navigation when sailors thought that seeing an albatross meant land was near. Little did they know that albatrosses can live many years at sea without ever setting foot on land!
In The Rime of the Ancient Mariner a sailor shoots and kills an albatross with a cross bow and as punishment the crew of the ship force him to wear the dead bird’s carcass around his neck. This is where the metaphor of an albatross to mean a burden originated from.
The death of the albatross brought terrible bad luck to the ship, including a lack of drinking water – water, water every where, nor any drop to drink – until eventually a ghost ship appears and kills all the sailors.
There are a lot of superstitions associated with hearing the first cuckoo’s call and some of them are quite bizarre.
For instance, when you see or hear your first cuckoo you should put a stone on your head and run as fast as you can until the stone falls off. You should then return to the spot where it fell the next day and will find money under it.
Similar to a superstition regarding a new moon, when you hear the first cuckoo call it is very important that you have money in your pocket. You should then take the money, turn it over and spit on it and this ritual will bring you good fortune and riches in the forthcoming year. If you happen not to have any money on you then there will be a poor year ahead.
The magpie has an important role in Christian myth. Biblical lore tells us that the magpie was the only bird not to enter Noah’s ark and instead it sat on the roof cackling as the whole world drowned.
Another myth claims that the magpie was also the only bird not to go into full mourning at Jesus’s crucifixion because it was actually the devil in disguise.
These legends may be the source of the belief in Scotland that the magpie has a drop of the devil’s blood under its tongue with some believing that if you cut out the tongue of a magpie it would be capable of human speech.
Like crows, magpies are often associated with all things evil and you can read more about the superstitions that surround magpies here.
This is another sailor superstition, most often associated with the Isle of Man. It appears to have its origins in the mythical story of Chlíodhna, a Celtic sea goddess who seduced men with her singing and lured them to sea where they drowned.
Eventually, some sailors attempted to catch her, but before they were able to, she transformed into a wren and escaped. In anger, the men prayed to their gods who ordered Chlíodhna to appear once a year on St Stephen’s Day taking the shape of a wren to be killed each time by human hand.
Between sunrise and sunset on that day, every man and boy on the island had to hunt down as many wrens as they could, and when they managed to kill one, they would fix it to a pole decorated with leaves and ribbons.
Feathers from the dead wrens would be distributed amongst sailors and fishermen as a charm against drowning.
Although primarily a Manx superstition, the practice of carrying a wren’s feather as a protection from shipwreck and drowning has also been recorded in Devon and other coastal communities in the British Isles.
The robin is one of our most familiar birds, so it’s not surprising that there are numerous superstitions associated with the species.
Many of them claim that if you were to kill or injure a robin, or damage its nest or steal its eggs, you will be the recipient of some form of bad luck.
For example, in rural folklore, it’s said that if a landowner deliberately kills a robin, then their cows’ milk will be stained with blood, and their home and farm buildings will catch fire, while in Ireland anyone who kills a robin will suffer tremors in the hand that killed it.
Another variation says that if someone were to break the wing or leg of a robin, then they would break their own leg or arm as a consequence. And another says that if you were to smash a robin’s egg then something precious of yours will break.
If you kill a robin accidentally, then you can cancel the bad luck by giving it a proper burial.
It is not known when ravens were first kept at the Tower of London, but records show they were present at the beheading of Anne Boleyn in 1536 when “Even the ravens of the Tower sat silent and immovable on the battlements and gazed eerily at the strange scene”.
One suggestion is that the birds were brought to the Tower to dramatise executions due to their association with death and all things macabre.
The origins of the legend are not clear either. Charles II apparently disliked the ravens due to their droppings falling on his telescope and wanted them moved to Greenwich Observatory which he had commissioned in 1675. In a conversation with the royal astronomer, John Flamstead:
“These ravens must go!” he said. “But, Sire, it is very unlucky to kill a raven,” replied Flamstead, “If you do that the Tower will fall and you will lose your kingdom, having only just got it back!” Charles, being a pragmatist, thought for a moment and said: “The Observatory must go to Greenwich and the ravens can stay in the Tower.”
However, Geoffrey Parnell, the official Tower of London historian, has conducted research which he believes shows that the superstition was invented much more recently. After The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe was published in 1845, Victorians became fascinated with the birds and the first captive birds were brought to the Tower as pets for the staff.
There are many superstitions and myths surrounding owls, and most of them foretell bad luck. For example, it’s said that if an owl perches on your roof and hoots, or if you walk under a tree which contains a hooting owl it means a relative or friend will die within a year.
The superstitions about owls go back centuries. The Romans believed owls were omens of impending doom and many famous Romans including Julius Caesar, Augustus and Agrippa supposedly had their deaths predicted by an owl.
They also believed that dreaming about an owl could cause a shipwreck or robbery, while another Roman superstition said that witches transformed into owls and sucked the blood from babies. To ward off the evil, the offending owl would be killed, and its body nailed to the door of the affected house.
There are also some rather specific owl superstitions relating to its hoot. In Wales there is a belief that if an owl hoot is heard among houses, then an unmarried girl has lost her virginity, while another says that if a pregnant woman hears an owl her child will be blessed.
‘Stane chack, deevil tak, they who harry my nest will, never rest, will meet the pest, de’il break their lang back, wha my eggs wad tak’ tak’ is a Scottish poem about the stonechat.
Roughly translated, it means that someone who destroys a stonechat’s nest will never rest and will eventually catch a deadly disease, while if they were to take the bird’s eggs, they will break their back.
The stonechat is named for its distinctive call which sounds just like two stones being hit together and according to folklore it is said to be constantly chatting to the devil. Its blood-red breast is meant to serve as protection from all things evil, and some say it carries a drop of the devil’s blood under its tongue.
For such an inoffensive little bird, the stonechat wasn’t much liked in Scotland. According to The Scottish Gallovidian Encyclopedia: or the Original Antiquated and Natural Curiosities of the South of Scotland published in 1824 toads were said to sit on and hatch the stonechat’s eggs, and in the country it was looked at in the same way one might look at a female prostitute.
116 Responses
Had a black bird fly into my place of work today and sit for a few minutes, it went to fly out but came back and sat down then it flew out , does anyone know about this
I was driving home a crow chose to stay on the road. I never gave it a second thought but to my surprise I ran it over. I was shocked! I suppose his friend never Sang CAR CAR,so I killed it. I feel terrible, I do hope my day will go better since this took place at 6:30 am. My life has been a rough one will this tragedy indicate what my life will continue to be like ..,, if you’re finished reading my comment please send me your taughts…….. RIP one black crow.
You will have good fortune!
Just awoke to a starling flying around my bedroom this morning
Absolutely no explanation as to how it got in. This is the second time ina few months this has happened. I instantly checked all windows, doors etc and everything is securely shut. Can’t wrap my head around it.
One little brown bird just happen go fly inside my living room while I was sitting on one of the sofas. It flew over my head toward the corner of the room and then flew right back outside. I heard from elders ladies it’s a message, can be death in the family but let’s see. I’ll keep you posted .
Did something bad happen? Please say no. This morning my parents went to the doctor cz my mother isn’t keeping well. Both my parents have been sick since I adopted consciousness at the age of 7. A small brown bird flew into my house. My cleaning lady was trying to get her out of the house but thr bird did not leave. I had not noticed her as I was on a call (office meeting). She flew and sat right next to my table. And I saw her after my call had ended. She stayed inside for a whole 5-6 mins and then we had to catch her and let her free in the balcony cz we assumed her parents would be looking for her. She stood at the balcony edge for a while until I went to pet her and then she flew away. She was opening her mouth and trying to chirp for a while that she was at balcony edge, but she was a baby and I could not hear anything. My parents are still at the doctor’s. And my anxiety has surged. I was so happy to see the bird.i recorded her, took a couple of great pictures. But then something hit and I was like, this is so odd. And I googled what it meant if a bird flew to your home and I am fucking gonna go into a spiral.
what happened ?
Dear Lady
I feel for you, however if you can try to be optimistic life has curve balls and for whatever reason our lives seem unfair. My emotions are permanently messed up and I can’t seem to think my life will ever get better. I need to tell you something, I hit and killed a crow at about 6:30 this morning. It was on the road no friends chirped a warning call of CAR-CAR!!! So this could be my turning point in my life. I honestly cannot handle anything more,my son tells me it’s a sign of good luck!!! Here’s hoping ?
I was sitting alone at Wawa eating. Bird came to my table and started coming very close to me, we hung out for 5 mins.
Black bird with caterpillar in mouth just staring at me ? I did say hello
Two faintails just flew into our house and one left pretty much straight away, and the other one flew for a bit before leaving. I looked it up on the internet apparently its a bad sign. However, anyone have thoughts about this?
Yesterday morning wondered try to get into the window on the side of my door and then two birds tried to get into the window at the top of my door today is my daughter number two birthday any ideas
I was sitting in my living room and heard a birds wings in flight flying at the side of my head, my dog looked up and followed sniffing the air for awhile, there was no bird, I searched through the house but no bird was found. I could of sworn it was a bird what would it mean if anything
Angel
A cardinal means a visitor from a loved one who passed who’s watching over you. Sometime when you’re stressed because of an important event coming up like i was ( breast cancer surgery ) it calms the soul and the mind to see a cardinal and know a loved one is near. <3
A Black bird flies through my house every morning sometimes 2 just flying and flying. It’s being happening for some weeks now. Can’t really associate with anything for now, well except my relationship with my boyfriend is spiraling downward. Am still waiting to see what’s happening
same here. There are 2 black birds flying thru our house every morning and at night, the other 1 stays in the ceiling till morning. I’m still looking some answers if what this thing means.
A bird flew into my house a couple a weeks ago. The following week, my boyfriend passed away.
Tiny black colored bird, possibly a sweep flew in the door 1/30/2022 1:30pm. We will
See what develops.
Any updates?
My name is Roseanne Rogers my son Woodrow David Rogers died March 12th 2020 and a few days after she passed this bird keeps coming out front of my apartment and chirping constantly chirp trip in and the one I talk to it it comes over and lands on my railing of my porch so I was wondering if there is a meaning to this and he’s black with a white stomach and black little tough of hair on top of his feathers on top of his head sticking up
Today I had a black bird fly in my house, not sure how it got in, the windows were all closed. It kept trying to get out, flying all around that room, then into the bathroom. I tried get it out by putting food near the open window, to make it fly out, finally it flew out and checked Google and was frightened to see its bad news or a bad omen.
I too had that same incident today morning.. Is there any problem with that??
A duck showed up at my house Christmas morning, never saw it again until New Years Eve night. What does that mean?
He was checking out to see if any of his missing family or friends made it to dinner….literally.
I’m 83 never fond of birds when ever I would see a dead bird with in 10 days I will here of a friend or family member pass away. I think if a bird flies into your home u will here of some important news.
Hey hello everyone, this 10:51 a bird trapped inside my room for about 9minutes i guess and it went straight from that window to the other window i noticed it was chilled for some few minutes then i decided to take a photo but it started fleeing around and finally found its way outside I’d like to know if it have strong meaning its the first time I’m experiencing this … It was a black one
Today black brown bird flu into my house through bifolds .
I think was a same bird that was coming to my garden for last 3 years .
I tried to get it out without touching as I was scared. I gave food and talked to her lol.
They suddenly started flying towards the way it came up , I was so happy but just in split seconds it hot the bifold glass and died .
I cried like crazy …
I am not sure if this is just one crazy incident or if this mean something …
By the black bird flying into your house and you trying to take a picture of it means there is a new idea or thought provoking feelings…like a birth of a child
I am an unmarried woman and have peacocks in my living room I’m also very superstitious so I need to get know how to get rid of these peacock feathers safely without me without me having more bad luck because yeah I’ve had a whole bunch of bad luck Or Lisa last 4 or 5 years I’ve prverse I probably had more bad luck but yeah I have something bad’s gonna happen it’s gonna happen to me and then my Scottish friend comes over she says the peacock feelers are bad luck and I looked it up on Google and it specifically says if and unmarried woman has them it’s them and she superstitions they will be bad luck towards her well a That is me please help me
Cleanse the room? Idk that’s what’s in my culture
Call the helpline
Please don’t believe in superstitions, peacock feather or peacocks will never harm you, love all animals and birds, god will be humble on you
We’ve had peacock feathers in our bathroom for about 16 years and never had any bad luck from them, superstition is ridiculous. You literally just read an article about it.
Today my sister found a dead black bird that flew in our house. I immediately tried to find the significance. I was told it’s bad luck. Is there anything we can do to prevent it ?
I heard once that if a bird flys into your home, it means a person your haven’t seen in a long time will pay you a visit.
Friday morning a grey (wren?)bird was in my house. I opened all doors trying to shoo it out with no luck. Thru that day I asked people how to get it out.
One was a caller from 100 miles away. The next was the mower guy then his supervisor. Then the tech who came to repair gate. Then a neighbor. Five!! None had advice on ridding house of bird. ALL five told me that a bird in house portends a death. I am a sceptic. Had never heard this before.
Saturday morning@ 3:48 am a friend died. I was advised at 9 am. The bird was no longer inside house.
This is just the facts. I am not claiming the bird was a messenger. Coincidence?
Hi guys …last night I was chilling on my balcony sipping some drinks and all of a sudden I saw this bird in the road …but it wasn’t flying it was just walking past my house in the road and carried on walking till about 3 or 4 houses down till I could not see it anymore …it was really surprising to see a bird just walking casually past 11 the evening past my house . Any meaning to this perhaps?
This could be true because a friend i haven’t seen for years came to our house and a black bird flew into our house earlier that morning.
So I am in a deployed environment and everyday this same bird comes to see me I believe it’s a sparrow of some kind but anyways this sparrow is different from the others it’s back feather is much shorter than all the others and today i was minding my business and all of a sudden I felt a drop on my head, I back away and look up and realize it’s that same bird and it pooped on my head lol, anyone know what this could mean?
Maybe this bird is a guardian..so embrace its choosing you.
Good luck ? coming your way
My grandma died of old age about 2 years before a bird flew into my house. Does this mean I could be Benjamin Button and end up dying as an infant?
umm… hey so it’s my first time experiencing this but…. my whole terrace is covered with grills and meshes and there is only a little entrance between a bent grill and the wall at one end of the terrace. But today when I went there i saw a sparrow laying on it’s back with a little pool of blood around it’s beak and I don’t really think that it came in from the same crack as it was laying right across from the crack. Also there were no signs of struggle or fight, neither on it’s body nor on the rest of the terrace.