Folklore and Supersitions of Birds by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Folklore and Supersitions of Birds

Albatross

*The appearance of an albatross heralds bad weather

Bittern

*Hearing a bittern's call foretells a greedy new acquaintance.

Blackbird

*Placing blackbird feathers under someone's pillow and he will tell his innermost secrets.
*Blackbirds symbolize reincarnation.
*Blackbirds are linked to the element of Water.
*Two blackbirds seen together mean good luck.

Bluebirds

*In Navajo belief, two bluebirds gaurd the house of the Gods.
*A bluebird in the yard presages happiness in the households.
*Bluebirds are often connected with puberty rites of young women.

Bobwhite

*Hearing a bobwhite call means rain is coming.

Buntings

*Snow buntings are a symbol of hope in adversity.

Canary

*Keeping a canary helps one's singing and speaking voice.

Cardinals

*Cherokee belief states that cardinals are Daughters of the Sun.
*Note the direction of a flying cardinal; toward the sky means good luck, and toward the ground means bad luck.
*Cardinals are magickally linked with the number 12, associating them with the Sun

Cat Birds

*Catbirds nesting on the house means you will have visitors soon.

Chickadee

*If a chickadee perches near the house, a long-missed friend willreturn.
*Enthusiastic chickadee chirping means good weather on the way.
*If you see a chickadee hanging upside-down, good news is on theway.

Chickens

*If a hen lays an even number of eggs, it is a bad omen.
*If the hens are listless at feeding, it is a bad omen.
*In China, the rooster is a symbol of eccentricity.
*If the rooster crows early, the weather will be good that day.
*If the rooster crows at night, a storm is coming.
*If a rooster crows at your door, news is coming.
*To keep evil at bay, throw the egg of a white hen over your right shoulder toward the front door.

Cowbird

*A cowbird near the house presages a fight in the household.

Crane

*Eskimos say that flocks of cranes occasionally kidnap children.
*The appearance of a crane means vigilance is needed.
*Many cultures do a "crane dance" to bring Spring.
*In Chinese legend, cranes take the souls of the dead to heaven on their backs.
*In Celtic myth, cranes symbolize war & death

Crossbill

*A crossbill kept in a cage cures rheumatism and colds.

Crow

*Finding a dead crow in the road is good luck.
*A crow perched near the house wards off evil.
*"Two crows I see, good luck to me."
*In New England, it is unlucky to see two crows flying to the left.
*Roman lore states:
"A crow on the thatch, death lifts the latch." and "One crow for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, four for a birth."
*If a pair of crows fly by a wedding couple, they will have a long, happy marriage.
*Some legends state that the soul of King Arthur lives on in a crow.
*North American legends state that crows brought the first seeds from heaven.
*In Celtic myth, crows symbolize war and death.
*Crows are considered very magickal.
*When sighting the first crow of the year, watch his flight. If he flies off into the distance, you'll travel much in the coming year,but if he just sits, you'll not travel at all.

Cuckoo

*A cuckoo's call means a storm is coming.
*Cuckoos may be asked how long one will be married and how many children one will have. The cuckoo answers with the number of calls.
*Jingle the money in your pocket when you hear a cuckoo, for"Turn your money when the first cuckoo calls, and you'll have money 'til he comes again."
*If a cuckoo calls from the North, sorrows are coming; from theSouth, death; from the East, consolation; and from the West, good fortune.
*Look at the cuckoo's bill. If it is yellow, communications willmbe trustworthy, and if it is black, watch out for deception.
*You can make a wish on the cuckoo's call.

Dove

*The dove is a symbol of peace, and the triumph of life over death.
*To give counsel to Mohammed, Allah sent a dove as messenger.
*In Japan, the dove is a messenger of war.
*Note from where the first dove's call comes; if from above,prosperity will come, and if from below, bad luck is on the way.
*When an unmarried girl hears the first dove of spring, she should take nine steps forward, nine steps back, and take off her right shoe. In it will be the hair of the man she will marry.
*Doves are said to lead thirsty humans to water in arid regions.

Eagle

*The eagle has long been an emblem of the Sun.
*Seeing an eagle fly from left to right is a very good omen.
*Eagles are believed to control thunder and lightening, due to their association with Zeus
*Eagle feathers are used for healing.

Egret

*Egret feathers bring good luck to competitors involved in sports.

Falcons

*Falcons represent success.
*Falcons were messengers of Apollo.
*Carryiing a hawk's or falcon's feather enables one to understand the speech of birds.

Texas flycatcher

*The flycatcher is considered good luck in Texas (maybe because he feasts on yellowjackets and hornets!)

Flickers

*Flicker feathers are a good luck talisman.

Goldfinches

*A goldfinch in a cage brings happiness into a home.

Geese

*Several cultures state that the Sun was laid by the goose in the form of a golden egg (origin of Aesop's fable.)
*Seeing or owning a pair of geese brings happiness to a couple.
*Check the Thanksgiving goose's breastbone; if it is thin or light-colored, the winter will be mild. If it is thick or dark-colored, the winter will be severe.
*Geese are associated with the Winter Solstice, and should be eaten on this occasion to bring good luck to the household.
*Goosefeather pillows promote fidelity in those who sleep upon them.

Grouse

*A pregnant woman should never eat grouse, for fear of stillbirth.

Herons

*Herons are symbols of longevity.

Hummingbirds

*The Aztecs believed that hummingbirds were the reincarnation of brave warriors killed in battle.
*Hummingbirds bring rain.
*Hummingbirds are linked to the Faerie Realm, and pass freely back and forth.

Jay

*Find a jay feather, soak it in rain water, and brush a sleeping child's eyes with it. The child will never lose his sight.

Junkos

*The arrival of junkos mean cold weather is coming soon.

Kingfishers

*Kingfishers are symbols of dominance and bullying.
*If kingfishers appear in December, the wind will not blow for seven days before or seven days after the Winter Solstice ("Halcyon days.")
*Kingfisher feathers ward off lightening.

Kites

*Kites are symbols of harassment.
*Kites were said to have brought the law of the Gods to ancient Egypt.
*Gypsies say kites are bad luck.

Larks

*Disturbing a lark's nest purposefully will ruin your prosperity for life.
*Larks symbolize fidelity.

Loon

*Loons are considered magickal and can grant wishes in many cultures.
*In Norway, the call of the loon in the evening means someone will drown soon.
*It is said that the loon escorts recently-departed souls to heaven. Magpie.
*Magpies predict the future, as in "One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a wedding, Four for a birth, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for secrets not to be told, Eight for heaven, Nine for hell, Ten for the Devil's very own self."
*Magpies were believed to be witches' familiars.

Martins

*The appearance of a flock of martins means good luck.

Meadowlarks

*The first meadowlark means spring is here.
*The meadowlark is a good omen.

Mockingbirds

*Mockingbirds are very magickal and will sometimes answer questions.
*Mockingbirds are symbols of hope and innocence.
*If a mockingbird flies over the head of a single woman, she will be married within the year.

Nighthawk

*The feathers of the nighthawk are sacred and are appropriate offerings to the Gods.

Orioles

*Orioles near the house will cure jaundice, if gazed upon.
*Orioles nesting on the house mean Faerie moving in.

Owls

*Owls are alternately symbols of wisdom and deception.
*The call of the owl presages death and misfortune.
*If a pregnant woman hears an owl screeching, she will have a girl.
*Owl feathers placed under one's pillow cures insomnia and nightmares.
*Pictures of images of owls in the house ward off epidemic.
*Tie a knot in a blue handkerchief to stop an owl's calling.

Parrots

*Parrots will lead humans to salt deposits.

Peafowl

*The peacock is considered sacred in many cultures.
*Peacocks are a symbol of vigilance, due to the "eyes" on their tailfeathers.

Pelicans

*Pelicans represent charity and family ties.

Pheasants

*Pheasants bring rain.
*In Japan, pheasants predict earthquakes.
*Pheasant feathers enhance sexual potency, enjoyment and stamina in men and women.

Plover

*If you see a plover, rain is not far behind.

Ptarmigan

*Pictures and feathers of ptarmigan ward off lightening.

Puffins

*Irish belief states that puffins are reincarnations of monks.

Quail

*Dreaming of quail foretells hard times ahead.
*If you hear the call of the quail within two weeks of naming a new baby, the name you have chosen is proper. If you don't hear the quail, reconsider the name.
*Quail are a symbol of courage.

Raven

*Circling ravens predict a battle, or alternately, a message from far away.
*Ravens are said to steal the souls of the seriously ill.
*It is said that England will never fall as long as ravens nest in the Tower of London.
*A raven facing the clouded sun means hot weather to come.
*If you give the afterbirth of a male child to a raven, the child will be able to converse fluently with ravens all his life.

Robin

*If you harm a robin's nest, you will be struck by lightening.
*"Kill a robin or a wren, never prosper, boy or man."
*A robin entering the house foretells of a death to come soon.
*If a robin stays close to the house in Fall, a harsh Winter is coming.
*Robins are thought to be helpful to humans, occasionally granting favors.
*Robins are a harbinger of Spring.
*Make a wish on the first robin of Spring before it flies off, or you'll have no luck the following year.

Shrikes

*Shrikes are considered messengers of ill news.

Snipe

*The appearance of snipes mean rain is sure to follow.

Sparrows

*Sparrows were thought to be born of horsehair and mud.
*A sparrow chirping repeatedly means rain is in the forecast.
*Sparrows bring summer with them when they come.
*In China, the sparrow foretells good luck in the next week.
*In Hindu religion, the sparrow is the symbol of fruitfulness and fertility.

Spoonbills

*Spoonbills are considered sacred to many Native American tribes.

Starling

*Starlings are considered murderous, and are an ill omen in flocks

Stork

*The stork is sacred to the Egyptian God of wisdom, Thoth.
*Storks are said to be able to take on human form.
*Storks drive off snakes.

Swallows

*A flock of swallows resting on the roof foretells poverty.
*If a swallow flies under a person's arm, they will lose that arm soon.
*In China, swallows are caught and then released by the river to bring rain.
*A swallow entering the house means prosperity.
*To dream of a live swallow foretells a happy relationship, but to dream of a dead swallow foretells the loss of the affections of your mate.
*A swallow swooping in front of you foretells travel soon.
*Swallows can lead humans to the magickal herb that restores eyesight (greater celandine.)

Swan

*Swans are considered very magickal & sacred.
*In Wales, swans are thought to bring the thunder and rain.
*Swans are symbols of wealth.

Swishers

*Swishers are believed to help mischievious Faerie milk goats dry at night.

Turkey

*Some Native American tribes considered turkeys cowardly and refused to eat them, for fear of losing their courage.

Vultures

*After sighting the first buzzard, one may be assured that there
will be no more frosts.
*Vulture feathers are a talisman against rheumatism, and could sometimes bring the dead back to life.
*In Greece, buzzards are an ill omen.
*In Egypt, buzzards are a symbol of protection and women's health.
*Vultures are considered to be the descendants of griffins.
*If you see a lone buzzard, make a wish before he flaps his wings and it will be granted.
*If you see the shadow of a buzzard without seeing the bird himself, visitors will arrive soon.

Whipporwills

*The call of the whipporwill can foretell an unmarried girl's
future; one call, and she will not marry this year; two calls, and she will marry soon; three calls, and she will never marry.
*If the whipporwill calls repeatedly, answer "No." If he stops, someone in the household will die within the year, but if he continues, all will be well.
*The whipporwill is linked to the Moon.
*Whatever you are doing when you hear the first whipporwill of the year, that is what you will do for the following year.

Woodpeckers

*The red-headed woodpecker is sacred.
*Woodpecker feathers gaurd against lightening.

Wood Thrush

*A wood thrush singing around the house spells good luck.

Wren

*Wren feathers are considered to be protective talismans, particularly against drowning.

Yellowthroat

*Yellowthroats are sacred to witches because of their "Witchy! Witchy!" call.

General

*If a dark bird sits on your windowsill, good luck will follow.
*If a red bird crosses your path, you will receive good news from a loved one.

http://members.tripod.com/ladyepona0/id32.htm