Bird superstitions

Superstitions are an almost universal phenomenon among humankind. They stem from ancient times when people had little knowledge of the way the world works. People looked to nature for signs and omens of the future. When common creatures behaved strangely, it was often considered a sign of ill fortune. Many common superstitions have grown up around birds. Having the power of flight, they were often believed to be messengers of the spirit world.

[edit] Birds in the house

There are many bad luck superstitions about wild birds entering a house. It is a widespread belief that a bird flying into the house is an omen that a death will occur in the household. Some people believe that a bird attempting to enter a house, or flying into the glass of a closed window, or even sitting on the windowsill pecking at the pane is an omen of death. These common superstitions are so strong that many people will not even keep pet birds, or even have pictures of birds in their houses.

Not all folk beliefs about birds entering a house are bad luck superstitions. In some countries, a bird entering a house is a signal that an important message is coming. In English folklore, a swallow flying into a house will bring good fortune, though elsewhere it is considered a death omen. Swallows building a nest on the roof of a house is also considered to be good luck. If the nest is abandoned, ill fortune will follow.

Barnyard fowl are also the subject of many common superstitions. If hens are heard crowing, it is a sign that there will be a death in the owner's household. The same is held to be true of roosters crowing at midday. If a duck lays dun colored eggs, they should be destroyed, along with the duck that laid them.

[edit] Robin Red-Breast

The English folk belief is that the robin was originally all brown. When Christ was suffering on the Cross, the robin came and sang into His ear in an attempt to comfort Him. An alternate tale has the robin trying to pick the thorns out of His head. As a result, the feathers of the robin's breast were stained red by Christ's blood. Due to this association, it is considered extremely bad luck to kill a robin, or to keep one in a cage. It is commonly believed that a wish made on the first robin of spring will be granted. There is another tale that has it that the robin received its red feathers as a consequence of being scorched carrying water to the souls in purgatory.

[edit] The Albatross

Many of the bad luck superstitions about birds come from the fact that certain species are believed to carry the souls of the dead to the hereafter. In particular, the albatross is said to carry the souls of dead mariners. For a sailor to kill or capture an albatross would bring him bad luck for the rest of his natural life. Usually, the albatross was seen as a sign of good luck, though groups of them flying around a ship was a warning that a storm was coming.

Superstitions about birds are almost universal. Some are considered bringers of good fortune, others harbingers of evil. Beliefs about particular birds may vary from country to country, but avian behavior is assigned some meaning nearly everywhere.