Feathered Myths and Legends
American Crow. Diversey Harbor, June 19, 2021. Photo by Katharine Spencer.
words by Morgan Harpster
If history has proven anything, it is that humans can create myths, superstitions, and legends about anything. Myths and legends are some of the ways the ways in which we make sense of the mysteries of the natural world. So it is unsurprising that there are many superstitions and legends regarding our feathered friends. Below we provide a small sampling of them:
This one would likely be a difficult superstition to believe for many Chicago Ornithological Society members: that birds in your home are a bad omen, specifically an omen of death. In some cultures, this is such a powerful belief that people will not even keep bird themed decor in their homes.
Many superstitions revolve around bad luck associated with killing a bird. Sailors are exhorted to avoid killing an albatross, lest they bring bad luck to themselves and their crew. Similar beliefs exist around robins, sparrows, and kingfishers.
Ravens and crows are often considered to be inauspicious omens. Seeing a crow at all is considered bad luck by some, though in the American South you’ll learn that risk can be mitigated by bowing to any crow you see. The number of crows you see can have different meanings, with one counting crows rhyme saying that spotting five crows signals sickness, while spotting six signals death. Seeing a crow in a graveyard is a “grave “omen.” Similarly, ravens have their own doom-related mythology. These birds, commonly kept at the Tower of London for centuries, were often described as present for executions. Legend states that the removal of ravens from the tower would foretell the end of a kingdom.
If you've ever watched a horror movie, you've probably heard the hooting of an owl in the distance used as a spooky sound. Some believe that hearing an owl hooting is an inherently bad omen. This is perhaps tied to owls usually being spotted at dusk or night.
Some myths about birds are positive ones. While most of us would not feel blessed if a bird pooped on us, it is considered a sign of good luck by some, perhaps because at that point one's day could not get much worse. A visit from a cardinal is seen as a visit from a loved one who has passed. A legend exists that a wren's feather is a good luck charm. Hearing a bird call when flying is also thought to bring good luck. And for all of us birders, seeing a bird brings good cheer!