Bird Superstition

Doves

The
dove is the only bird that is immune from any curse of the devil. It
has long been associated with peace and love as a pair of doves will
often mate for life and both will care for the upbringing of their
young. As such, doves are often used to bring good fortune to marriage.
If you dream of a dove then your future will bring great happiness.
If you wish on the first dove that you see at the beginning of the year, your wish will come true.
Miners would not enter a mine if a dove sat at the entrance until it had flown away.

Blackbirds

If
you find two Blackbirds sitting together it is a sign that you will
receive good luck. You will receive good luck for a whole year if a
blackbird chooses to nest in your house. The blackbird has also long
been regarded as a messenger for the dead.

Swallows

When
a swallow is flying away from it's nest, you'll have good weather but
if it remains close to the nest then bad weather is on the way.
Your house will be protected from fire and lightning if swallows nest under your eaves.
Swallows
were also considered a good omen for the health of cattle and it was
even believed that the presence of a swallow's nest in a cattle barn
would ensure that the cow's milk would be free from infection. This may
be due to the fact that swallows feed on the insects that could
potentially infect cattle.

Swans

Swans are said to contain the souls of people who have recently died.
Many
women used to believe that if you sewed a swan's feather into you
husband's pillow it would ensure fidelity for as long as it remained
there.
Swans only lay eggs during a storm.
If you see three swans flying together, it is a sign of impending disaster.

Wrens

To harm a wren will surely bring bad luck and will most likely lead to a broken bone.
Children will grow a pimply face if they touch a wren's nest

Ducks

If a duck lays an unusual looking egg it is a sign of bad luck, but by eating the duck your ill fortune will end.

Curlew

If
you hear a curlew call then it is a sign of imminent bad weather. If
you hear their call at night then you are in for bad luck and some
people also believe that it may foretell the death of someone you know.

Robin

If you kill a Robin, a painful lump will grow on your hand.
A Robin flying into your house through an open window signified that death may come to someone you know.
Make
a wish when you see a Robin at the start of winter and your wish will
come true - but you must finish your wish before the robin flies away.

Seagulls

If you see three seagulls flying directly overhead, it is a warning that someone you know may soon die.

Nightjar

Corpse fowl that brings bad fortune from its eery called

Crows

Your fortune will depend on the number of crows that you see.

One's bad,
Two's luck,
Three's health,
Four's wealth,
Five's sickness,
Six is death.

Kingfisher

The
Kingfisher was the first bird to be set free from Noah's Ark and it is
believed to bring you good luck if you carry a feather from the bird in
your pocket.

Lark

Larks were sent from heaven so that children could hear their song and learn to appreciate wildlife and the sound of summer.

Magpies

Many
people believed that the Magpie was a Satan in disguise and that he was
visiting your area to cause mischief. If you say "Good Morning Mr
Magpie" you are letting Satan know that you have seen him sneaking
around and so he will leave you alone.
If you see a magpie you should take off your hat or make a cross with your fingers to ward off the evil spirits.

Owl

It
is bad luck to see an owl in daylight and if you hear an owl call
before sunset then you will hear of bad news by the end of the day. If
an owl is heard to call in a town then it is a sign that a local virgin
is virgin no more and her first child will be a girl.

Sparrows

It
has long been believed that a sparrow sat by Jesus Christ during his
crucifixion and called to guards that he was still alive. If a sparrow
enters your house through a window it is an omen that death will soon
come to someone who lives there.

Plover

If you hear
a Plover call in the morning it is an omen of death for someone you
know. This stems from the belief that Plovers carry the souls of the
Jews that died at the same time as Jesus Christ.

Goose

The colour of the breastbone of a cooked Goose can be used to predict the weather for next year.