The majority of references in this book pertain to birds found wild in North America—also referred to as the New World in the entries—although mythology associated with European / Old World species and birds found only in other parts of the world are also included. That means you won’t find penguins, ostriches, nightingales, or even chickens described herein. Instead, you’ll read about birds that you’re more likely to see in the woods, a park, or your own neighborhood; this gives their divinatory meanings immediacy and vitality. In general, the species and geographic distribution information will be primarily North American, for the use of the book’s primary audience.
It’s important to note that this is not a scientific field guide, nor is it designed to be. If you really need to identify a bird, please use a proper field guide such as Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, or other such reference book. You can even get apps for your smartphone to help you identify birds when you’re on the go, such as the Audubon Birds regional apps or the Peterson Birds of North America app.
This book focuses on the inspiration, spiritual significance, folklore, symbolism, and divinatory meaning associated with different birds. To help you understand what the bird you’ve seen is trying to tell you, each bird entry includes the following information:
Name information: This can include the species name, the order and family if necessary to clarify, and / or a common name. Throughout this book, rather than going into detail about all the different species within a genus, you’ll find one overall entry for most birds (for example, the owl) and within that, anything specific associated with one particular species (barn owl, great horned owl, etc.) will be addressed. However, there isn’t a specific way to determine the spiritual significance of an ornithological subspecies and it’s not going to make a deep impact on the symbolism if the blackbird you see is a European blackbird or an American blackbird.
But what’s the difference between all these classifications? They provide different levels of specificity in the taxonomic classification of living creatures and various organisms. There are eight in total, but I refer to four at various times in the entries on each bird, depending on how specific the entry is:
Basically, an order is the most general grouping; the family has a more specific set of things in common; the genus is determined by yet another more specific set of common characteristics; and the species is the most precise way to differentiate an individual kind of bird.
Popular and common variants / subspecies / other names: This list cannot be exhaustive, of course, and will only refer to common subspecies or associated species. You’ll find that some subspecies or variants have been pointed out for the sake of interest, but this information doesn’t affect the symbolism that you’ll take from your encounter.
Geographic distribution: This indicates where the bird can mostly be found, in North America and worldwide.
Environment: This explains the kind of surroundings or habitat where the bird is most likely to be found.
Physical description: This describes what the bird looks like. Note: The measurements given in this book are rough averages, usually between the male and female of the species.
Interesting facts: Again, this cannot be exhaustive; this is a selection of facts about the bird’s call, mating habits, and behavior pertinent to its symbolic meaning.
Myths, folklore, and cultural associations: This is a series of references to the bird’s appearances in cultural myths, popular culture, and legend. It’s important to understand that a lot of folklore is vague and doesn’t necessarily have an identifiable source; like an old wives’ tale, something can be part of the general body of lore belonging to a bird and familiar or important to people, and yet not be traceable. If a piece of folklore has an identifiable provenance such as a geographic cultural source, it has been included; otherwise, it is noted as a legend.
Omens and divinatory meaning: This suggests what seeing this bird might mean for you.
Associated energies: This quick reference discusses the energies associated with the bird. Energies encompass the traditional correspondences that have arisen from symbology, mythology, and various cultural perceptions, all combined into a general mélange of traditionally associated correspondences.
Associated seasons: This tells you the season in which the bird is most active, or the season that correlates with its energies. The seasons represent the following:
Element associations: This shows which of the four elements—earth, air, fire, or water—the bird is associated with. Generally, this is air, but a bird’s color, habitat, or activity may link it with other elements as well. For example, waterfowl also correspond to the element of water. Here is a brief reference to the energies associated with the elements according to Western tradition. You will notice that some concepts appear more than once, and with different elements. This is not unusual, nor is it an error; some qualities cross over between certain elements.
Color associations: This explains the meanings connected with the bird’s primary colors. Colors are thought to have a specific energy vibration to them, each with a different effect, influence, or association. Here is a rough guide to Western tradition’s color associations:
If other bird entries might supplement the information in the entry you’re consulting, I’ll point them out. For example, if you’ve seen an egret, reading about heron and stork symbolism can help you understand more, as the species are closely related and these birds are often mistaken for one another.
Although you should use this book for reference, if you’re going to examine birds seriously as a form of divination it makes sense to keep track of what kinds of birds you see and what their messages mean to you. Keeping a record of the birds you see allows you to return to your notes and realize the connections between the events in your life and your bird sightings. You can use your current journal, if you keep one, but you should also check out Birds: A Spiritual Journal, the companion journal to this book. It allows you to use the information found here to figure out what your bird observations really mean for you and your life.
In order to get the most out of journaling your experiences, you’ll want to consider many points as you take notes. These items are discussed in more detail in Birds: A Spiritual Journal. The key things to pay attention to include:
Leave room to go back later to review an entry. Be sure to make later notes about how the sighting impacted you and how hindsight helped you see how the message was valuable. Remember, keeping records is essential to constructing a meaningful relationship with a living, responsive, nature-based system of divination. The more you’re able to see the connections between your life and the messages the birds are trying to convey, the more you’ll understand about yourself. So read on to learn more about the beautiful mysteries of our feathered friends.