In Ancient Greece, it was the practice to ornithological observation in the hopes of predicting future outcomes. The Romans, great admirers of all things Greek, adopted this form divination with gusto.
According to British media, ever eager to enter into such suggestive behaviour, lasses looking for love on Valentine’s Day should turn to bird ornithomancy to discover whom they will marry. The practice dictates that the first bird an unmarried woman sees on Valentine’s Day is an omen of her future husband’s character.
Bird of Prey politician, businessman, leader
Blackbird vicar or aid worker
Blue Bird comedian
Canary a doctor
Crow omen that you should walk away from current relationship
Dove happy and loving marriage
Duck relationship will be homely and stable
Finch salesman or hairdresser
Goldfinch rich man
Goose teacher, journalist, marketing
Gull he travels a great deal to work
Magpie entrepreneur
Nuthatch scientist or mathematician
Owl involved in research or an academic
Peacock pride in appearance
Pheasant hardworking, tenacious
Pigeon eventually return to the place he grew up
Robin naval officer or fisherman
Sparrow farmer, tree surgeon
Starling works for a big organization
Swan artist, writer, dancer and loyal
Swift sportsman
Turkey passionate about environment, nature lover
Woodpecker no marriage for the present
There is, of course, a fly in the ornithological ointment here. Several of the birds mentioned were unknown to ancient Greeks or Romans, being native to North America. Also a few, such as blackbirds and robins are birds of a very different feather depending on which hemisphere you hail from – or rely on to divine your future spouse’s attributes. Perhaps the answer is simply to wing it. But how, when in mid-February most have long forsaken their summer haunts for more temperate climes? Alas, Greek nor Roman or even media mavens had the answer to this conundrum as far as we can divine.
Wes Porter is a horticultural consultant and writer based in Toronto. Wes has over 40 years of experience in both temperate and tropical horticulture from three continents.
