In Greek mythology, the Little Owl was the messenger of Athene, the goddess of wisdom. It is possible that the ‘wise old owl’ idea stemmed from this. Because of the association with Athene, the bird was protected and large numbers nested in the Acropolis (Athene’s temple). The image of the bird was used for decoration […]
Category: Strigidae
Why the Owl means mischief and the bat is a blood-sucker
Boku-boku, the Night-owl, married the bats’ sister, and often took his brothers with him at night to rob peoples’ houses. One night they came across a house where the people were drying fish on a babracote: just to frighten them, they all sang out, boku! boku! boku!, this made the occupants run out into the […]
Bird stories, the Tawny Owl
The owls, who can’t see during the day, and the crows, who can’t see during the night, were foes. So the owls said to the crows, We don’t want the sun as you do ; we can do without him ; we can see in the dark. The crows said, We don’t believe you can […]
Why you should never have a Hooting Owl for a husband
A widow with one daughter was always warning the girl that she must be sure to get a good hunter for a husband when she married. The young woman listened and promised to do as her mother advised. At last a suitor came to ask the mother for the girl, but the widow told him […]
Bird stories, Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)
The Ainu, the indigenous people of northern Japan, believe that the owl is an omen of good luck and that if a person hears the sound of rain falling when walking beneath a branch where an owl is perched, he will become rich. Other Ainu stories explain why owls hate rats. An owl had put […]
Bird stories, Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
The Sahaptin tribe of Washington State tell the story of the children and the Owl. Once upon a time there were a man and a woman who had two children, a boy and a girl. One day the woman came home quite late. She was very thirsty, and asked the children to get her some […]
Identification, Long-eared Owl vs Short-eared Owl
Plate from RSPB site.
Bird stories, Blakistons Fish Owl (Bubo blakistoni)
Blakiston’s Fish Owl (Ketupa blakistoni) is one of the most important gods of the native Ainu people of Hokkaidu, in Japan. It is called “kotan kor kamuy”, which means the “god of the village” or “god who defends the village”. The next story stems from the Ainu. The tortoise in the sea and the owl […]
Bird stories, Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
The Barn Owl (Tyto alba) known as xoch’, which is described as a nocturnal bird, white, size of buzzard or heron, the animal counterpart of witches, sign of death. The Jews believe that their cry causes the death of young children; so, in order to prevent this, they pour a vessel of water out into […]
Bird stories, the great Horned Owl
If a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus), or buuj, flies into a person’s house, it is sign that someone in that house will fall ill. While the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is generally thought to be a bird that will bring you bad luck, it is a good sign for hunters. Among the Mopan, […]