What it Means When a Bird Poops on You and Other Bird Signs Worth Mentioning

Last Updated on February 11, 2023 by Avia

Have you ever been walking and noticed a bird flying overhead and then, out of nowhere, it releases its own special kind of confetti on your head? While this may seem like a strange occurrence at first, there is actually a lot more to it than meets the eye. I’ll be the first to admit that bird poo isn’t fun. However, it does happen, and it is symbolic. As a matter of fact, this article is a response to a question I got from a reader of this site. She asked what it means when a bird poops on you. So, I thought it would be cool to write a bit about the deeper meaning of this event. After all, if one question comes up, there are bound to be many others about this topic! So, from lucky bird omens to potential warnings, here are some bird poo insights and other bird signs worth mentioning.

Symbolic Meaning of Birds in General

In most cultures, birds are seen as positive symbols. They represent freedom because they can fly high in the sky and go where they please. They also symbolize new beginnings or transformation because they often migrate to new areas when the seasons change. Additionally, many people believe that birds represent the soul or spirit of a person.

There are also many specific types of birds that have their own symbolic meaning. For example, doves are often seen as symbols of peace and love. Owls are often associated with wisdom and knowledge. And eagles are often considered to be symbols of strength and power.

Let’s Talk About Poop, Baby

If you know anything about me, you know my superpower is overthinking everything to bits.  In terms of interpreting symbolic meanings – this truly is a feather in my cap.  For other stuff, well, it can cause problems.  At any rate, I look at events such as when a bird poops on you at every critical angle. That means I’ve got to talk about doo-doo.  

Excrement is symbolic.  No, it’s not the most pleasant symbolic topic under the sun, but nevertheless, it does have significance.  Dookie is symbolic of stuff like: Release, removal of toxins, good health, balance, and the regular harmonic process of life.  The act of defecation is also symbolic of that old adage “out with the old, in with the new.”

By association, we could interpret bird doo-doo as a sign of release, removal, or clearing out the icky stuff in our lives. It might also be a sign that we should consider ourselves pretty balanced and stable even in the midst of a chaotic world. Why? Well, because shit happens. It must happen. When it does – it’s a sign that the universe is working exactly as it should, and life goes on.

What it Means When a Bird Poops on You

While the act of a bird pooping on you may seem like a bad omen, it actually has various meanings depending on the culture. In some cultures, birds are seen as messengers from the gods or as omens of good luck. In others, birds are seen as symbols of hope and new beginnings. By association, when a bird poops on you it could be a very positive sign due to the positive attributes many birds have in different cultures.  To speak to this point, here are a few examples of what it means when a bird poops on you from different cultures and religious views:

Hinduism 

A bird pooping on you is big, good juju in Hindu belief.  It represents positive opportunities coming your way, and better times are on the horizon. Oh, and if a bird poops on your head, the Hindu belief is that you are perfectly poised to receive a windfall in found money or good luck. However, not all bird poop is created equally in Hindu perception, apparently.  Why? Because crow poop is bad mojo (but dove poop is considered a good omen).

Italy

In Greece, particularly, a close encounter with bird poop is believed to be you have been graced by a god or goddess.  It is considered a sign that you are “touched” by the divine, and so therefore, it is sort of a blessing. 

If you’ve seen the movie Under the Tuscan Sun (a personal favorite of mine), the heroine in the movie winds up winning the betting war on an old villa in Tuscany. This is because the elderly owner of the place felt a bird pooping on Frances (played by Diane Lane) was a sign that she was meant to live there. So, in this instance avian excrement was a positive sign from god or a good omen.  And BTW, if you haven’t watched the movie, I highly recommend it! There are several birds (including the owl) that play quite a compelling symbolic role in the film.

United Kingdom

Not good luck.  This is especially true if a night bird (nocturnal) poops on you because birds of the night have a bad reputation for being bad juju.  So, for example, if a night owl poops on you – it’s considered a sign of ill fate according to ancient UK lore – especially if the dookie is dumped on you at night.

Christianity

You might be surprised. I mean, Christianity has that whole “cleanliness is next to godliness” vibe.  Regardless, a bird pooping on you is a good sign.  Early Christians believed that birds were actually angels in disguise.  By association, we could surmise that a bird pooping on you is akin to an angel making an angelic deposit upon you if you adhere to early Christian belief. Hmm. Angel poo? My mind can’t go there.

Islam

Similar to Christianity, the Islamic faith contends that birds are divine messengers. So a bird poop event in this faith is considered a potentially positive message from Allah.  

Some Types of Bird Poo Might Be Luckier Than Others

As mentioned earlier, not all bird poo is ranked the same on the luck-o-meter.  Here are a few lucky or not-so-lucky bird poo to consider.  

Crows

These poor babies always seem to get a bad rap.  Personally, I would consider crow crap an auspicious sign – but I love crows, so you can’t go by me.  Because these birds are often associated with the darker side of life, their poop is commonly frowned upon and considered unfortunate luck.

Doves

Seems like doves get all the adulations that crows simply miss out on.  Because doves are symbolic of peace, and divine messengers – apparently their poo is a sign of good things to come.

Owls

As a nocturnal creature, owls often carry associations of darkness and secrets, or are considered symbols of death (which is utter poppycock, and I talk about myth-busting about owls here).  Nevertheless, owl feces is not looked upon fondly when it comes to lucky signs.

Hummingbirds

In many European legends and lore, a hummingbird pooping on you could indicate a sign of new love coming your way.  Hummingbird poo is also considered a sign of healing relationships and renewed communication between long-lost lovers.

Sparrow

This tiny baby is often associated with hearth and home.  They are also symbolic of simplicity and resourcefulness.  As a result, sparrow doo-doo is linked with good prospects in the home, and a sign that you may anticipate positive resources to help you achieve your creature comforts in life.

Additional Suggestions for Interpreting Bird Doo on You

In our plight to figure out what it means when a bird poops on you, our interpretations might not always be cut and dry.  Rather than confuse the issue with cultural perspectives or delineating the type of bird to discern meaning – here are a few generalized suggestions on what it might mean when you encounter bird doo.

Into Every Life, Some Poo Must Fall

My mom is notorious for saying this.  Well, her version is, “Into every life some rain must fall,” – but it’s got the same undercurrent of meaning.  Shit happens.  It’s not always pleasant, but it’s what we do with it (or how we interpret it) that makes the difference.  

Move Over Poo, Here Comes Something New

Because doo-doo is the process of making room for new nourishment, we could interpret bird poo to mean something of the same ilk.  For instance, a bird poop incident may be a sign that you should release something in your life to make room for something more healthy, healing, or beneficial to you.

The Sky is Falling, Chicken Little!

Not really.  Bird poo on you isn’t a sign that the sky is falling or the world is ending.  Sure, we’ve seen some cultures consider bird dookie as a bad omen.  But ultimately, bird excrement might simply be a sign of change, transition, or something shifting in your life.  I’m not suggesting it might be a drastic change, but odd moments like these should demand our attention so we can discern meaning and patterns.  More often than not, the core message deals with the symbolism of change. 

Tips to Interpret Bird Poo Encounters

Are you having fun yet? I certainly am.  I mean, how often do I get to say words like “shit” or “crap” in a meaningful way on this family-friendly site of mine? Never!!!  And as a self-proclaimed potty mouth (pun intended), I’m having a blast!  Thank you @ Mighty Mouse for asking this question about bird doo so I can have a ball expounding upon the symbolic meaning of avian excrement! Golly, life is good! 🙂

Anyhoo, to round off this riveting subject, I thought it would be a good idea to give you some tips on how to interpret your own bird poo incident. So, here we go:

Follow That Bird! (Type)

As I’ve mentioned, the type of bird could give you a better scoop on the poop, so to speak.  To interpret, simply explore the symbolic meaning of the bird and then relate it to the pooping event.  Here is a whole slew of articles on the symbolism of birds to help you start.

Read the Room (Assess the Circumstances)

As with any symbolic episode, it’s important to observe what was happening in the moment when the poop hits the fan (ha ha! Another poop pun! Did I mention I’m loving writing this article!?!).  For instance, when a bird poops on you – were you in the middle of a spat with your partner?  That might be an avian sign that it’s time to clear the air (evacuate waste) that might be toxic in the relationship.

Penny for Your Thoughts? (What Were You Thinking?)

I’m talking about paying attention to what you were thinking at the time a bird drops its load on you.  When a symbolic episode smacks me in the face, I always pay attention to my thoughts. Why? Well, as we all know by now – thoughts are things.  They have the power to manifest, influence, and transform our reality.  Recapitulating (recounting) your thoughts could give you insight that can help you interpret the straight dookie on your event.

X Marks the Spot (Observe Where the Poo Landed)

Where the bird doo lands might illuminate you as to deeper meaning.  Yes, some beliefs (such as Hindu) proclaim that a bird pooping on your head is sublimely good fortune.  However, I’m encouraging a more thoughtful approach to mine more meaning.  For example, if bird crap plops on your hand, it might be a sign you need to “get your hands dirty” or use your hands to render better opportunities for yourself.  

Other Bird Signs Worth Mentioning

We’ve talked about the symbolic meaning of birds in general.  We’ve got the straight poop about poop itself.  And, of course, I’ve mentioned a few potential interpretations of what it means when a bird poops on you.  With all that out of the way, I wanted to share a few other bird signs worth mentioning.  Most of these come from questions I get – what does this mean?  So, I thought it would be a good idea to include these other avian insights for good measure.

What Does Finding Bird Feathers Mean?

Many people believe that finding feathers is a sign from the spiritual realm. Specifically, it could be a sign from your guardian angel or spirit guide.  Of course, there’s no scientific evidence to support this claim (wouldn’t that be wicked-awesome!?) However, it’s widely believed that your spirit guides or loved ones from the other side might send you feathers as a way to let you know they’re watching over you and that you’re on the right path. So, if you’ve been finding feathers lately, take it as a good sign!  If you want more in-depth information about finding feathers on your path, check this out (on my site).

What Does it Mean When a Bird Flies Into a House?

In some cultures, birds are seen as messengers from the spirit world, and so flying into a house could be interpreted as a message from beyond. Depending on the bird, one flying into your house could be a negative or a positive sign.  What’s important about interpreting this event is how you feel and what’s happening when the bird flies into your house.  

Furthermore, it’s equally important to try to remove the bird before it sustains damage or especially before it might die.  Having a bird trapped and dead in your home is just downright bad luck. Mostly because it’s heartbreaking. But then you’ve got to consider the spirit of the bird is (symbolically speaking) trapped, and that kind of unsavory vibe gets smeared in your home’s energy.  Whether you believe this or not, it is definitely worth considering what the bird might be trying to tell you! So, gently shoo the bird out of your home. If it happens to die, give it a proper burial ceremony to eliminate negative energy from your home.

What Do Dead Birds Symbolize?

I get a lot of questions about dead bird meanings, especially dead crows. So, I’ve done a lot of pondering about this, and feel qualified to speak on this topic. Dead birds can symbolize various things, depending on the culture you come from. In some cultures, birds are seen as messengers from the gods or the afterlife, so a dead bird may symbolize that someone has died or someone on the other side of physical life is trying to convey a message.

In other cultures, birds are seen as symbols of freedom and hope, so a dead bird may symbolize that those things have been lost. Therefore, a dead bird might be encouraging you to work to reconnect with things that make you feel free, liberated, creative, or more connected with your spiritual/divine journey.

If you’re righteously freaked out by coming upon a dead bird on your path – then put your soul (and the bird’s spirit) at rest by giving it a proper burial ceremony.  This will alleviate your anxiety, as well as cleanse your energy.  It will also honor the bird’s spirit, ensuring it is properly released to experience freedom in the afterlife. 

Bonus Round: What is a Bird Oracle?

There are (in my mind) two definitions of a bird oracle, 1) a bird that serves as an oracle, or 2) a human who interprets bird messages as an oracle.

Human Bird Oracles

As a human, a bird oracle is a person who can interpret the messages of birds. In many cultures, birds are seen as messengers from the spirit world, and their behavior is often thought to be symbolic. Thus, human bird oracles use their knowledge of bird behavior and symbolism to help people understand the messages that birds are trying to send them.

Human bird also oracles have a deep understanding of bird behavior and symbolism. They use this knowledge to help people interpret the messages birds are trying to send them. By understanding what a bird is trying to say, people can gain insight into their own lives and make better decisions about their future.

Bird Oracles

As birds, oracles and omens are everywhere and in every shape and size.  Their messages are valuable and vibrant.  When I first started my spiritual walk, my mentor (winks to you, Ruth) told me that bird oracles held the most profound wisdom we could ever receive.  She paid close attention to bird behavior and intently listened to bird calls for meaning and messages.  As her student, I did the same.  So, whenever I hear birds or watch them, I’m always aware of the oracular wisdom they have to share.

Conclusion

Well, that’s a wrap. I hope I sufficiently covered ways to potentially interpret what it means when a bird poops on you.  While it might not be the most pleasant experience – it is still an experience, and it is worthy of our attention.  Therefore, please take the time to connect with the world of birds, be mindful of the episode, and really ponder its potential meaning. 

Ultimately, bird poo happens. It’s how we interpret and process this event that renders meaning and direction in our lives.  As always, thanks for reading!

Mighty brightly,

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