Flights of Fancy: Birds in Myth, Legend, and Superstition

The perfect bedside companion for every bird-watcher and nature lover, inside Flights of Fancyyou’ll find:

Cranes
“Don’t promise the crane in the sky, but give the titmouse in your hand.”
Russian proverb

Magpies
“One for sorrow, two for joy…”
Traditional English rhyme

Owls
“The owl shrieked at thy birth, an evil sign.”
Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part III

Peacocks
“The peacock is ashamed of its large black feet.”
Medieval Persian tradition

Ravens
“When the raven tried to bring fire to the world, ash turned its feathers black.”
Cherokee Indian legend

Swans
“Sewing a swan’s feather into your husband’s pillow will keep him faithful.”
British superstition