Birds have inspired humans throughout history with their ability to rise above the Earth. Birds soaring through the air stir our souls, motivating us to rise above earthly concerns and learn about the spiritual realm. Birds and angels share a bond, because both symbolize the beauty of spiritual growth. Additionally, angels often appear with wings.
People sometimes see birds appear before them to deliver spiritual messages. They may encounter angels in the form of birds, see images of a beloved bird that has died and believe it is acting as a spirit guide, or glimpse bird images, or animal tokens, symbolizing something God wants to communicate. Or they may receive extraordinary inspiration from God simply through ordinary interactions with birds.
If you're open to receiving spiritual meaning through birds, here's how God may use them to send you messages:
Angels as Birds
Angels are associated with birds more than any other animalbecause angels that appear to humans in heavenly glory sometimes feature wings. Wings symbolize God's care for people and the freedom and empowerment people gain from spiritual growth. Angels sometimes appear in the physical form of earthly birds, if that can help them convey messages from God to people.
In "A Small Book of Angels," author Eugene Stiles writes:
"As with angels, some birds are symbols of uplift and peace (the dove, the eagle) while others function much as the Angel of Death (vulture, raven). ... Surely it is no coincidence that in fulfilling many of the tasks once given to simple birds, angels were perceived to be winged: there seems to be a compulsion to link angels with wings, which, by their very nature, have to do with flight, with freedom and aspiration."
Birds and angels exist in spiritual harmony, writes author Claire Nahmad in "Angel Messages: The Oracle of the Birds." Birds may deliver angelic meaning through the songs they sing, she writes:
"The magical Milky Way, eternally associated with winged angels and home-going souls, is called in Finland ‘the Birds’ Way.’ It is the mysterious stairway to spiritual worlds, trodden by shamans and mystics but available to all, if we are taught how to listen to birdsong and recognize the angelic messages that birds deliver to us."
Your guardian angel can help you seek spiritual guidance through a bird whose appearance seems like an omen to you, Nahmad suggests: "Ask your guardian angel to link your soul with the soul of the bird, and then ask for the help that the augury specifies and that you would like to receive."
Departed Birds as Spirit Guides
You might see in a dream or vision an image of a bird with which you've shared a bond but has since flown out of your life. God could be delivering a message to you through the bird as a spirit guide.
Arin Murphy-Hisco*ck writes in "Birds: A Spiritual Field Guide" that relationships with birds can be rewarding in connecting you to the natural world and helping you gain insights into your soul.
People who were close to you before they died may send you comforting messages through bird spirit guides, writes Andrea Wansbury in "Birds: Divine Messengers," "People in spirit use many means to let us know they are fine, and sending the message via the bird kingdom is just one way."
Birds as Symbolic Animal Totems
Another way that God may deliver spiritual meaning through birds is by showing you a symbolic image of a bird, either a physical bird or the spiritual image of one called a totem. Murphy-Hisco*ck notes that birds people have been drawn to repeatedly or that constantly appear in their lives may be personal totems, and her book explores their symbolism.
Birds symbolize key aspects of spirituality, writes Lesley Morrison in "The Healing Wisdom of Birds: An Everyday Guide to Their Spiritual Songs & Symbolism." They symbolize freedom, expansiveness, and keen vision.
Specific kinds of birds also convey different symbolic meanings. Wansbury writes that doves symbolize peace, eagles symbolize power, and swans symbolize transformation.
Birds as Spiritual Inspiration
God may send you spiritual messages through your daily interaction with birds. Wansbury writes:
"These messages are words of wisdom and advice, and they can help us to identify talents we are not using, or the negative beliefs and thought patterns that are holding us back. Once these messages are understood and applied to our lives, they can be a valuable source of direction as we progress on our spiritual journeys."
FAQs
Both in Mediterranean and northern European cultures, birds are the messengers of gods; at a symbolic level, this gives them the capacity to predict, with their very presence, beneficial or harmful future events.
Can spirit guides be birds? ›
A Message of Guidance
For centuries, birds have been considered spiritual messengers from the universe or a higher spiritual being. The messages bring clarity and guidance to those who seek it.
What does the bird symbolize as a messenger? ›
It's said that birds are messengers from the spirit world and may even be the physical manifestation of angels. Certainly both are winged: dove as symbol of peace, eagle as power and uplift, hawk for vision and acuity, swan as life mate and transformation, raven and vulture as harbingers of death.
What is the spiritual meaning of a bird totem? ›
They teach us awareness and adaptability. Birds represent the air element and are also teachers of proper breathing. Song birds teach us about the healing properties of sound. Bird totems can be powerful and fierce, gentle and graceful, or anything in-between.
What bird symbolizes God? ›
In Isaiah 40:31, the eagle is a symbol of God's protection and salvation. "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
What bird is the messenger of God? ›
Because of how high they fly, eagles are considered by First Nation cultures as the messenger from the Creator, and its feathers are sacred. One of the earliest of bird stories is of the dove returning to Noah with an olive leaf in its beak to let him know that the flood waters were receding.
What do birds symbolize spiritually in the Bible? ›
Birds as Symbols
The Christ Child grasps the cord around the bird, a picture of His guidance and provision. The finch is also associated with the Passion; a legend holds that a finch snatched a thorn from Jesus' crown while he was carrying the cross, causing his feathers to be stained by His blood.
How do I find my spirit animal guide? ›
Finding Your Spirit Animal
Pay attention to what animals keep showing up in your life, whether as pets, imagery, or even in your dreams. Take note of any animals that act strangely or seem to be trying to communicate with you. Keep a journal to track which animals appear to you more than once.
What is the bird spirit in the Bible? ›
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1: 9-11).
What does it mean when a bird visits you? ›
Bird visits can carry many different spiritual meanings, like “take some time to connect with nature” or “there's a strong spiritual presence in your home.” Specific types of birds are known to carry certain messages, too—for instance, magpies are thought to be a symbol of positivity and good luck.
Thanks to their unique homing ability, carrier pigeons have long played an invaluable role in war as military messengers and, as technology progressed, photographers. During both the First and Second World Wars, carrier pigeons were used to transport messages back to their home coop behind the lines.
How does a messenger bird know where to go? ›
Homing pigeons and other migratory birds have proteins in the retina of their eyes called “cryptochromes”. These produce an electrical signal that varies depending on the strength of the local magnetic field.
What color bird is good luck? ›
Whether they appear on Christmas cards, figurines, or ornaments for trees, the red cardinal seems to be one of the most traditional holiday decorations. This majestic bird is also the center of many beliefs. Many people believe the sighting of a cardinal can be a sign of good luck, loyalty, or even a spiritual message.
What birds symbolize new beginnings? ›
To see a Robin flying can indicate a symbol of renewal, passion and new beginnings. They also represent patience and wisdom. The Stork symbolises rebirth or new life. It is thought to represent new physical or spiritual beginnings.
When God sends a bird? ›
God could be delivering a message to you through the bird as a spirit guide. Arin Murphy-Hisco*ck writes in "Birds: A Spiritual Field Guide" that relationships with birds can be rewarding in connecting you to the natural world and helping you gain insights into your soul.
What does it mean if a bird visits you? ›
Bird visits can represent incoming messages from the spiritual world. Alternatively, bird visits can be an encouraging reminder to embrace your future and independence. A visit from a cardinal is believed to be a visit from a deceased loved one.
How does God feel about birds? ›
As with all of God's creation, He cares for every bird, large or small as they are all important to Him. God knows when a sparrow falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29).
What does the Bible say about talking birds? ›
Job 12:7-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.
