Can you feel that chill in the air? The hazy season of magic is almost upon us; the veils between worlds are beginning to thin. All manner of spirits are drifting onto on our plane, and today we're going to be talking about one who takes the form of a bird. Shy and elusive, they… Continue reading Jay – The Spirit of the Forest
The heaviness of autumn has truly draped itself upon us. At some point in the last couple of weeks the world became just a little more muffled under the constant pattering of rain. I know that soon I'll be listening to the wind keening down the chimney and breathing in the smoky haze of winter… Continue reading Rook – Resplendent Requiems
Happy spooky season! We've come back around to the time of year where shadows seem to loom a little larger and the chills running down your spine may not be caused by the cold weather. If you cast your mind back to last year, you may recall that I promised we would go in search… Continue reading Carrion Crow – Sharp Beaks, Sharp Minds
For Halloween, we'd thought we'd write about a bird who really gets into the spirit of the season. Their silvery grey waistcoats match the dreary autumn skies, and their rough caws are synonymous with eerie places and foreboding feelings. October's bird is the hooded crow (Corvus cornix), known here at home as Caróg liath. You… Continue reading Hooded Crow – The Most Stylish Corvid
For many people in Ireland, the word "crow" is a catch-all term used to describe almost every black bird they see. This assumption is sometimes correct, since more often than not these birds do usually belong to the Corvidae family, of which the crow is a member. But this generalisation glosses over the unique traits… Continue reading Jackdaw – A case study on leucism
The Eurasian magpie (Pica pica), known as snag breac in Irish; a clever bird shrouded in myth and mysticism. I grew up hearing the nursery rhyme I'm sure you all know: One for sorrow,Two for joy,Three for a girl,Four for a boy,Five for silver,Six for gold,Seven for a secret that can never be told. A… Continue reading Magpie – Intelligent Omens
The Irish Bird Blog 