Birds feature heavily in old English folklore and have often been seen as potent omens of death or misfortune. A wild bird brought into the house or flying against a window is said to portend a death or even cause it. The connection with bad luck is so strong that some people would even avoid having any paintings, patterns or ornaments of birds in their homes.
Although birds are often symbols of bad luck in old English folklore, to have bird droppings fall on you was, and still is, considered a sign of good luck.
A Rhyme About Magpies
Old English superstitions and traditions about magpies can be traced back to the 18th century where they were said to fly near the house of an ill person. Even today, rhymes about magpies are well known. There are lots of variations of the rhyme including: