Introduction
The Bible often speaks of birds, mostly to teach us lessons. For example, God spoke about the ostrich to a man named Job. He told him that it is so swift that when it spreads its wings, “it laughs at the horse and its rider” (Job 39:13, 18). Furthermore, God asked Job: “Is it due to your understanding that the falcon goes back? Or is it at your command that an eagle flies upward” (Job 39:26, 27). What lesson did he want to pass on to her? That birds do extraordinary things without the help of human beings and that their ability is due to God’s wisdom, not ours.
In one of his songs, King Solomon spoke about “the voice of the turtle dove”, which heralds the arrival of spring (Song of Solomon 2:12). Another biblical writer mentioned the swallow in one of the psalms. He wanted to serve God in his temple and was envious of the bird because she had made a nest for her chicks near the altar of Jehovah (Psalm 84: 1-3).
Some of the most beautiful words that have been said about birds are from Jesus Christ. For example, in Matthew 6:26 he said: “Watch carefully the birds of the air, for they do not sow or reap or gather into barns; however, their heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than them?”. This moving illustration teaches Christians that they are very valuable to God and that they do not have to worry, because he will give them what they need to live (Matthew 6:31-33).
Source: Awake! Magazine
Palestine is home to some 375 kinds of birds, of which perhaps 25 are peculiar to that region. The Bible mentions about 50, using the Heb. or gr. which can sometimes be identified with particular species today. Birds are mentioned in more than two-thirds of the biblical books.
In modern parlance, birds most often refer to domestic fowl and poultry, rather than birds in general. Humans are wiser than birds (Job 35:11) and Jesus’ followers were worth much more than many birds (Luke 12:24).
Birds mentioned in the Bible
Hoopoe. A solitary and somewhat shy bird that ensures its diet of insects by sticking its beak into the ground. This, along with her habit of fouling her own nest, may show why she was considered unclean (Lev 11:19; Deu 14:18).
Eagle. For many centuries the eagle has been adopted as a symbol of power and majesty, appropriately so, in view of its powers and royal appearance. The people of Israel were reminded that they had been raised from Egyptian captivity as if on the wings of an eagle (Exo 19:4; Deu 32:11). The Psalmist declares that his youth had been renewed like that of the eagle (Psa 103:5; compare Isa 40:31; see also Lev 11:13; Deu 14:12).
The Scripture refers to his rapid descent on his prey (Deu 28:49; Job 9:26), his speed (2Sa 1:23; Job 9:26; Jer 4:13), his flight (Pro 23:5) and his power (Eze 1:10, Eze 1:17; Dan 7:4).
Bird of prey. Birds of prey were described by the Hebrew word ayit and are those that feed on meat (Eze 39:4). Abram drove away the birds of prey from his sacrifice (Gen 15:11). No bird of prey knew the hidden path of a precious metal mine (Job 28:7).
Birds of prey must also obey God’s call (Isa 46:11).
Ostrich. The largest of all birds, up to 2.5 m. tall, famous in Scripture for his lack of heart (Job 39:16; Lam 4:3) and his life in desolate places (Jer 50:39). Job’s essay on the ostrich (Job 39:13-18) confirms a keen observation about this bird.
Owl. The great owl, horned owl and little owl are unclean birds (Lev 11:16-18; Deu 14:15-16). Owls often dwell in ruins (Psa 102:6; Isa 34:11, Isa 34:15). The little owl (Lev 11:17; Deu 14:16) was the most common in Palestine.
Vulture. Large, unclean bird, greedily devouring dead animals (Mat 24:28; Luk 17:37; compare Isa 34:15). See Bird of Prey.
Calamon. Large aquatic bird, was on the list of unclean birds. In some versions it is translated as horned owl, or white owl (Lev 11:18; Deu 14:16).
Stork. Large migratory bird that was prohibited (Lev 11:19; Deu 14:18). She was alert and knew her times (Jer 8:7).
Quail. Small migratory bird whose meat is delicious (Exo 16:13; Num 11:31; Psa 105:40).
Hock. She was a diving seabird, whose meat-eating habits made her unclean (Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15).
Raven. Large and unclean bird (Lev 11:15). Noah sent a raven from the ark (Gen 8:7); God used ravens to feed Elijah (1Ki 17:4); and the ravens in turn were fed by the Lord (Job 38:41; Luk 12:24).
Falcon. One of the unclean birds (Lev 11:14; Deu 14:13), equipped with long, pointed wings, a strong hooked beak, and a long tail.
Gallinazo. A general reference to vultures. They are unclean because they consume dead meat (Deu 14:17).
Rooster. In biblical times, the morning cockcrow was associated with the beginning of a new day (Mar 13:35), and was also associated with Peter’s denial of Jesus (Mat 26:74; Mar 14:30; Luk 22: 34, Luke 22:61; John 13:38; John 18:27).
Heron. One of the unclean birds (Lev 11:19; Deu 14:18), the heron is a wading bird with a long neck and legs.
Seagull. See Crane.
Swallow. The Scripture refers to his ability to execute maneuvers (Pro 26:2) and to his sharp call (Isa 38:14).
Sparrow. Small, short-billed bird that feeds on seeds. It is loud, active and prolific. The little birds were protected within the temple precincts (Psa 84:3). They were so cheap that the buyer of four received a fifth free of charge. God knows when any little bird falls to the ground, but he values people far more than little birds (Mat 10:29, Mat 10:31; Luk 12:6-7).
Crane. Wading bird with a long neck and legs, with a loud squawk. Hezekiah’s lament over his sickness was compared by Isaiah to the cry of a crane, as if the king spoke aloud of his affliction and then muttered under his breath (Isa 38:14). The birds, including the crane, know the time of her coming, that is, of her migratory journey (Jer 8:7); in contrast to man’s perspective of events, often neglected.
Hawk. Generic name applied to some small to medium-sized birds of prey. All falcons were unclean and should not be eaten (Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15). The falcon’s impressive flying abilities were compared to those of the eagle when the Lord answered Job from the storm (Job 39:26-27).
Ibis. An unclean bird, the ibis was considered sacred in ancient Egypt. The Greek historian Herodotus says that the ibis was considered so sacred that anyone who killed one, even by accident, was sentenced to death.
Milan. Unclean bird (Lev 11:14; Deu 14:13). Their diet consisted mostly of carrion and small birds, although some kites live on insects.
Pigeon. The pigeon is a medium-sized bird of the Columbidae family, to which the turtledove also belongs, the latter being a slightly larger bird. A domestic white turtledove is generally called the peace dove. In the drawings it is shown with a twig in its beak commemorating the sending of the dove from Noah’s ark (Gen 8:8-12). The Psalmist wrote that he desired to possess the wings of the dove (Psa 55:6). Believers will share glory such as can be compared to the dove’s wings covered with silver and its feathers glittering with gold (Psa 68:13).
Hezekiah lamented his illness like a moaning dove (Isa 38:14), like the repentant people (Psa 59:11). Those who escaped the sword in the city would groan like doves in the valley (Eze 7:16). But help was promised to those who would fly like doves to their nests (Isa 60: 8), God being his true home. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove on Jesus’ head at his baptism (Matt 3:16). Jesus exhorted his followers to be cunning as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt 10:16).
Peacock. Peacocks, with their brilliantly colored bodies, were displayed at any respectable court in the ancient world. Peacocks were imported in large numbers for Solomon’s palace (1Ki 10:22; 2Ch 9:21).
Pelican. The pelican is one of the largest birds in the world. Their diet of meat is one of the reasons for their inclusion in the list of unclean birds (Lev 11:18; Deu 14:17). The pelican was incorporated into church tradition and architecture because it was regarded as pious. When feeding its young, the nesting adult excretes a reddish liquid that stands out when the bird wipes its wings. It was suggested that the pelican somehow sustained its young with its own blood.
Partridge. Because of their fast and elusive run, partridges are excellent game birds, medium in size, with a plump body and short tail. When Saul was hunting him, David compared himself to a partridge (1Sa 26:20).
Partridges were supposed to steal the eggs of other birds and hatch them, symbolic of the acquisition of unjust riches (Jer 17:11).
Chicks or chicks. The hen’s care for her chicks is a notable example of Jesus’ care for Jerusalem (Matt 23:37; Luk 13:34).
Turtledove. Abundant in number, this bird was used in cleansing or sacrificial ceremonies (Gen 15:9; Lev 12:6-8; Num 6:10).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
They are sometimes used as symbols of evil agents (cf. Gen. 40:17); in the parable of the Sower, the birds that devoured the seed by the roadside are interpreted by Christ as “the Evil One” (Mt. 13:4, 19). In the parable of the Mustard Seed the kingdom of heaven becomes a great system with roots in the earth, under whose protection the birds find refuge (Mt. 13:31, 32). The Greek word is the same in both passages. In the OT we have two lists of impure birds (Lev. 13:20; Dt. 14:12-18): The eagle, the bearded vulture, the goshawk, the buzzard, the kite, the crows, the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, sparrowhawk, owl, grebe, ibis, purple swamp, pelican, vulture, stork, heron, hoopoe, and bat (the Hebrew classification of birds was “functional”; they classified as birds all Being the classification an activity based on criteria that can be established arbitrarily, it cannot be considered as an error at all, but only as a classification based on a different criterion than the one we are used to).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
The Bible knows of many kinds of birds. The laws on clean and unclean animals also affect birds, many of which cannot be eaten (Lev 11:13-19). They are also affected by the prohibition of eating the blood (Lev 17,13). If the eggs were taken from a nest, the mother had to be set free (Dt 22,6). In the Gospels, the providence of God over the birds is highlighted, which, without working, find food; nature spontaneously offers birds food and facilities for them to build their nests, all provided by Providence, in which man must trust (Mt 6,26; 8,20; 13,4. 32; Mk 4,4. 32; Lk 8.50; 9.58; 12.24; 13.19).
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