What Does It Mean If a Bird Hits Your Window? Spiritual Interpretations

PDF download Download Article
Why birds fly into windows (and what to do if one flies into yours)
PDF download Download Article

Whoa! It can be startling to see a bird fly directly into your window. But could this feathered friend be symbolizing something pretty significant on the horizon (besides the fact that your windows are a little too clean)? We’re here to break down all the spiritual meanings and superstitions associated with this unique phenomenon, as well as what you can do to help any injured birds around your home.

Things You Should Know

  • A bird flying into your window can symbolize a new change in your life, like a new job or relationship.
  • It may be a reminder to believe that good things are coming in your future.
  • A bird crashing into your window can also be a reminder to listen to your gut and trust your intuition.
Section 1 of 4:

Spiritual Meanings of a Bird Flying into a Window

PDF download Download Article
  1. This change might be big and noticeable, like an upcoming move to a new apartment or a fun date with someone you met online. The change in question could also be something that’s low-key but still significant, like going on a spontaneous day trip over the weekend or taking a big trip to the grocery store. [1]
    • Change can be a little stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Lighten your load by looking at life through a more humor-filled lens. [2]
  2. Ironically and sadly enough, some people believe that a bird that dies upon the impact of a collision is actually symbolic of good luck. By this logic, the bird’s tragic sacrifice offers something positive in its wake. [3]
    Advertisement
  3. Maybe your life has felt pretty unlucky lately, or you just don’t see anything fun or interesting in your future. A bird flying into your window can be a powerful symbol that good, positive energy is headed in your direction—you just have to be trusting and faithful.
    • Keep yourself in a healthy headspace by practicing plenty of healthy habits , like transforming negative thoughts into positive ones. [5]
  4. Your intuition is a force to be reckoned with—and if you’re seeing a bird fly into your window, it could be a sign that you aren’t quite listening to it enough. Pay attention to what conversation you're having. Pay attention to what you had on your mind. Take a moment to check in with yourself and see how you’re feeling; if something seems “off,” take a deeper dive into that feeling to figure out what’s going on.
    • See what type of energy your body is giving off before making a decision. If you’re feeling tight and tense about something, it could be a sign to step back from whatever is stressing you out. If you’re feeling more open and spirited, it could be a sign to approach a situation with open arms. [6]
  5. It’s easy to feel like your life is going in circles sometimes, especially if you do the same thing day after day. Instead of doing the same thing over and over and hoping that the results will be different, look for small but significant adjustments you can make that’ll send you in a new direction. [7]
    • Brainstorm a list of small changes you might make to your daily routine. If you’d like to be healthier, for instance, but don’t want to go to the gym, you might cut back on electronics time and replace it with a walk around the neighborhood.
  6. If a bird just hit the window, there’s a chance that an angel or other spiritual power put it there. Maybe it’s a message of support or a sign that you need to be on your guard—whatever the case, make sure that you’re tuned in!
    • According to many spiritual circles, angels send messages through angel numbers, or special repeating lines of numbers that pop up in your daily life. [8] Check out wikiHow’s “ What Is My Angel Number? ” quiz to see what angel number could be significant in your life.
  7. Some people believe that a bird hitting the window can be a sign that you’re stressing out a little too much about your finances. Other people believe the opposite—that the bird is a sign that you need to work hard to reach a sense of financial stability and comfort.
  8. A bird hitting your window doesn’t mean that someone in your life is doomed—instead, it means that something in your life could be reaching its conclusion, like a job or relationship. [9]
    • Take courage in the fact that, at the end of the day, you decide what becomes of your life.
    9. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Meanings of Specific Birds Flying into a Window

PDF download Download Article
  1. Sparrows often symbolize a sense of emotional healing—but at times, they might even have a romantic connotation for your life. [10] If one of these birds slams into your window, an emotional or romantic awakening could be in your future.
  2. From a historical standpoint, doves are greatly symbolic of harmony and peace. [11] With this in mind, a dove flying into your window may be a hopeful sign of peace and hope for the days and weeks to come.
  3. Hummingbird superstitions tend to revolve around the condition of the hummingbird after it slams into your window. If it survives the collision, good luck is apparently in your future; if it dies, bad luck could be on the horizon. [12]
  4. Okay, it’s pretty unlikely that a bald eagle is going to slam into your kitchen window—but if it does, it could be symbolic of your sense of freedom (or lack thereof). Since eagles are symbolic bastions of independence, an eagle-window collision might mean that you’re feeling cornered in some aspect of your life. [13]
    5. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

Why do birds fly into windows?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Oftentimes, windows and sliding glass doors reflect images of the scenery nearby, as well as the glare of the sun. These cues make the bird think that they’re flying in the correct direction when they’re actually headed toward a solid wall of glass. [14]
    • Birds might also mistake their reflection for a different bird that’s invading their territory, and try to go after it.
    • Reflections from nighttime lights can also trick birds to fly into the glass.
  2. After fruit falls off its growing plant and sits on the ground, it starts to ferment (the chemical process that turns sugar into alcohol). When birds eat this fruit, they get a little tipsy. [15]
    • Eating fermented fruit can intersect with other contributing factors, like the glare of sunlight off the glass and/or a misleading reflection. All in all, this can contribute to a very untimely collision for the bird.
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

What to Do If a Bird Flies into Your Window

PDF download Download Article
  1. Using a clean towel, carefully lift the bird and set it down in a sturdy and breathable compartment, like a cardboard box with holes poked into it. [16] The bird is likely dead if its legs aren’t moving at all. [17]
    • If the bird is dead, slip on a mask and a pair of disposable gloves before transferring it to a plastic bag and tossing it out. [18]
  2. Find a shady but warm place so the bird can rest and recover without being disturbed. Try to find a place where there won’t be any disturbances from nearby kids or pets. [19]
    • Make sure you set the bird down in an open spot, so it can easily fly away whenever it wants.
  3. Once every half hour, peek in at the bird and see how it’s doing. If it seems to be getting its bearings, carry the box or bag to an open space and let the bird fly free. [20]
    • Make sure that you aren’t touching the bird at all when you’re checking in on it.
  4. Even if you have the best intentions, wildlife injuries require special care and medical intervention that untrained individuals just can’t provide. Let the rehabilitator know what happened, as well as where they can pick up the bird. [21]
    • Click here to find a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.
  5. Bird-proof your windows to prevent any future incidents . To protect your birds from any more collisions, move your bird feeder so it’s either less than 3 ft (0.91 m) or more than 30 ft (9.1 m) away from the window—the bird won’t take as much damage if it flies from a really close or really far distance. [22] You can also make manual adjustments, like:
    • Installing a window screen in front of your window
    • Applying unique soap patterns to the windows
    • Spacing any wind chimes and/or decals so they’re very close together
    • Creating a chart of tape on the glass [23]
    6. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      Does My Bird Have Mites? Common Signs, & What to Do
      How to
      Help a Bird with a Broken Wing
      How to
      Care For a Bird That Has Hit a Window
      How to
      Spot Signs of Disease in Conures
      How to
      Spot Signs of Illness in Lovebirds
      How to
      Determine the Sex of African Grey Parrots
      How to
      Help a Baby Bird That Has Fallen Out of a Nest
      How to
      Tell if a Bird Egg Is Infertile
      How to
      Care for an Injured Wild Bird (and When to Give Them Food or Water)
      How to
      Treat Diarrhea in Lovebirds
      How to
      Care for a Sick Pet Bird at Home
      How to
      Spot a Sick Finch
      How to
      Treat Lice and Mites in Canaries
      How to
      Treat Nutritional Deficiencies in African Grey Parrots
      Advertisement

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about spirituality, check out our in-depth interview with Jennifer McVey, Cht .

      References

      1. ↑ https://askmormongirl.com/spirituality/bird-hit-window-and-still-alive-spiritual-meaning/
      2. ↑ https://hbr.org/2016/09/how-to-get-better-at-dealing-with-change
      3. ↑ https://spiritualdesk.com/spiritual-meaning-of-crow-hitting-window/
      4. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/seven_ways_to_feel_more_in_control_of_your_life
      5. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
      6. ↑ https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-to-listen-to-your-gut.html
      7. ↑ https://askmormongirl.com/spirituality/bird-hit-window-and-still-alive-spiritual-meaning/
      8. ↑ https://gratitudesecrets.com/angel-numbers/angel-number-meaning-pdf/
      9. ↑ https://dreamastromeanings.com/spiritual-meaning-of-birds-hitting-window/
      1. ↑ https://dreamastromeanings.com/spiritual-meaning-of-birds-hitting-window/
      2. ↑ https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/peace-symbols-through-history/
      3. ↑ https://askmormongirl.com/spirituality/bird-hit-window-and-still-alive-spiritual-meaning/
      4. ↑ https://askmormongirl.com/spirituality/bird-hit-window-and-still-alive-spiritual-meaning/
      5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/bird-hit-window/
      6. ↑ https://www.nashvillezoo.org/our-blog/posts/tis-the-season-for-drunk-birds-flying-into-windows
      7. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/make-your-windows-bird-safe
      8. ↑ https://www.audubon.org/news/you-found-bird-crashed-window-now-what
      9. ↑ https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/influenza/bird-flu/dead-bird-disposal-less-than-5.html
      10. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/make-your-windows-bird-safe
      11. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/make-your-windows-bird-safe
      12. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/bird-hit-window/
      13. ↑ https://www.nashvillezoo.org/our-blog/posts/tis-the-season-for-drunk-birds-flying-into-windows
      14. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/make-your-windows-bird-safe

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 87,119 times.
      If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission .

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement