Owls

In Polish folklore, girls who die unmarried turn into doves, whereas girls who are married when they die turn into owls. An owl cry heard in or near a home usually meant impending death, sickness, or other misfortune. Another Polish story tells how the owl does not come out during the day because it is too beautiful, and would be mobbed by other jealous birds.

The Ainu of northern Japan placed carved eagle owls on their houses to ward off famine and pestilence. They revered the Eagle owl as a messenger of the gods or a divine ancestor. They drank a toast to the Eagle owl before a hunting expedition. The Screech owl warned against danger, but the Barn owl and Horned owl were demonic.