If you’ve ever had a murder of crows gather around you, staring with their beady little eyes while cawing their feathered heads off, you might have felt like the main character in a horror movie. But before you grab the holy water (or a really big umbrella), let’s take a step back and talk about an old rhyme that might explain what’s going on.

You may have heard a version of this little ditty before:

One for sorrow,

Two for mirth,

Three for a wedding,

Four for a birth,

Five for silver,

Six for gold,

Seven for a secret that has been told,

Eight for a wish,

Nine for a kiss,

Ten for a bird you cannot miss,

Eleven for hope,

Twelve for health,

And thirteen—beware of the devil himself.

That last part? A little dramatic. But hey, the medieval folks really knew how to keep things spicy.

Where Did This Come From?

This rhyme dates back to England and Ireland, where people believed that seeing a certain number of crows or magpies (because, let’s be honest, they’re both smart little troublemakers) could predict everything from your fortune to your fate. The rhyme has been around for centuries, shifting slightly depending on who’s telling it, but the core idea remains the same: birds know things, and we should probably listen.

While some might see this as a bad omen—especially that foreboding thirteen—many cultures actually view crows as messengers rather than menaces. The Celts, for example, saw them as symbols of wisdom and protection. Some Native American traditions honor them as guides between worlds. And honestly, if a crow is yelling at you, it might just be mad that you parked in its favorite spot.

So, What Does It Mean If Crows Are Cawing at You?

If you find yourself in a Birds (Hitchcock-style) situation where crows are gathering and cawing loudly, it could mean:

You have food. Crows are smart. They remember faces, especially ones attached to snack-bringers.

They’re warning you. Crows caw when danger is near—so maybe check your surroundings.

You annoyed one of them. Crows hold grudges. Seriously. They can remember people who’ve wronged them and will pass that info down to their little crow families.

Something spiritual is afoot. Some folklore says a gathering of crows means spirits are near, or that the universe is trying to send you a message.

The rhyme about crows isn’t necessarily a prophecy of doom—unless, of course, you get to thirteen. But even then, don’t panic! Maybe it just means you should avoid sketchy deals and walk a little faster past dark alleys.

So, next time you see a group of crows, count them. Maybe you’ll get a wish, maybe a kiss… or maybe just a bird glaring at you like you owe it money. Either way, they make for some fascinating folklore—and a really fun excuse to people-watch with an avian twist.