This post contains affiliate links meaning I’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. If you find my content helpful, this is an excellent way for me to continue writing at no extra charge to you.
Bird Oracle Cards
Whether you’re looking to add a little magic or guidance to your day-to-day life, there are plenty of ways to find it. One such method is through using oracle cards. Oracle decks come in many forms and focus on various topics and themes (e.g., goddesses and gods, crystals etc.), but I’d like to explore the topic of bird oracle cards.
Even though birds appear in many oracle decks, this post focuses on decks that solely contain birds.
“Considered the most frequent animal messengers from the spirit world. Many believe they have wings because they work directly with the angels.” – Lesley Morrison.
There are plenty of options for bird-themed oracle decks—and some even offer guidance based on a specific type of bird (such as hummingbirds).
So which one should you choose? Let’s dive into this topic and explore ten decks together!
My Top 2 Bird Oracle Decks for 2022
The Winged Enchantment Oracle Deck
A 39-card bird-themed deck with ethereal, shapeshifter-style artwork and poetic meanings. This is my favourite bird oracle.
Pros
- Gorgeous, colourful, and ethereal artwork.
- The meanings of the cards are open to interpretation by the reader.
- The guidebook has some neat spreads, including an 11-card option called the “Bird in Flight Spread” (pic in the gallery below).
Cons
- If you don’t like anthropomorphism (adding human characteristics to animals), this isn’t the deck for you.
Bird Messages
My favourite things about this deck are the range of birds and the exquisite artwork. From ravens to secretary birds, blackbirds to short-eared owls, macaws to lovebirds.
Pros
- A massive range of bird species.
- The meanings are concise yet still tell a meaningful story.
- The illustrations are so realistic they almost look like photos!
- Winner of Best Tarot/Oracle Cards in the Soul & Spirit magazine Spiritual Book Awards
Cons
- There are two different box and guidebook cover styles – one is the bald eagle, and the other is the barn owl. The cards are the same, though.
The Winged Enchantment Oracle Deck
Published in 2015.
This deck has a lot going for it. The artwork is beautiful, and the accompanying guidebook is easy to understand and fun to read. The large cards make them easy to shuffle and lay out in various patterns.
I use this bird-themed oracle deck all the time! I’m in love with Lisa Hunt’s shapeshifter-style artwork that blends birds and human-like figures into a mystical display of colours and patterns.
The 39-card deck’s accompanying guidebook begins with a quote someone once told the author, Lesley Morrison:
“If you want to fly, let go of everything that weighs you down.”
This message is a simple yet profound way of looking at things and nicely sums up this oracle deck’s wise messages.
The meanings behind the cards are almost poetic as they express that species’ spirit, and the images are surreal. As Lesley explains in the companion booklet, each person will uniquely interpret the meaning of each bird’s oracle message. So, trust your intuition as you work with these bird cards.
To provide an example, I did a reading for myself and drew the Hummingbird card. Here is its meaning:
“I am Hummingbird. I am creator shaman. I am the burst of light in the darkness. Whirling and weaving through the patterns of time, I create the nectars of life. I am fragility of time and strength of passion. I am the beauty of nature in motion. I advise you to keep your garden in order. I am the fleeting brilliance of the moment. I am the here and the now. When your world has ceased to make sense, I will be the one fluttering at your window. Hover precisely where you are and take a good look around. Take in all before your next great adventure. I am luminosity. I am the magic that happens with the first breath. I am the life that stirs at dawn. I am the opening of the flower in the spring. There is a miracle in every particle of life.”
And this is the gorgeous card:
Along with the extended message, there is an additional verse for each card. For Hummingbird, this is as follows:
“You are spontaneous action.
You are divinity made manifest.
You are the joy of movement.
You are Hummingbird.”
I love this deck—the artwork is beautiful, and the interpretations are accurate in my experience. It’s also relatively inexpensive.
All things considered, it’s my number one choice for a bird deck!
Pros
- Gorgeous, colourful, and ethereal artwork.
- The meanings of the cards are open to interpretation by the reader.
- The guidebook has some neat spreads, including an 11-card option called the “Bird in Flight Spread” (pic in the gallery below).
Cons
- If you don’t like anthropomorphism (adding human characteristics to animals), this isn’t the deck for you.
Bird Cards: The Healing Power of the Bird Kingdom
The First edition was published in 2007.
The Pocket edition was published in 2014.
This deck is heralded as a golden standard for animal oracles. The author, Jane Toerien, discusses how birds have been seen as spiritual messengers across cultures and created this deck to help us understand their significance.
The 55 cards are illustrated by Joyce van Dobben. They include many species, from kingfishers to pigeons, swallows to eagles, and lesser-known birds.
The guidebook contains various spreads and meditations to use with the cards and their meanings. There is even a section explaining the meaning behind symbols used on the cards.
This deck is officially out of print, so finding a brand new copy may be difficult unless you contact Jane or Joyce directly.
The deck’s author has a message on her website telling those in the Northern Hemisphere or South Africa to email them if you want to buy it. You can check out their official site here if interested (I recommend this option over others).
Another thing they offer is prints of their Bird Cards, which excites me as that deck included the Lilac Breasted Roller – my all-time favourite bird.
Please note that there are two editions. While the card’s images are the same as the original, the pocket edition is smaller, and the guidebook is more concise.
In the gallery below, the original set has a more uniform blue cover, and the pocket edition has a rainbow-coloured background.
Pros
- The card’s meanings are very affirmative.
- The meanings provoke more profound thought on your original query.
- This is the original bird oracle deck!
Cons
- This deck is difficult to find new (unless you buy from the author) and expensive second-hand. Because of this, it’s best suited for an avid oracle or tarot deck collector rather than a hobbyist.
Ascension to Paradise: The Transcendent Power of the Bird Kingdom Cards
Published in 2010.
This set is a massive 66-card deck authored by Jane Toerien and illustrated by Joyce van Dobben. It continues from their first deck, Bird Cards: The Healing Power of the Bird Kingdom.
The bird images in the Ascension to Paradise deck are stunningly beautiful, life-like illustrations with the addition of universally recognised symbols, including rainbows, hearts, the sun and moon, and ancient sacred geometry.
This deck is officially out of print, so finding a brand new copy may be challenging unless you contact Jane or Joyce directly.
Jane’s website tells those in the Northern Hemisphere or South Africa to email if you want to buy it. You can check out their official site here.
There are second-hand options available online, though from what I’ve seen, they are costly, in my opinion.
If you’re super lucky, you might even come across a set in a local second-hand bookshop or garage sale – if you find one, I’d love to know.
When I receive my deck I will update this review and add some photos of the cards!
Pros
- Each card’s meaning lists characteristics related to the bird in question and affirmations.
- So many bird species are included, especially if you’re lucky enough to own the first deck, Bird Cards: The Healing Power of the Bird Kingdom.
- This oracle deck is available in English, Dutch, German, and French.
Cons
- Because this deck’s a sequel, the numbering carries on from the first, starting at 56. Both decks can be used together or separately, so it’s only a minor drawback.
- There was a limited printing of this deck, so it can be tough to find new and expensive second-hand. Because of this, it’s probably best suited for an oracle and tarot deck collector rather than a hobbyist.
Feathered Omens: Messenger Birds from the Spirit World
Published in 2009.
For those who love nature and the birds that inhabit it, this is one of the few bird oracle decks I’ve seen that uses photos instead of drawings of the birds. This way, you truly appreciate the natural beauty of the birds represented in the oracle.
The meanings printed on these 40 cards are concise – a few words or so. For example, the Seagull’s message is “Adjust behaviour and communication”.
I’ve read a couple of reviews where people say this isn’t a good deck because of the simple meanings on the cards. I totally disagree.
Yes, the meaning on the card itself is short and sweet, but the accompanying guidebook has a more-detailed-than- most description. Ted Andrews, the decks’ author, even provides an interpretation for reversed cards.
The guidebook also discusses general bird behaviour related to spirituality, omens and superstitions associated with birds, and ways you can use these cards to answer everyday questions.
Pros
- Full-colour photographs of the birds are used on the cards.
- The messages from these cards account for the bird’s natural behaviour and superstitions/beliefs associated with that species.
Cons
- The cardstock these oracle cards are printed on is thinner than many other decks, so they could get ripped easily.
Bird Signs: Guidance and Wisdom from Our Feathered Friends
Published in 2007.
This 52-card deck is written by G. G. Carbone and illustrated by Mary Ruzicka. It uses birds as “gateways to self-knowledge”.
45 of the cards consist of different bird species, with the remaining cards including things such as bird eggs and bird songs.
Each card also includes a keyword that describes a message about your current situation, making these cards easy to read even if you’re new to oracle readings!
The accompanying guidebook provides meanings for the cards, including upright and reversed interpretations, details about the birds, meditations, associated colours (think: chakras), “inspiration” (a one-word meaning), and information on thinking from a bird’s perspective.
Pros
- The bird drawings are beautiful and quite realistic.
Cons
- Once again, this deck is sometimes hard to find, making it more expensive than others. Although, there are still new copies available as well as second-hand.
Divine Feather Messenger Oracle Cards
Published in 2019.
This is one of the only double-sided oracle decks I’ve come across. On one side is a bird species, and on the other is that bird’s feather.
The deck contains 44 cards gorgeously illustrated by David Scheirer with a watercolour bird and feather.
The meanings of these cards relate to the bird’s symbology, colours, seasons, and associated elements. The deck’s author, Alison Denicola, has also included information about bird lore and affirmations you can use.
For example, the Finch card describes the bird as a messenger heralding an abundance of opportunities. The book describes how Native Americans believe the yellow colour of the bird to be a gift from the gods bringing joy and abundance and its song signaling the beginning of spring.
I think these bird oracle cards are perfect for a one-card spread such as a daily message. You can also do a multiple card spread; the guidebook has some good options.
I think it’s the author’s best oracle deck, although her Mudra decks are popular too. She also has yoga-inspired decks.
Pros
- Printed on excellent quality cardstock.
- The illustrations of both the birds and feathers are absolutely stunning.
- The messages are easy to understand.
Cons
- You might not like the idea of a double-sided card, as you can work out what you are drawing. But, you could always close your eyes when shuffling.😉
Urban Crow Oracle
Published in 2022.
Margaux Jones (MJ) Cullinane created this deck to follow her popular Crow Tarot. I don’t currently own a copy of this deck (at the time of writing this, it’s available for pre-order for release in mid-August 2022). Still, I’m more than excited to get one!
This is the official product information:
“A follow-up to MJ Cullinane’s best-selling Crow Tarot, this oracle deck offers readers a way to connect and learn from these intelligent and captivating birds in a follow-up to MJ Cullinane’s best-selling Crow Tarot.
With an ominous croaking call or foreboding flurry of black wings, crows can appear as mystical omens. We barely notice them, perched on tree branches and rooftops, dark sentinels carefully observing our world through intelligent black eyes.
But if you look beyond their “murderous” reputation, you will find that crows form deep bonds, mourn at crow “funerals,” play, offer gifts to humans they like, and exact justice by dive-bombing humans who have wronged them-remembering the faces and cars of human friends and foes alike.
Their perceptiveness and resourcefulness allow them to flourish in forests, towns, and even cities alongside us. Each card in this oracle deck offers a message to the reader from the fascinating behaviour of these birds, from the sacred space of a nest to the community of a murder of crows, from the gift of a shiny trinket to the curiosity of a city crow peering into a human home”.
Pros
- I’m loving the style of artwork on this deck!
- More to be determined!
Cons
- To be determined!
Hummingbird Wisdom Oracle Cards
Published in 2022.
The Hummingbird Wisdom Oracle Cards are a beautifully illustrated deck of oracle cards based on the Native American legends of the hummingbird.
The author, Ellen Valladares, created a deck perfect for those looking for a more gentle yet still powerful approach to their readings filled with hope and courage.
While creating the messages for a new deck, Ellen didn’t have hummingbirds in mind until she kept noticing them appearing in her garden and near her office window. They aren’t commonly seen in her area, so she looked into their symbolism and realised how perfect they were for portraying the positive messages she had to share.
Yasmeen Westwood illustrated these cards in a vibrantly colourful manner typical of the nature of hummingbirds.
Most cards include things relevant to birds like torpor – a hummingbird’s hibernation, wishing wells, flight, migration, and song. One species of hummingbird is included in the deck; the Ruby-throated hummingbird.
The deck comes with a full-colour informational booklet (most are black and white) covering how to use the cards’ messages, affirmations, key phrases, and more.
Pros
- I absolutely love this style of artwork. It’s colourful, mystical, and fun.
- The messages are filled with positivity and practical ways to use the information
Cons
- I find some of the messages printed on the cards, mainly the white text, hard to read. Luckily the guidebook makes up for this.
- While hummingbirds are used in every image, the deck only contains one specific species of a hummingbird as a card itself.
Bird Messages
Published in 2018.
Susie Green authored this 52-card deck, and Alan Weston Illustrated it. His paintings of the birds are super realistic and well-detailed.
The guidebook is one of the few full-colour ones I’ve seen. The messages are concise – two to three paragraphs each – but convey the bird’s symbolism, a description of their nature, and relevant folklore in a story-like fashion.
There’s an index at the back of the book to help you find your card’s meaning, as they aren’t listed in alphabetical order.
The book also provides a brief history of birds, from their descent from dinosaurs to their mythology. Susie describes how we can connect with birds, these cards, and their messages. She also provides a list of resources where you can learn more about birds.
My favourite things about this deck are the sheer range of birds represented and the exquisite artwork. From ravens to secretary birds, blackbirds to short-eared owls, macaws to lovebirds.
Pros
- A massive range of bird species is covered.
- The meanings are concise yet still tell a meaningful story.
- The illustrations are so realistic they almost look like photos!
- Winner of Best Tarot/Oracle Cards in the Soul & Spirit magazine Spiritual Book Awards
Cons
- There are two different box and guidebook cover styles – one is the bald eagle, and the other is the barn owl. The cover you get seems to depend on where you buy from (if someone knows why there are two, I’d love to know!). The cards are the same, though.
Birds Oracle Deck 2
Published in 2020.
This is a self-published deck authored by Jessica Blaine Smith with illustrations by Mia Emily Freeman. It follows on from their first deck, Birds Oracle Deck, so while the numbering starts at 45, it isn’t necessary to own both to use them.
Both decks had a limited print run of 1000 each; less than 200 packs of Birds Oracle Deck 2 are left, and the first set has sold out.
I don’t own either of these decks (yet), which is a shame because their artwork speaks to me more than most! I love the combination of colourful birds with geometric shapes and patterns. So, as with any deck I don’t personally own, I’m reviewing it based on images I’ve seen and other reviews I’ve read.
The guidebook with this deck contains a short section describing the characteristics of the bird species, a short meaning, and questions to ask yourself. The main section, called the Guts, provides an extended message and a story about how/why Jessica used that species.
Seven of the cards feature birds representing the chakra energy centres.
Pros
- I think this is one of the most beautiful bird oracle decks I’ve seen.
- The cardstock is very high quality.
- Very exclusive – only 1000 sets printed, with <200 left!
Cons
- Like the Ascension to Paradise deck mentioned above, the numbering of these cards doesn’t start at one since it’s a continuation of the first deck.
- If you want to buy the first deck, you’ll have to source it secondhand as no more are available.
Conclusion
There are many oracle card decks to choose from, including ones focusing primarily on birds. Oracle cards are a great way to get guidance from the spirit world, and you can use bird oracle cards to help you connect with these feathered spirit guides.
The world of bird oracles continues to grow and evolve. Many options are available, whether you’re looking to develop your intuition or to explore the deeper meaning behind birds as symbols of wisdom and guidance.
The ten decks discussed here are just a few of those available on the market; you’re bound to find something perfect for you!
Please note that the online marketplace is rife with counterfeit decks. While scoring a “deal” may be tempting, these fake versions hurt the creators who receive nothing for their work. I’ve made the effort to include links on this page to take you to stores selling legitimate decks, from what I can see.
Over to You!
With all that said and done, if you have another favourite bird-themed oracle deck I should add to this list, let me know in the comments below.
Thx
You’re most welcome 🙂
Ho! Tried to get to the author website for
Bird Cards and the sequel Ascension. The links open to a blank page 👎 Any thoughts?
Oh no! Maybe they haven’t renewed their website’s hosting.
If you email me, I can send you the author’s email address. Hopefully that way you’ll be able to contact her directly.
You can email me at victoria[at] lovelaughtercinnamon.com
Just remember to remove the space and use the @ symbol.
I hope this helps!