This longstanding superstition, prevalent among seafaring communities, dictates that killing an albatross or gull is unlucky because these birds are believed to harbor the souls of sailors lost at sea.

The roots of this superstition can be traced to the ancient concept of metempsychosis, or the transmigration of souls into other living beings. In Western cultures, particularly in coastal regions, a common belief held that upon death, a person’s soul could inhabit the body of a bird. This idea was deeply ingrained within maritime folklore.

Fishermen and sailors, who faced considerable dangers at sea, were particularly susceptible to superstition. They believed that birds flying alongside their vessels carried the souls of men who had perished at sea. This alone made killing a bird akin to murdering a fellow human being. However, these birds held sacred status for another reason: the souls of the dead were thought to possess the ability to see both the past and the future. Therefore, their presence was interpreted as a warning of impending danger. Seagulls, specifically, were said to screech before a disaster, signaling impending doom. Even the mere presence of a storm petrel near a boat was enough to instill fear of drowning among the living souls onboard.

The albatross also featured prominently in this superstition. While the presence of other seabirds might indicate danger, the albatross was often regarded as a good omen. Its large wingspan and soaring flight were interpreted as signs that it brought favorable winds. Killing an albatross, however, was considered a grave sin, famously depicted in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ (1798):

‘God save thee, ancient Mariner, From the fiends that plague thee thus! Why look’st thou so?’ – ‘With my crossbow I shot the Albatross.’ . . . And I had done an hellish thing And it would work ’em woe: For all averr’d, I had killed the Bird That made the Breeze to blow.

Beyond spiritual beliefs, practical considerations may have also contributed to the superstition. In traditional sailing and fishing communities in Britain’s coastal regions, gulls were valued for their role as scavengers. By consuming dead fish and fish offal that might otherwise litter the beaches and create breeding grounds for disease, these birds contributed to public health. This usefulness likely added another layer of protection to the birds, reinforcing the taboo against killing them.

The belief in gulls and albatrosses as soul-birds persisted at least until the late nineteenth century. Even today, echoes of this superstition remain in some fishing communities, with many fishermen reluctant to kill a gull. While the literal belief in the transmigration of souls may have waned, the association of these birds with the sea, sailors, and the dangers of maritime life continues to influence attitudes toward them, serving as a reminder of the respect and caution owed to the ocean and its inhabitants.