Birds of the Holy Land

A cross reference of birds in sites of the Holy Land.

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This web page summarizes the sites that feature birds which relate to Biblical verses or subjects.

Contents:
Overview
Birds in the Bible
Sites with Birds
Etymology
Links

Overview:

Israel is a birding superpower, with 500 million birds of over 500 species crossing Israel twice a year between Europe & Africa.

As an agriculture society, the Israelites were intimately connected with nature in general, and in birds in particular. The Bible uses the birds in numerous texts – approximately 300 references from Genesis to Revelation.

Bird themes are also found in ancient art – illustrated on the mosaic floors during the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Birds in the Bible:

Birds are mentioned frequently in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Here are some examples:

The Dove: In the Book of Genesis, a dove brings an olive branch to Noah, signaling the end of the flood. In the New Testament, a dove descends from heaven and lands on Jesus during his baptism.
The Raven: In the Book of Genesis, Noah sends out a raven to find dry land after the flood. The raven does not return.
The Eagle: The eagle is mentioned several times in the Bible as a symbol of strength and power.
The Sparrow: In the New Testament, Jesus says that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without God’s knowledge and care.
The Stork: In the Old Testament, the stork is praised for its faithfulness to its mate.
The Ostrich: In the Book of Job, the ostrich is described as a foolish bird that abandons its eggs.
The Hen: In the New Testament, Jesus compares himself to a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings to protect them.

These are just a few examples of the many birds that are mentioned in the Bible. Birds are often used as symbols throughout the Bible to illustrate spiritual concepts and principles, such as God’s care for his people, the power and strength of God, and the importance of faithfulness.

Sites with Birds:

The following table lists the sites with birds that are featured in BibleWalks.

Click on the site’s name to see more information, or on the photo to view it in higher resolution.

Bird’s_name	Biblical & Historical References	Featured Site (click_&_go)	Photo (click_to_view_on_the_photo)
Bird Watcher	Bird watchers come here from all over the world.	Gamla
Eagle (Nesher)	Jeremiah 48 40: “For thus saith the Lord; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab”.	Gamla
Glossy Ibis		Afek
White Storks	Zechariah 5,9: “… and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up … between the earth and the heaven”.	Hittim
Dove?	Birds carved on the facade and sides of burial tomb	Shefaram
Pelican	In this carving is a mother pelican with its young birds standing on her left and right; they are picking her heart, eating her flesh and sucking her blood. Symbolizes Jesus and his sacrifice to his disciples, as in Matthew 26: “Take, eat; this is my body…. Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament…”.	Last Supper
Water birds	Mosaics with scenes of water plants and water birds, scenes that are typical of the swamps of north-east area of the Sea of Galilee and Chula lake.	Tabcha
Griffon Vulture (Gypus Fulvus)	The vulture soars above the small crater in the Negev desert. Job 28 7: “There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen”:	Small Crater

Etymology (behind the name):

Zippor – Hebrew: Bird

Baal Kanaf – Hebrew: Has wings.

Jonah (Yonah) – Hebrew for “dove”.

Overview:

Birds in the Bible:

Sites with Birds:

Etymology (behind the name):

Links:

BibleWalks.com – Gateway to the Land of the Bible