Magpie
Seeing a single magpie - bad luck
A single magpie circling the house - portent of death
Greeting a magpie is said to remove the bad omens it brings
A single magpie on a roof - the building will never fall down
Chattering in a tree near a house - arrival of a stranger
Chinese belief - a magpie is good luck and shouls never be killed
Martin
Nesting in a house - good luck to the household
Harming a Martin or its eggs - dire misfortune
Mole
Sudden arrival of molehills in a garden - someone will leave, or death
More molehills than usual - bad weather
Mosquito
Same omens as the gnat
Moth
In the house - arrival of an important letter
Muskrat
Building it's home clear of the water - heavy rains
Constructing the home with thin walls - mild winter
Nightingale
Heard singing before the cuckoo - Success in love
Nightjar (whippoorwill)
Heard after dark - premonition of death
First call in spring - A wish made will come true
information sources:
"Dictionary of superstitions" by David Pickering
"The encuclopedia of superstitions" by Christina Hole
