[4] Ornithomancy dates back to early Greek times, appearing on Archaic vases, as well as in Hesiod and Homer:[5] one notable example from the latter occurs in the Odyssey, when an eagle appears three times, flying to the right, with a dead dove in its talons, an augury interpreted as the coming of Odysseus, and the death of his wife's suitors.
Aeschylus has Prometheus claim to have introduced ornithomancy to mankind, by indicating among the birds “those by nature favourable, and those/Sinister”.
[8] Although it was mainly the flights and songs of birds that were studied, any action could have been interpreted to either foretell the future or relate a message from the gods.
[10][11] The Taivoan people refer to the 'oh-ah, oh-ah' call of crows as pháinn-kiat-tiāu, signifying an omen of bad luck and could also indicate an impending attack by other indigenous communities.
The black bird sculptures, commonly seen on the roofs of the Public Hall Kong-kài in Taivoan communities like Rauron, are believed to represent crows.