An old European custom believes that Valentines Day begins the behaviour of birds choosing their mates. Another tale tells that a young girl will be able to tell what type of man she will marry based upon the first bird that she sees on Valentine's Day.

The bird associations, include:

Blackbird = clergyman or priest
Robin Redbreast = sailor or nautical man
Goldfinch (or any yellow bird) = rich man
Sparrow = farmer or country gentleman
Bluebird = happy man
Crossbill = argumentative man
Dove = good man
Woodpecker = no husband