Great American bittern has the power of emitting a light from its breast, equal to the light of a common torch, which illuminates the water so as to enable it to discover its prey. Ingersoll, Ernest, 1852-1946. Birds in legend, fable and folklore. New York, London Longmans, Green and co., 1923
Category: Folklore
Bird stories, Amazonian Antshrike (Thamnophilus amazonicus)
Similarly, some people refer to the Amazonian antshrike as puma pishcu (jaguar bird) because its call alerts people to the presence of a jaguar. Kohn, E.O., 2002. NATURAL ENGAGEMENTS AND ECOLOGICAL AESTHETICS AMONG THE AVILA RUNA OF AMAZONIAN ECUADOR
Bird stories, African Pied Wagtail
It is so called because of its thin legs. It is said that someone who eats it must die. Its nest it used to heal asthma after tattoos are made on the ailer’s chest. In the Tembo tales, this bird was good at singing and the dog was good at dancing. Then one day it […]
Bird stories, African Olive Pigeon
Because of its song “Ngiuu, Ngiuu,†the Tembo people think that it is ill and about to die. It is also called “Chitinga†(= crown) because it has a crown on the head. It is a kingly bird. Edible. Kizungu, B., et al. ETHNO-ORNITHOLOGY OF THE TEMBO IN EASTERN DRC (FORMER ZAIRE): PART ONE, KALEHE […]
Bird stories, African Grey Parrot
There was once a Banker who taught his Parrot the speech of men. The Parrot made such progress that he was soon able to take part in any conversation, and he astonished every one by his intelligence. One day a Parson came by the Parrot. My respects to your Reverence, said the Parrot. O reverend […]
Bird stories, African Dwarf Kingfisher
The birds associated with elephants are a species of hornbill (kohekohe), yellow- spotted barbet (bururu) and amasanginbo (unidentified small birds). It is said that, if men approach an elephant, these birds fly around the elephants, making a noise at the ears to inform the elephants of danger. The dwarf and pygmy kingfishers (manganlako) are also […]
Bird stories, the Great Blue Turaco
There is a food taboo for this totemic animal of a particular clan. The clan members cannot eat this animal called ngini-so (things prohibited), or ngini-so-su (things prohibited to us), which symbolize their membership of a particular clan. Should one eat such a prohibited animal, his teeth would fall out. There are other birds avoided […]
Bird stories, the Barn Swallow
A species of marmot is native in Poland and in nearby Galicia, as well as in the lands to the east as far as central Asia. It is also very common in Eastern Siberia. There, as elsewhere, the little animal is called Bobac. Under the shoulder of the Bobac, in the flesh, may be found […]