The Omahas and other Siouan Indians used to say that when whippoorwills sing at night, saying “Hoia, hohin?” one replies “No.” If the birds stop at once, it is a sign that the answerer will soon die, but if the birds keep on calling he or she will live a long time. The Utes of […]
Bird stories, Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
All the Mewan tribes, and many belonging to widely different stocks-including even the Washoo of Lake Tahoe and adjacent valleys east of the Sierra, class the Meadowlark among the bad birds. They say he talks too much and is a gossip and they do not like him. The Washoo call him Se-soo-te-ai-le and, like several […]
Bird stories, Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)
In Australia te Aboriginals tell this fable. An Emu was hatching her eggs in close proximity to Dusky Moorhen. By and by, both birds proceeded to walk along the grass in search of something to eat and, in the evening, returned to their respective nests. But on the following morning, the moorhen got up somewhat […]
Bird stories, Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
The Kwakiutl coastal Indians of British Columbia say the birds did not select their own costumes, but that one of their ancestors painted all the birds he found at a certain place. When he reached the cormorant his colors were exhausted and he had only charcoal left, hence the cormorant is wholly black. A favorite […]
Bird stories, Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus)
In England the dotterel is considered an article of food a great delicacy. It is caught in the night by lamplight, in accordance with the movements of the fowler. For if he stretch out his arm the bird extends a wing. If he stretches a leg, the bird does the same. In short, whatever the […]
Bird stories, Crested Pigeon and the Diamon Dove
An Australian Aboriginal tale. A long time ago, the Diamond Dove (Kurukuku) had some nice grinding stones. Every day, she would go out to collect seeds and bring them back to grind to make damper. Crested Pigeon (Mulambada) used to watch Diamond Dove grinding her food and often wished he had some stones like that. […]
Bird stories, Curlew (Numenius arquata)
The sad wailing, cry of these birds, while on the wing, in the dark still nights of winter, resembling the moans of wandering spirits, is believed in some parts of England to be a death warning, and called the cry of the Seven Whistlers. In Scotland the farmers think the cry is exactly like the […]
Bird stories, Cape Dove (Oena capensis)
The Cape Dove has the strange name of Tsidzotononina (Unspeakable) among the Tankla or forest tribes, probably because its more common name had become tabooed or sacred through having formed part of the name of one of their chiefs. This seems confirmed by the fact that the other provincial name of this Dove, Katbto, is […]
Bird stories, Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
In the religion of the Mayas of Yucatan the great god of light was Itsamna, one of whose titles was The Lord, the Eye of the Day, a truly picturesque description of the sun. A temple at Itzmal was consecrated to him under the double name Eye of Day-Bird of Fire. In time of pestilence, […]
Bird stories Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus)
Once upon a time, they say, all the birds of the air assembled and agreed to choose one of their number to be king and leader; but the owl, it is said, did not come, for his mate chanced to be sitting just then. So all the birds agreed together that anyone who should see […]