Thunderbird |
Teratorn Argentavis "Pterosaur" "Big Birds" Cullona Piasa (?) Ba'a Chequah Omaxsapitau Unidentified Flapping Object (UFO) |
The Thunderbird, not to be confused with the car and TV series, was a popular Native American myth. It was a bird that was so large, it could create thunder just by flapping its wings, hence the name. This legendary creature actually still persists in American folklore, with several individuals claiming to see one. Some researchers split the "Thunderbird" into two geographic categories, East and West. The Western version is very poorly known, and is believed to be reptilian or pterosaur-like in appearance. One of the most famous case involves two stories from the Tombstone Epitaph, one involving cowboys shooting a giant (160 feet!?) reptilian animal, and another involving an alleged photo. The cowboy shooting the 160 by 92 foot creature is obviously quite a stretch, and there are few that believe it has any merit. The photograph is an interesting case in it's own right, and it appears to be a case of collective hallucination. Shuker and others propose it was based off of a very similar picture of a Marabou stork. There was one recent (2002) case of an alleged Thunderbird in Alaska that was more bird like. The Eastern version of the "Thunderbird" is the one normally seen by witnesses, and is normally seen in the Ozarks and Pennsylvania. These sightings vary greatly; it takes on assorted vulture, eagle, and sometimes reptilian characteristics. The creatures are normally reported as being 15 to 20 feet wide in wingspan, and 4 to 8 feet tall. This is remarkably large, since cranes are the tallest birds at 6'6" tall, and wandering albatross max out at a 11' wingspan. However, there are some old reports of Marabou storks reaching 13+ feet in span and 7' in height, none of these claims have been proven, however. The color of this animal is typically dark, ranging from brown, black, grey, and sometimes with a greenish tinge. The head is occasionally feathered, and sometimes is bare. A white ring is also occasionally around the neck. The length of the neck varies from short to long. The underside of the animal as well as the tips of its wings are supposedly lighter in coloration. The bird is supposed to be a predator, and one (dubious) case involved a condor-sized animal picking up a child. Cryptozoologists who take these cases seriously typically consider a Teratorn bird as a candidate. Some connect it to the fossil Teratorn species Argentavis magnificens, and others to Teratornis incrediblis. Some individuals or groups intent typically propose Pterosaurs as a candidate, even though they don't even vaguely resemble the sightings. Very few Cryptozoologists have made a connection to the Washington's Eagle, a bird with a 10'+ wingspan allegedly living very recently (1700's). Other minor theories link it to giant ravens, flocks of birds (passenger pigeons), and weather/electrical phenomenon. |
This cryptid may be one of the more popular examples, but it also appears to be one of the least likely. There are literally millions of birdwatchers in the US, and it is quite remarkable. A range extension by a few hundred miles would be a big deal to these people, and an unknown species would be nearly unthinkable. It is very easy to misinterpret the size of a large flying creature, since there is no scale to base estimates on. Flying creatures, particularly large ones which rely on thermals, are some of the most noticeable creatures on the planet, so it is quite reasonable to assume that there simply cannot be any new species. A die-hard supported of T-birds could theorize that the species spends a lot of time on the ground (I haven't actually heard anyone say this). Teratorns were believed to be ground dwelling predators, but there are no sightings to support this. The most recent discovery of a large avian was the Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) in 1896, and that was in a remote location. Taking into consideration that a Thunderbird, if real, would be the largest bird ever known and lives in relatively populated areas, the situation becomes outright preposterous. But how can all of the eyewitnesses be wrong? The recent case in Alaska is believed to have been an OOP Steller's Sea Eagle, and it is highly likely that all of the other cases are known species as well. Species that appear to be behind a large number of reports include: golden eagles, turkey vultures, black vultures, and brown pelicans. Species that have the potentiality to be T-bird candidates include: magnificent frigatebirds, ravens, California and Andean condors, marabou storks, and Old World vultures. These animals would be quite out of their normal range, but it is still much more conceivable than an actual Thunderbird existing. Even though a lot of people have attachment to this particular cryptid, I think this is a dead end for someone expecting a discovery. |
Sources: Clark, Jerome and Coleman, Loren. Cryptozoology A to Z. Fireside, New York, 1999. Hall, Mark A. Thunderbirds! The living Legend of Giant Birds. Mark A. Hall Publications, Minneapolis, 1994. Heinselman, Craig. Thunderbird. www.cryptozoology.com/cryptids/thunderbird.php Shuker, Karl. In Search of Prehistoric Survivors. Blandford books, London, 1995. Shughard, Willie. A Comparison of North American Birds and Thunderbirds. http://cryptosquared.tripod.com/insights/tbirdcomp.html |
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A wayward Condor is one of the candidates for a Thunderbird. Photo taken by author. |