The stories, myths and legends associated with more than 80 kinds of birds from around the world.Why are owls regarded either as wise or as harbingers of doom? What gave rise to the fanciful belief that storks bring babies? Why is the eagle associated with victory or the hummingbird with paradise? The answers are here in this engaging book. By re-telling the many legends, beliefs, proverbs and predictions associated with more than 80 birds from many nations, it brings into focus the close - and often ancient - links between humans and these remarkable feathered descendants of dinosaurs. Discover, for instance: - Why the cockerel features on many church spires - The one sacred bird that symbolises life and peace in most cultures- How to dispel bad luck if you see a certain black-and-white bird- The South American 'devil bird' once thought to be a dragonBirds: Myth, Lore and Legend draws on historical accounts and scientific literature to reveal how colourful tales or superstitions were shaped by human imagination based on each bird's behaviour or appearance. It offers a fresh and enchanting perspective on birds across the world.

The Wonder of BirdsBirds and UsDuck AnatidaeBittern ArdeidaeHeron ArdeidaeWise and Unwise Birds of FableRook CorvidaeCuckoo CuculidaeCrane GruidaeSwallow HirundinidaeWagtail MotacillidaeOsprey PandionidaeCockerel PhasianidaeGrouse PhasianidaeQuail PhasianidaeTurkey PhasianidaeFlamingo PhoencopteridaeWoodpecker PicidaeWeather ProphetsSnipe ScolopacidaeStarling SturnidaeGannet SulidaeThrush TurdidaeHoopoe UpupidaeSacred to the GodsEagle AccipitridaeKingfisher AlcedinidaeGoose AnatidaeEggs in Mythology and ReligionSwan AnatidaeCondor CathartidaeDove ColumbidaeJackdaw CorvidaePeregrine Falcon FalconidaeCrossbill FringillidaeGoldfinch FringillidaeDiver GaviidaeNightingale MuscicapidaeRobin MuscicapidaePelican PelicanidaePeacock PhasianidaePheasant PhasianidaeParrot Psittacidae, PsittaculidaeMyths of Many NationsKookaburra AlcedinidaeAnhinga AnhingidaeKiwi ApterygidaeWattlebird CallaeatidaeWhip-poor-will CaprimulgidaeCassowary CasuariidaeWearing FeathersJay CorvidaeRoadrunner CuculidaeEmu DromaiidaeFrigatebird FregatidaeHoneyguide Indicatoridae Lyrebird MenuridaeMockingbird MimidaeMonarch-flycatcher MonarchidaeBird-of-paradise ParadisaeidaeChickadee ParidaeToucan RamphastidaeWillie Wagtail RhipiduridaeOstrich StruthionidaeMythical Birds and Demi-birdsQuetzal TrogonidaeFor Good and IllVulture Accipitridae, CathartidaeLark AlaudidaePuffin AlcidaeSwift ApodidaeNightjar CaprimulgiadePlover CharadriidaePoetic ImagesCrow CorvidaeMagpie CorvidaeRaven CorvidaeAlbatross DiomedeidaeStorm-Petrel HydrobatiadeGull LaridaeOriole OriolidaeSparrow PasseridaeCormorant PhalacrocoracidaeWryneck PicidaeCurlew ScolopacidaeOwl Strigidae, TytonidaeWren TroglodytidaeBlackbird TurdidaeQuest for FlightAcknowledgementsBibliography