Birds: Myth, Lore and Legend

Marianne Taylor has written many books on natural history subjects including British Birds of Prey, Owls, Dragonflight and Wild Coast for Bloomsbury.Rachel Warren Chadd is a journalist and editor who has long been interested in myths and legends. Subjects have included the exotic pets (including llamas and lions) kept by Manhattan residents and covert rituals (known as Santería) in parts of the Caribbean community.

This exquisite book explores how avian characteristics and behaviours have inspired their varied roles in literature, superstition and mythology, taking in examples from all over the world … A perfect blend of natural and cultural history, lavishly illustrated with photography and art – a splendid gift for bird lovers.

• 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