Thunderbirds
Native American legends tell of enormous birds that create thunder with their wings. Modern sightings describe creatures with 20-foot wingspans. Are prehistoric giants still flying?
Thunderbirds are legendary creatures in North American indigenous mythology, described as enormous birds capable of creating thunder with their wingbeats. Modern sightings of giant birds with impossible wingspans continue to be reported across the continent.
Native American Traditions
According to documented accounts, thunderbirds appear in the traditions of many indigenous nations:
Common elements:
- Enormous size—wingspan of 20 feet or more
- Creates thunder with its wings
- Lightning flashes from its eyes
- Lives on mountain peaks
- Has supernatural powers
- Can be benevolent or dangerous
Different nations describe the thunderbird differently, but the core concept of a giant supernatural bird appears across the continent.
Historical Sightings
European settlers began reporting giant bird sightings almost immediately:
1890 (alleged): The famous “Tombstone Thunderbird” photograph allegedly showed cowboys with a pterosaur-like creature. The photo has never been definitively located.
1890: Two cowboys near Tombstone, Arizona reportedly killed a giant winged creature. The story was printed in the Tombstone Epitaph.
1977: Multiple witnesses in Lawndale, Illinois saw a massive bird attempt to carry off a 10-year-old boy. The bird was described as having a wingspan of 10+ feet.
Modern Reports
Giant bird sightings continue:
Pennsylvania (2001): Multiple witnesses reported a bird with a 15-foot wingspan.
Alaska (2002): A pilot reported seeing a bird that appeared to have a 14-foot wingspan—larger than any known bird in the region.
Texas (ongoing): The “Big Bird” of the Rio Grande Valley has been reported since the 1970s, described as 5-6 feet tall with enormous wings.
Possible Explanations
Misidentified Condors: California condors have 9+ foot wingspans. Seen under unusual conditions, they might appear larger.
Escaped Exotics: Large birds like Andean condors (11-foot wingspan) might escape captivity.
Surviving Teratorns: Giant extinct birds called teratorns had 12-25 foot wingspans. Could a population have survived?
Perception Error: Distance and angle can make normal birds appear much larger.
Physical Possibility
The largest flying birds in history were teratorns:
- Argentavis: 23-foot wingspan, 150 pounds
- Extinct approximately 6 million years ago
- North American teratorns survived until approximately 10,000 years ago
If isolated populations survived, they would match thunderbird descriptions.
The Evidence Problem
Despite numerous sightings:
- No specimens have been collected
- Photographs are rare and ambiguous
- No definitive video exists
- No nests or remains have been found
However, birds leave minimal evidence and can cover vast territories, making documentation difficult.
Cultural Impact
Thunderbirds appear throughout American culture:
- Native American art and totem poles
- The Thunderbird car brand
- Countless sports mascots
- Pennsylvania’s official state symbol debate
Whether literal creatures, spiritual beings, or exaggerated natural birds, thunderbirds remain one of North America’s most enduring cryptids.