To some, it might appear that such birds were leading the storm across the sky. Zoologists are already familiar with large birds that use updrafts as a way to fly without wasting energy it is possible that the “thunderbirds” of American Indian legend were based on sightings of large birds, such as eagles or condors, that utilized the updrafts created at storm fronts in order to glide with little effort. Storm clouds generally form at the boundary between air masses of different pressures this collision of air masses can also result in a strong updraft, or a wind that flows upward.
According to legend, the birds are the bringers of storms, which means they would appear in front of approaching storm clouds. Though no evidence exists of gigantic birds that existed during the time of humans, the American Indian myth of the Thunderbird may have some basis in scientific fact. The ground split open, and Unktehi and her followers drained into the cracks. The Thunderbird came to fight Unktehi and sent lightning crashing to earth. The people retreated to the highest hill they could find and prayed for help. But the water spirit Unktehi (pronounced UN-teh-hee) thought the people were lice, and she and her followers tried to drown them. Other cultures believe in four Thunderbirds that guard a nest holding an egg, which hatches all other birds of their type.Ī Lakota Sioux (pronounced SOO) myth says that the great Thunderbird was the grandson of the sky spirit that created the world and put people on it. According to a Shawnee tale, Thunderbirds appear as boys and can speak backwards. The Algonquian people consider Thunderbirds to be ancestors of the human race, involved with the creation of the universe. Usually described as a huge bird, the Thunderbird is large enough to carry off a whale to eat and to split open trees to find insects for food. It creates thunder by flapping its wings and causes lightning by opening and closing its beak and eyes. The Thunderbird is thought by some to be one of the main gods of the sky. Many different cultural groups have their own stories about the bird, and some cultures even refer to groups or races of such birds. It is also believed to protect humans by fighting evil spirits. An important figure in American Indian mythology, the Thunderbird represents the natural forces of thunder, lightning, and storms.
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