Okay, here are all the birds I chose. I don’t think I can get them all on, so if there are ones you really like, let me know! The only other absolute right now is the Simurgh, the only question is which one? Those are the last two photos. I’m leaning toward the last.
Simmurgh -- yes, last shot!
Also three, five, seven, eight and twelve. I’m a bit torn on a few of the others; will get back to you!
I like #3 (the one holding the… egg?) and #5. #8, the… magpies? Are very cool, as is #14, which are… storks? And check out those clouds, those are really cool. Also like #15.
ravens
magpies
the grumpy blue heron (pic #5)
I prefer the penultimate Simurgh
Why is that swimming penis biting the bird on the foot?
And why is it blue?
I like #18, which appears to be a tibetan(?) phoenix(?)
Birds sure looked grumpy back in those times.
Those last are Simurgh’s, a mythical bird with a 50 foot wingspan, capable of carrying off elephants in one talon.
Interesting no one went for the Christ Birds (#9). That’s one depiction of Pelicans, yep, who were thought to open their own breasts to feed their young with blood, so they were called Christ birds.
Wait, #9 are pelicans? The ones pouring blood out all over the place? Whoa. Now that’s interesting.
Yep. I don’t know how that idea got spread about, but I’m sure it’s an interesting story.
Wow -- so in #9 those other smaller grey birds are supposed to be the offspring that they are feeding? I thought the big birds were EATING the little ones! I thought that was the reason for the blood.
What is the story behind the androgynous apparently dead person half in and half out of the water, having it’s eyes eaten out? Those fish look seriously envious.
Kestrel:
Don’t know. My latin sucks. Birds were very tied up in omens, health, life and death. The Caladrius (#17) was a pure white bird, kept in the chambers of Kings, reputed to be able to take sickness away, and also predict recovery or death. The Aberdeen Bestiary has a gorgeous depiction of the pelicans.