Eurasian Hoopoe

Poster with an old illustration of a deer . The illustration was drawn by the von Wright brothers and published at the beginning of the 20th century in the book Swedish Birds After Nature Och På Sten Ritad. In the picture we see, among other things, the text Upupa Epops - Latin for the name of the species .

Due to the Härfågeln's striking appearance and loud call, it has gained a prominent place in mythology and folklore. There are several stories about how the deer bird warns people in case of danger. In folk belief the deer bird has been considered to herald both war and famine as its sound was interpreted as: "Up! Up! Up! Out! Out!".

In classical Chinese poetry the deer bird is usually described as a messenger from the sky, often bringing news of spring. In Switzerland it used to be believed that you could cure coryza if you drank the ashes of a fowl mixed with wine. In One Thousand and One Nights it says that anyone can be made to tell their secrets by placing a vulture's heart under the person's head while they sleep. In the Qur'an there is a story about how King Solomon took a vulture on his travels because it found underground springs of water.

Artist: The von Wright brothers | Created: 1929.

Frame not included.

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