Thunderbird Sightings
Native American legends speak of enormous birds that create thunder with their wings. In 1890, Arizona cowboys allegedly killed one with a 36-foot wingspan. Throughout history, giant birds have been sighted across America—some say carrying off livestock and children.
Giants of the Sky
Thunderbirds appear in Native American mythology across the continent. But the legends may be based in reality—enormous birds have been sighted throughout American history, including an alleged 1890 killing of a creature with a 36-foot wingspan.
Native American Legend
Indigenous beliefs:
- Multiple tribes
- Enormous birds
- Create thunder
- Bring storms
- Sacred creatures
The 1890 Incident
Tombstone, Arizona:
- Two cowboys
- Shot giant bird
- 36-foot wingspan
- Leathery skin
- Pterodactyl-like
The Tombstone Epitaph
Newspaper report:
- April 1890
- Story published
- Detailed description
- Photo allegedly taken
- Photo lost
The Missing Photo
Famous mystery:
- Many claim to have seen it
- Cowboys with dead creature
- Nailed to barn
- Cannot be found
- Mandela Effect?
Physical Description
What’s reported:
- 15-30 foot wingspan
- Dark feathers/skin
- Enormous size
- Sometimes featherless
- Prehistoric appearance
Modern Sightings
Continuing reports:
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Illinois
- Many states
- Regular encounters
Marlon Lowe Incident
1977, Illinois:
- 10-year-old boy
- Grabbed by giant bird
- Lifted off ground
- Dropped
- Multiple witnesses
The Parents’ Account
What happened:
- Backyard
- Bird descended
- Grabbed boy
- Carried briefly
- Released him
Pennsylvania Sightings
1960s-2000s:
- Regular reports
- Black birds
- Huge wingspan
- Multiple witnesses
- Consistent pattern
Connection to Pterosaurs
Theory:
- Surviving pterodactyl
- Prehistoric remnant
- Explains leathery wings
- Explains size
- Controversial
Teratornis Theory
Scientific possibility:
- Extinct giant bird
- Pleistocene era
- 12-foot wingspan
- Could survive?
- More plausible
The Missing Thunderbird Photo
Collective memory:
- Thousands recall seeing it
- In magazines
- In books
- Cannot locate original
- Mass false memory?
Current Reports
Still seen:
- Annual sightings
- Midwest common
- Southwest reports
- Documented
- Active phenomenon
Native American Connections
Cultural significance:
- Respect shown
- Stories continue
- Petroglyphs exist
- Rock art depicts
- Ancient knowledge
Significance
Centuries of Native American tradition combined with modern sightings of enormous birds across America.
Legacy
The Thunderbird bridges ancient Native American wisdom and modern cryptozoology—something enormous flies over America, and has for a very long time.