thunderbird

From thunder +‎ bird.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈθʌndə.bɜːd/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈθʌndɚ.bɝd/
• Hyphenation: thun‧der‧bird

thunderbird (plural thunderbirds)

1. (mythology) A mythological bird, often associated with stormy weather, especially in various indigenous North American mythologies.
   • 1999, Andrew George, transl., Gilgamesh, section VII:

     A man there was, grim his expression, just like a Thunderbird his features were frightening.

   • 2021, Peter Cavanagh, “1. Eagles”, in 100 Flying Birds: Photographing the Mechanics of Flight, →ISBN, page 15:

     The Thunderbird, one of the most powerful symbols of Indigenous American mythology, borrows heavily from eagle features.

   • 2025 September 25, Edzi'u Loverin, “Every Child Matters crosswalk at Tsleil-Waututh Nation one of several to be unveiled in Metro Vancouver”, in CBC News‎^[1]:

     Candace Thomas, a Tsleil-Waututh artist, provided the design for the crosswalk which now spans the intersection of Dollarton Highway and Sleil-Waututh Road. It depicts a thunderbird embracing both residential school survivors and missing and murdered Indigenous women, according to the news release.

2. The golden whistler, an Australian insectivorous songbird (Pachycephala pectoralis, formerly Pachycephala gutturalis), whose male is conspicuously marked with black and yellow, and has a black crescent on the breast.