Thunderbird

One particular story was told by one of the cat-folk that apparently live in the jungle. It involved a huge bird, one even larger then the ones we had seen a few times circling the mountains in the far distance. This bird was so big that the beat of its wings sounded like thunder and i hunted whales and giant squid in the ocean south of the island. Given the size of the animals I did see in the jungle, it wouldn't surprise me if the story was true.

— from "Memories of a Caravan Guard" by Clais Hiltprandt

Summary

Somewhere in the mountains on Sairawa island there supposedly lives a bird even larger than the roc that are known to live there. The Tabaxi on the island have named it the Thunderbird and claim it is as old as the mountains that bear its name. Created by Gaea herself, the Thunderbird watches over the island and protects the animals that live their. It has supposedly chased off more than one dragon that thought to claim the mountains for itself.

Its feathers are a range of blue colors, azure at the tips of the wings and the belly and darkening to a deep cobalt on the front of the wings and the head. It has a large dark grey beak from which it is able to spit lightning and its screech can deafen a man. It hunts large whales and giant squid in the oceans south of the island, diving beneath the waves to snatch them and then carrying them back to its nest in the mountains.

Historical Basis

Some scholars believe that the tale originates from a particularly large roc that might have once lived in the mountains. The tale of this roc has then grown over time to the myth known today. Other scholars point out that the color of a roc differs significantly from the bird of the myth and believe it is instead inspired by a blue dragon, which also fits with the supposed lightning breath.

Spread

While the myth is local to the Tabaxi on Sairawa island some sailors that have passed south of the island also tell tales of a huge blue bird catching whales and carrying them of to the island. These tales go back to before the Banishing, predating the first known contact with the Tabaxi on the island by more than 600 years.

In Art

The Thunderbird features prominently in many Tabaxi works of art, including a number of tapestries and carved statues.