Editing Bird (section)

===In culture and folklore===
{{Further|Birds in culture}}
[[File:17.6-24-1974-Cuerda-seca-flisepanel.jpg|thumb|left|Painted [[tiles]] with design of birds from [[Qajar dynasty]]]]

Birds have featured in culture and art since prehistoric times, when they were represented in early [[cave painting]]<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Meighan | first1=C.W. | title=Prehistoric Rock Paintings in Baja California | journal=American Antiquity | volume=31 | issue=3 | pages=372–392 | year=1966 |doi=10.2307/2694739 | jstor=2694739 }}</ref> and carvings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Conard |first=Nicholas J. |date=2003 |title=Palaeolithic ivory sculptures from southwestern Germany and the origins of figurative art |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=426 |issue=6968 |pages=830–832 |doi=10.1038/nature02186 |pmid=14685236 |bibcode=2003Natur.426..830C }}</ref> Some birds have been perceived as monsters, including the mythological [[Roc (mythology)|Roc]] and the [[Māori people|Māori]]'s legendary {{lang|mi|[[Poukai|Pouākai]]}}, a giant bird capable of snatching humans.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tennyson |first1=A |last2=Martinson |first2=P |year=2006 |title=Extinct Birds of New Zealand |publisher=Te Papa Press |location=Wellington |isbn=978-0-909010-21-8}}</ref> Birds were later used as symbols of power, as in the magnificent [[Peacock Throne]] of the [[Mughal era|Mughal]] and [[History of Iran|Persian]] emperors.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Clarke | first1=CP | year=1908 | title=A Pedestal of the Platform of the Peacock Throne | journal=The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin | volume=3 | issue=10| pages=182–183 | doi=10.2307/3252550 | jstor=3252550}}</ref> With the advent of scientific interest in birds, many paintings of birds were commissioned for books.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birds of Mughal India – Shangri La |url=https://www.shangrilahawaii.org/visit/exhibitions/birds-of-mughal-india/ |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=www.shangrilahawaii.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=On Birds and Beauty - The Metropolitan Museum of Art |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/articles/concourse-of-the-birds |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=www.metmuseum.org |date=10 August 2016 |language=en}}</ref>

Among the most famous of these bird artists was [[John James Audubon]], whose paintings of [[List of North American birds|North American birds]] were a great commercial success in Europe and who later lent his name to the [[National Audubon Society]].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Boime | first1=Albert | title=John James Audubon: a birdwatcher's fanciful flights | journal=Art History | volume=22 | pages=728–755 | year=1999 |doi=10.1111/1467-8365.00184 | issue=5}}</ref> Birds are also important figures in poetry; for example, [[Homer]] incorporated [[nightingale]]s into his ''[[Odyssey]]'', and [[Catullus]] used a [[Old World sparrow|sparrow]] as an erotic symbol in his [[Catullus 2]].<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Chandler | first1=A. | year=1934 | title=The Nightingale in Greek and Latin Poetry | journal=The Classical Journal | volume=30 | issue=2| pages=78–84 | jstor=3289944 }}</ref> The relationship between an [[albatross]] and a sailor is the central theme of [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]]'s ''[[The Rime of the Ancient Mariner]]'', which led to the use of the [[Albatross (metaphor)|term as a metaphor for a 'burden']].<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Lasky | first1=E. D. | title=A Modern Day Albatross: The Valdez and Some of Life's Other Spills | journal=The English Journal | volume=81 | issue=3 | pages=44–46 | date=March 1992 |doi=10.2307/820195 | jstor=820195}}</ref> Other [[English language|English]] metaphors derive from birds; [[vulture fund]]s and vulture investors, for instance, take their name from the scavenging vulture.<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Carson | first1=A. | year=1998 | title=Vulture Investors, Predators of the 90s: An Ethical Examination | journal=Journal of Business Ethics | volume=17 | issue=5| pages=543–555 | doi=10.1023/A:1017974505642 }}</ref> Aircraft, particularly military aircraft, are frequently named after birds. The predatory nature of raptors make them popular choices for fighter aircraft such as the [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] and the [[Harrier Jump Jet]], while the names of seabirds may be chosen for aircraft primarily used by naval forces such as the [[HU-16 Albatross]] and the [[V-22 Osprey]].
[[File:Flag of Dominica.svg|thumb|right|The [[Flag of Dominica|flag]] of [[Dominica]] prominently features the [[Sisserou Parrot]], its national bird.]]
Perceptions of bird species vary across cultures. [[Owl]]s are associated with bad luck, [[witchcraft]], and death in parts of Africa,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Enriquez |first1=P. L. |last2=Mikkola |first2=H. |year=1997 |chapter=Comparative study of general public owl knowledge in Costa Rica, Central America and Malawi, Africa |pages=160–166 |editor-first1=J. R. |editor-last1=Duncan |editor-first2=D. H. |editor-last2=Johnson |editor-first3=T. H. |editor-last3=Nicholls |title=Biology and conservation of owls of the Northern Hemisphere. General Technical Report NC-190 |publisher=USDA Forest Service |location=St. Paul, Minnesota}}</ref> but are regarded as wise across much of Europe.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=DP |year=2005 |url=http://www.owlpages.com/articles.php?section=Owl+Mythology&title=Myth+and+Culture |website=Owlpages.com |title=Owls in Mythology and Culture |access-date=15 September 2007}}</ref> [[Hoopoe]]s were considered sacred in [[Ancient Egypt]] and symbols of virtue in [[Persia]], but were thought of as thieves across much of Europe and harbingers of war in [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{Cite journal | last1=Dupree | first1=N. | year=1974 | title=An Interpretation of the Role of the Hoopoe in Afghan Folklore and Magic | journal=Folklore | volume=85 | issue=3| pages=173–193 | jstor=1260073 | doi=10.1080/0015587X.1974.9716553 }}</ref> In [[heraldry]], birds, especially [[Eagle (heraldry)|eagles]], often appear in [[coats of arms]]<ref>{{cite book |author=Fox-Davies, A. C. |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |publisher=Bloomsbury |date=1985}}</ref> In [[vexillology]], birds are a popular choice on [[List of national flags by design#Bird|flags]]. Birds feature in the flag designs of 17 countries and numerous subnational entities and territories.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/flag-description/ | title=Flag description - the World Factbook }}</ref> Birds are used by nations to symbolise a country's identity and heritage, with 91 countries officially recognising a [[List of national birds|national bird]]. Birds of prey are highly represented, though some nations have chosen other species of birds with parrots being popular among smaller, tropical nations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vedantu.com/blog/national-birds-of-all-countries | title=List of National Birds of All Countries }}</ref>