Thunderbird

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Artifact Description

Skull of the Thunderbird (Karterobronte harpasos). Bone with cartilage stabilized with plaster or synthetic resin. Central or Western United States. Dating of the specimen remains obscure, but appearances point to a recent origin, perhaps mid to late 20th century, c.e.

—Loan Collection of Stephen R. Bissette

Species Overview

"The bird is distinguished by its size and lifting capabilities exceeding those of any known bird. Wingspan estimates are necessarily all guesswork. But observers sometimes have had the benefit of a measurable object for comparison or the benefit of time to observe a resting bird. The results most often provide sizes of 15 to 20 feet. The bird at rest or on the ground appears to be four to eight feet tall. Typically the coloring of the birds overall is dark..." —Mark A. Hall

With a wingspan of up to 15 feet the Thunderbird is the largest bird known in the world today.

Photographic evidence of the species was recorded in the "Thunderbird Photograph" taken at the end of the nineteenth century in Texas. The image is said to depict six adult men, standing fingertip to fingertip in front of a barn where a large bird is nailed to the wall. The late Ivan T. Sanderson (January 30, 1911 – February 19, 1973) acquired a photocopy of the image in 1966, the same year in which Sanderson gave the image, later lost, to a couple of men from Pennsylvania who were researching previously undocumented fauna. The image was reported to have been published in 1886 in the Tombstone Arizona Epitaph (Jack Pearl, "The Monster Bird That Carries Off Human Beings!" Saga magazine, 1963. Tombstone Epitaph April 26, 1890).

Native Americans and people today from all walks of life as an enormous bird, larger than any known species, but similar in appearance to a condor. Theories as to what the Thunderbird may be have run the gamut from surviving pterodactyls to the teratorns. The teratorns were large predatory birds from the Pleistocene that exhibited wingspans of upwards of 25 feet. Their general presumed appearance is that of a giant condor-like species. North America has many mysteries, among them the Thunderbird. These creatures are surely one of the most enigmatic cryptids in the world. There has been a noticeable lack of support in searching for these birds; it is no wonder that these creatures have evaded discovery like so many others from around the world.

Pteratorns

San Antonio based cryptozoologist Ken Gerhard theorizes it could be a creature slightly less extinct—a pteratorn. “These are the surviving ancestors of modern condors and vultures. They lived up until 6,000 years ago, we know for sure, in parts of North America.” Gerhard said. “In fact, over 100 specimens have been recovered from the La Brea tar pits in California.”

Recorded Instances of Karterobronte harpasos

  • Kongamato ("Overwhelmer of boats"), Rhamphorhynchoid, Zambia, Central Africa, Wingspan: 4-7 ft. Found in swamps, waterways. Details vary, possibly multiple kinds. Frank Melland, in his 1923 book In Witchbound Africa, describes it as living along certain rivers, and very dangerous, often attacking small boats. It was red, with a wingspan of 4 to 7 feet. Members of the local Kaonde tribe identified it as a pterodactyl after being shown a picture of one from Melland's book collection.
  • Sasabonsam (Asasabonsam, Asanbonsam) Pterodactyloid, Ghana (Ashanti territory) Wingspan: up to 20 ft. Fruit eating, Kidnaps travelers.
  • Olitiau ("The Forked One") Rhamphorhynchoid, Cameroon, Southeastern Nigeria, Size of an eagle. Found in mountainous regions.
  • Ropen ("Demon flyer") Rhamphorhynchoid. Papua New Guinea (Rambunzo island, Bismarck Archipelago). Wingspan: 3-4 ft. Nocturnal, lives in caves. Partially bioluminescent underparts. Taste for decaying human flesh.
  • Duah ("Demon flyer") Pterodactyloid. Papua New Guinea (main island). Wingspan: 25+ ft. Partially bioluminescent underparts. Long beak and head crest.
  • Orang-Bati ("Winged men") Rhamphorhynchoid. Indonesia (Moluccan Islands). Height: 4-5 ft. Lives in caves of Mount Kairatu. Said to abduct infants.
  • Thunderbird. Pterodactyloid. North America, commonly the Western regions. Largest flying animal.
  • Quetzalcoatl. Pterodactyloid. Mesoamerica. Worshiped as a god

Fossil Record

There is one genus of extinct flightless-birds from the Americas that has been named Brontornis, whose name literally means "thunder-bird", however few, if any, cryptozoologists regard this bird as the origins of the thunderbird because of its flightlessness.

Other Really Large Birds

The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) has a wingspan to 12 feet, yet is not a predatory bird. The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) and the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) also boast impressive wingspans, with the Andean condor reaching a wingspan of 10.5 feet and the California condor attains a wingspan of up to 10 feet.

References and Lynx

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