As bird lovers, it’s difficult not to get wrapped up in a bird that’s said to be born of fire, capable of being reborn from its own ashes, and is more beautiful than any other bird we’ve seen in our lifetime. And yes, we’re just as obsessed with the phoenix bird as everybody else, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to approach today’s post any differently. Just because the phoenix bird is born out of legend doesn’t mean we can’t examine it properly to understand it more. Above all else, the point of today’s post is really about answering the question: does the phoenix bird exist?
And unfortunately for us, the answer is no. The phoenix bird does not exist in real life. But that doesn’t mean that this creature, first mentioned throughout Greek Mythology, isn’t something we can’t look at more closely. After all, we love birds – ALL birds, mythical or otherwise! So whilst no, the phoenix bird doesn’t exist, we’re still going to find out everything we can about them!
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, then stick around. We’ll cover everything today, from the key facts about the phoenix and the story surrounding it, all the way to real life birds that look remarkably like the phoenix as it’s described in Greek Mythology, so although the phoenix doesn’t exist, we can give you some birds that really do exist so you can marvel at their beauty and features too! Ready? Then let’s get to it!
The Phoenix Bird Story
According to Greek Folklore and Mythology, the phoenix is a large bird connected to the sun. It’s often described as being red or gold in color (or having a combination of the two) and is said to have had a beautiful singing voice. In fact, one myth says that the sun god would stop the sun whenever the phoenix bird sang just to watch them sing, only allowing the sun to move again once the phoenix bird’s song had finished.
The reason so many people have become fascinated with the legend of the phoenix is because of its immortality. Phoenixes are said to be reborn from their own ashes. Some legends say the bird builds a nest for itself, before bursting into a ball of flame.
After a few days, the phoenix is reborn from the ashes, and the new phoenix will take a part of their ashes and offer it to the sun god as thanks. Other stories say that the phoenix dies naturally and is reborn after decomposition.
Whichever story you choose to believe, there’s no denying that of all birds – mythical and real – phoenixes are certainly some of the most fascinating!
Some Facts About The Phoenix
We use the word ‘facts’ very loosely here, because we wouldn’t want to offend anybody who has heard and believes in a different myth or legend story that depicts the phoenix differently. However, through our research we’ve been able to find out a few fascinating things about the phoenix bird from various myths, stories, legends, and sources, and we want to share with you all the most exciting things right here!
First, let’s start with where the phoenix lives! Although it varies from tale to tale, one thing is for certain – the phoenix lives in a unique version of paradise, where the land was beautiful and plentiful and the creatures that lived there knew contentment like no other. One story suggests that this paradise could be found somewhere beyond the beauty of the sun. Wherever it was, though, no creature in paradise could ever truly die. But sometimes the phoenix would grow wary, tired, and old (some say every 500 years, others say every 1000). No matter how long it took, though, the tired bird would one day die, and later be reborn, to continue its life in paradise.
That’s pretty neat, right? But it gets even cooler when you research the look of the phoenix. Some claim that it was red and gold in color, others say it had purple feathers too, but no matter how it looked, it’s said that the phoenix is one of the most beautiful and perfect creatures to exist. They sometimes describe its eyes as a warm yellow color, and others say it had brilliant blue sapphire eyes. Others again said it appeared as a bird like no other, and others say it barely resembled a bird at all, but instead was closer to looking like flying flames.
Some additional facts about the phoenix include, its tears had immense regenerative healing powers, and that it was impossible for anybody to tell a lie when a phoenix was nearby. It was also said that spotting a phoenix was supposed to bring good luck in ancient tales. It was also a sign of a new era to come, and that a wise and powerful ruler would soon arrive.
Does The Phoenix Bird Really Exist?
And whilst we’ve focussed a lot today on facts about the phoenix bird etc, it’s really important to remember that this bird only exists in myths, stories, and legends. It’s a beautiful story too, one that reminds us of the power of rebirth, change, and welcoming something new. But no, the phoenix bird doesn’t exist. In our section below, though, we’ll talk about birds that look similar to the legendary phoenix bird so you can enjoy researching these beautiful birds some more.
Examples Of Birds That Look Like A Phoenix Bird
We also feel a little crushed that phoenix birds don’t exist, so rather than leaving us all feeling sad and disappointed that we’ll never see a phoenix, we decided to put together this list of birds that are said to resemble the phoenix in some way. So next time you feel sad about never seeing a phoenix, head online and research one of these birds, and you’ll feel better before you know it:
- Hoatzin
- Numidian Crane – found in central Eurosiberia
- Golden Pheasant – native to Western China
- Vultures
- Crows
- Ravens
All the above examples resemble phoenixes in different ways – either because of their unique features, or because of their colorings. One thing’s for sure though, researching any of these will definitely bring a smile to your face!
