Comments on: Thunderbirds: Species Origin?

By: siquisiri

siquisiri — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 00:55:12 +0000

Ive seen the famous “Thunderbird pic” many talk about. It was nailed to a barn, with 2-3 men standing under it. looked huge! i remember as a kid, it scared the hell outta me. im sure one day a researcher will find this pic.

By: rkkombrinck

rkkombrinck — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:43:41 +0000

Here is the episode of "Animal X" that has the original footage that "Chief" A.J. Huffer supposedly took of the Illinois thunderbirds. The actual footage starts at about 7:20 and is shown off and on till about 8:48 (if you can get past the annoying, crazy-eyed "scientist"). Its hard to say how big they are because they're up in the trees. Obviously they're big birds and its interesting that this video was taken not too far from the Lawndale incident.

By: Kronprinz_adam

Kronprinz_adam — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 06:07:56 +0000

The claws of most new world vultures are not strong enough to grab a kid…and not even to lift him into the air…

If you google “Teratorn skull”, (on google images), you can compare side-to-side teratorn and condor skulls. Teratorns skull is bigger and beak seems more robust…even menacing.

Were Teratorns really related with new world vultures? What were these teratorns, after all?

Thunderbirds remain a total mystery. I have seen a couple of purported “Thunderbird” giant black feathers on the web…I hope scientists can analyze them…

Best regards.

By: Sordes

Sordes — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:24:22 +0000

This depictions of teratorns are somewhat inappropriate, as they look nearly identical to modern condors. But teratorns were quite different in anatomy from condors, especially those of the skulls and beaks, and it´s not even that probable they had similar ways of life as scavengers. So there is not much reason to think they looked like giant condors at all, especially with a naked head and neck. Given the fact that even many living vultures with similar biology can look very different in colour, it´s quite unprobable that teratorns looked like giant condors.

By: Chalupacabra

Chalupacabra — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:22:13 +0000

About a year ago, I was jogging in a park in the middle of a clear, sunny day. A redtail hawk was circling very high overhead. I remember that about 4 or 5 times its shadow passed directly over me. I’m convinced it was doing it purposely as a sign of intimidation. But I also remember the bird’s shadow on the ground appeared much larger than the hawk would have been, making it even more intimidating. I can’t help but wonder if some of the exaggerated size descriptions we hear might be coming from the size of the shadow on the ground rather than the actual bird.

By: chewbaccalacca

chewbaccalacca — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:13:24 +0000

Some 20 years ago I saw an excellent documentary on the thunderbird on (I believe) the History Channel, tracing its possible relation to giant prehistoric species, and possible migration up from South America through the American south, and up into Illinois, where this encounter occurred. I’m sure you must have seen this, Loren (and perhaps you were even involved with it); if so, are you aware of where one might find a copy of it now (ideally online)?