Boobrie: Shape-Shifting Mythical Horror Bird From Scottish Highlands
A.Sutherland - AncientPages.com - A shape-shifting mythical water bird, Boobrie, is a huge, black creature flying through the water and haunting lakes and salt-water wells.
In Scottish Highlands, there are many legends of this strange, gigantic bird with webbed feet, at the end of short legs, black wings, claws that resemble human hands and black eyes with a very unnerving and piercing stare, capable to drive a person looking at these eyes – insane.
The Boobrie’s home is in the lochs of Argyllshire, of the west coast of Scotland.
This rather malevolent creature is not any fishing bird, but instead preys on cattle and sheep being transported on boats; when hungry enough, it will swallow a large number of otters or other similar animals. It also eats small aquatic creatures such as fish.
See also:
Legend Of The Blue Men Of Minch: Were They Mythological Creatures Or Real Men?
Unraveling The Mystery Of The Phoenix: The Bird Of Immortality
Nine-Headed Bird: Mythical Creature Worshiped In Ancient China
Mythical Beautiful Adarna Bird And Its Harmful Magical Power In Mythology Of Philippines
Many Scottish legends tell of the Boobrie splitting through wooden rails and ripping apart nets and then vanish into the night with a stolen fully grown hog. Some tales tell of the Boobrie tearing apart a fisherman or a sailor who made attempts to stop it from stealing the animal.
In its appearance as a water horse, the bird is able to gallop across the top of lochs as if on solid ground.
During the summer months, it is seen occasionally as a large insect, sucking the blood of horses, otherwise, it resembles a cormorant but it can also appear as various other mythological creatures such as a water bull.
The bellowing sound made by this curious gigantic bird is more like that of a bull than a bird. Its voice can also mimic the sound of a lamb or calf in an attempt to lure an animal and make hunting easier.
If successful, the Boobrie can use its long, strong talons to grab the animal, drag it underwater, and drown it.
The Boobrie likes hunting on the side of Lochs in tall grasses but it also swims and dives into the middle of the large body of water. On land, it is capable to run at faster speeds than any land animal is able to reach.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesReferences:
Whittock, A Brief Guide to Celtic Myths and Legends
Campbell, Popular Tales of the West Highland
More From Ancient Pages
-
Violence Was Widespread In Early Farming Society – New Study
Archaeology | Jan 23, 2023 -
Catherine De Medici – Queen Of France Supported Nostradamus, Was Suspected Of Poisoning And Blamed For Horrible Massacre
Featured Stories | Dec 17, 2018 -
Mysterious Devil’s Footprints In Maine – An Ancient Mystery That Will Never Be Solved
Featured Stories | Jul 9, 2017 -
Mount Nemrut: ‘Throne Of The Gods’ – Mysterious Royal Tomb Surrounded By Gigantic Sculptures
Civilizations | Nov 16, 2018 -
God Loki – Trickster, Elusive And Fascinating Member Of The Norse Pantheon
Featured Stories | Sep 14, 2017 -
Mysterious Jomsvikings: Fearless Scandinavian Warrior-Brotherhood
Featured Stories | Apr 26, 2016 -
Study Sheds Light On Life Beyond Rome’s Frontier
Archaeology | Jun 2, 2022 -
Strange Ancient Mechanical Flying Animals – Mystery Of The Air Castle – Part 2
Ancient Mysteries | Mar 31, 2020 -
The Main Gate Of Historical 9th-Century Old Harran Palace Unearthed
Archaeology | Oct 25, 2020 -
Mysterious Ancient City Of Ebla That Existed Thousand Years Before Biblical Kings David And Solomon
Ancient Mysteries | Aug 14, 2015 -
Treasure Coins Dated To 15th And 16th Century Unearthed In Historical Region Of Slovakia
Archaeology | Apr 17, 2019 -
Rare Stories Of Merlin And King Arthur Discovered In Medieval Manuscript Hidden In Plain Sight
Linguistic Discoveries | Apr 15, 2025 -
God Dagda – A Powerful Leader Of The Tuatha De Danann In Celtic Mythology
Celtic Mythology | May 30, 2020 -
What Can Fossil Footprint Discoveries Tell Us About The Past?
Featured Stories | Aug 16, 2023 -
5,000 Years Old Beer Enjoyed By Egyptian Pharaohs Recreated
Archaeology | May 23, 2019 -
Ancient Tell-Tayinat Inhabitants And Climate Change Resilience – New Study
Archaeology | Oct 30, 2020 -
Gold Coins Shed Light On The Mystery Of Sandby Borg And Massacre On The Swedish Island
Archaeology | Oct 16, 2017 -
Little Known History Of Amazon’s Ashaninka People Studied By Researchers
Archaeology | Mar 21, 2023 -
Wreck Of Historic Royal Ship ‘Gloucester’ Discovered Off The English Coast
Archaeology | Jun 10, 2022 -
Fossil Teeth Reveal: Humans Were Present In Asia ‘20,000 Years Earlier’ Than Previously Thought
Archaeology | Oct 15, 2015

