The Thunderbird Re-Visited

[00:00:00] Hi there, and welcome to Out There, a cryptid podcast. I'm Josh, and today we're revisiting one of the most terrifying cryptids in North America. A creature so massive, people say it looks like a small airplane in the sky. And the reason we're revisiting it? Because sightings never actually stopped. We're talking about the Thunderbird. Let's dive in.

[00:00:55] Seeing as this was the first ever episode of Out There, it felt right that we revisited this iconic case. Not only is it one of my favorite cryptids, but it's a cryptid that is still being sighted today. So sit back, relearn some things about the Thunderbird, and learn some of the new sightings taking place. We'll get into the Thunderbird right after this.

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[00:02:21] The Thunderbird isn't a new cryptid or story. It didn't start in the 1970s, and it definitely didn't start with the internet. There's something people have been describing for hundreds of years across different states, different countries, and even different cultures. And somehow the details keep lining up. Massive birds, way too big to make sense, gliding overhead completely silent.

[00:02:49] And the strange part isn't just what they're seeing. It's how often it keeps happening. But there's a problem with seeing something in the sky. You almost never have anything to compare it to. No scale. No reference point. So when someone says they saw something the size of a plane, was it really that big? Or did it just feel that way?

[00:03:13] Across different stories and time periods, there are a few details that keep showing up again and again when people describe the Thunderbird. Most accounts describe something massive in size, with wingspans ranging from anywhere between 15 feet to estimates that go far beyond anything known in modern birds.

[00:03:35] The coloration is usually dark, often black or deep brown, and the body is described as heavy and powerful rather than small or delicate. Many reports mention a hooked beak and large talons, sometimes compared to birds of prey, but on a much larger scale than anything that exists today.

[00:03:57] In some cases, witnesses even describe small variations like lighter marking around the neck area, but overall image stays consistent. Another detail that appears in a lot of accounts is how it moves. Instead of constantly flapping like most large birds, it's often described as gliding through the sky with very little visible effort. Almost like it's riding air currents instead of actively flying.

[00:04:24] People also frequently compare it to something prehistoric, closer to what they imagine a pterodactyl might look like than any known species of bird today. Even though the exact details vary depending on the witness and the time period, the core description stays surprisingly consistent across decades of reports. Which is what makes these sightings so difficult to completely dismiss.

[00:04:53] But before the Thunderbird was a cryptid, before it was something people claimed to see flying over highways and small towns, it was something else entirely. Something people didn't just see, but believed in. In Native American folklore, the Thunderbird wasn't just some giant bird flying around. It was seen as a sacred being in the sky.

[00:05:19] Across a lot of different tribes, the Thunderbird was believed to control thunder, lightning, and storms. With some saying, the sound of thunder actually came from its wings beating. It was incredibly powerful, with the ability to both give life and take it away. On one hand, it brought rain, which helped crops grow and provided water for entire communities.

[00:05:43] But on the other hand, those same storms could be destructive, dangerous, and even deadly. So it wasn't just viewed as purely good or evil. It represented the balance of nature. Different tribes had their own interpretations of what the Thunderbird actually was. Groups like the Winnebago tribe and the Menominee tribe saw it as a powerful spirit or protector.

[00:06:11] Something that could defend people from evil forces or other creatures. In some traditions, it even acted as a kind of enforcer. Keeping order between the sky and other parts of the natural world. Like the water or even the underworld. That's why you'll often see the Thunderbird represented on totem poles. Especially in Pacific Northwest cultures.

[00:06:36] Usually placed at the top as a symbol of power and protection. But one interesting thing to know is that not every tribe believed the Thunderbird was a physical creature. For many, it wasn't something you could just see flying overhead. It was more of a spiritual force or a representation of nature itself. Others believed it could take on physical form when needed.

[00:07:05] And that difference is huge. Because it means the idea of the Thunderbird as a literal giant bird might actually be more of a modern interpretation. Originally, it was something much bigger than that. It was less of an animal and more of a presence that controlled the sky. As European settlers spread across North America in the 1800s and early 1900s, the stories started to shift.

[00:07:34] What had once been described as something spiritual began to sound much more physical. People weren't just talking about a force of nature anymore. They were claiming to actually see something in the sky. Reports started coming in of massive birds with enormous wingspans. Sometimes estimated anywhere between 15 to 30 feet. And in more extreme cases, even larger. Some witnesses described them as dark and bird-like.

[00:08:03] While others said they looked almost bat-like with smooth bodies and no visible feathers. What's interesting is that even this early on, people were already comparing them to something more prehistoric. Like something that shouldn't still exist. One of the most famous and debated stories comes out of Arizona in the late 1800s. Where two ranchers claimed they saw a massive flying creature. Shot it. And brought it back to town.

[00:08:34] According to the reports, it had wings like a bat. An almost reptilian-like head. And a wingspan so large, it was described as being the length of a barn. Some versions of the story even say there was a photograph taken of the creature. Showing it pinned up against a wall. With several men standing under it for scale. That photo has never been found. But the story stuck around.

[00:09:01] Now, some of these details get exaggerated. Especially when you start hearing about wingspans. That sound almost impossible. But even if you strip it down to the basics. The core of these stories stay the same. Large flying creatures. Bigger than anything people were familiar with. Being seen by multiple witnesses across different areas. And during this time, a lot of the country. Especially out west.

[00:09:29] Was still relatively unexplored. And people were actively discovering fossils. And evidence of prehistoric life. So, when something massive showed up in the sky. It didn't feel impossible. It felt like something that maybe wasn't supposed to still be there. And that's where the shift happens. Because from this point on. The Thunderbird isn't just something people believe in.

[00:09:55] It becomes something people think they could actually see, chase, and prove was real. And hope never got aggressive. Moving forward into the 1940s. The sighting started to feel less like isolated frontier stories. And more like something that is actually being seen by multiple people. In 1944, around the Pittsburgh area. Including towns like Braddock and Clareton.

[00:10:23] Witnesses reported seeing a huge prehistoric looking bird in the sky. With wings so large it was described as blocking out part of the horizon. One witness, James Runco. Described it as something that looked like it should not exist in modern times. A few years later, in April of 1948. In Overland, Illinois. Three separate witnesses reported a massive bird flying overhead.

[00:10:52] That they compared to the size of a small airplane. Around the same time in nearby Alton, Illinois. A father and son described a similar encounter. Where a large bird came close enough to be seen in detail. Again, being compared to an aircraft like a Piper Cub. What makes this period interesting is that these reports are happening in the same general region. Within a short time frame.

[00:11:19] Almost like a cluster of sightings. Instead of completely random events. By the 1960s and early 1970s. Reports continued to show up across places like Washington, Utah, and Idaho. With people still describing extremely large birds. With wingspans that seem closer to airplanes. Rather than a natural world creature. Some accounts even mention possible physical traces.

[00:11:48] Although nothing has ever been confirmed. What stands out across all of this. Is that the description stays surprisingly consistent. Not only over time. But over many places. Massive wings. Dark bodies. And silent gliding flights. And by the time you get closer to the 1970s. It feels less like scattered folklore. And more like something that has been slowly building in the background for decades.

[00:12:16] And even with all these scattered reports. Nothing ever really breaks through. In a way that makes it undeniable. It stays in the strange space of consistent stories without solid proof. Like something always just out of reach. But then. Everything changes with this cryptid. Because by the late 1970s. One of these reports doesn't just stay a story in passing. It happens in a very specific place.

[00:12:45] To very specific people. And this time. It isn't just a sighting anymore. It's an incident. Where someone is in real danger. And for the first time. It feels almost impossible to dismiss.

[00:13:29] On July 25th. It's quiet. Rural and open. With very little around except farmland and residential space. The kind of place where you can see far into the distance. In every direction. According to later reports. Everything changes in a matter of seconds. Ruth is inside the house. When she suddenly hears her son screaming from outside. She immediately runs out. Expecting a normal accident or injury.

[00:13:57] But what she sees is something. She later describes as impossible to process in the moment. Two extremely large birds are in the area near her son. Witnesses and her own account describe them as dark. Oversized. And nothing like any normal bird found in the region. The birds are moving directly toward Marlin. And the situation escalates quickly.

[00:14:27] In the chaos. One of the birds gets close enough to physically grab him. Marlin. Who is around 55 pounds at the time. Is reportedly lifted off the ground by his clothing. With the bird gaining enough height. To carry him several feet into the air. Ruth runs toward them immediately. She begins trying to fight the birds off. Using whatever she can reach. Including striking at them. And throwing objects from the ground.

[00:14:57] The interaction is described as loud. Chaotic. And terrifying. With the birds circling. And attempting to maintain control of the situation. After a short distance of being carried. Estimated at around 20 to 30 feet. The bird drops Marlin back. To the ground. And fly off. Marlin survives the incident. And Ruth immediately takes him to report what happened. When they arrive at the local police station.

[00:15:25] Their account is met with skepticism. Officers reportedly dismiss the story. And no official action is taken at the time. Despite this. Ruth provides a detailed description of what she saw. Including. A large dark body. A white ring or marking around the neck area. A hooked beak. And extremely large wings that she estimated at. Several feet across on each side. The total body length. According to her description.

[00:15:54] Was several feet. From beak to tail. In the aftermath. The story spread quickly. Through the local community. Instead of being treated as a credible incident. The family reportedly became the subject of ridicule. Marlin was mocked by other children and residents. And the family became socially isolated. What makes this part of the story. Especially significant. Is not just the incident itself. But how the town responded to it.

[00:16:24] With disbelief. Turning into public harassment. Unlike what you would expect. From an incident this strange. The 1977 Lawndale case. Didn't immediately explode. Into national headlines. Or major news coverage. There are no confirmed. Mainstream news articles. From the time. That directly report the story. As a documented event. And it doesn't appear. To have been picked up. By any major outlets. In an official capacity.

[00:16:55] Instead. What seems to have happened. Is that the story stayed local. It spread through the word of mouth. In and around Lawndale, Illinois. Where it was discussed. More as a disturbing rumor. Than a verified incident. It wasn't until years later. That the story began to resurface. By the 1990s. And early 2000s. It started appearing in cryptozoology books. And paranormal compilations. Usually grouped in with other Thunderbird sightings. From across North America. From there.

[00:17:25] It spread further. Through early internet forums. And websites. Where users began repeating it. And reshaping the account. Into the version most people recognize today. Television shows. And documentary style series. Like Monster Quest. Eventually helped amplify it even more. But by that point. The story had already been circulating. In niche communities for years. So instead of a single breaking news moment. The Lawndale incident slowly evolved.

[00:17:55] Into something much stranger. A story that never really had. A confirmed starting point. In mainstream media. But also never fully disappeared. But with no physical evidence confirmed. And no official classification. The Lawndale case became one of the most frequently sighted. Modern Thunderbird encounters. Mainly because of the level of detail. The number of witnesses involved. And the fact that it involved.

[00:18:25] A direct physical interaction. Rather than just a sighting. And of course. This cryptid story. Didn't stop there. More on the Thunderbird revisited. Right after this. On July 30th. 1977. Just a few days after. The Lawndale incident. John A.J. Huffer. Who also went by. Texas. John Huffer. Was out on a fishing trip. With his son. Jason.

[00:18:56] Near Lake Shelbyville. In central Illinois. According to his account. They noticed. Two very large birds. Perched in a tree near the water. Huffer grabbed a 16mm film camera. He had with him. And began recording. As the birds sat there. For a moment. Before a loud horn from the boat. Startled them. And they took off. Into the air. In the footage. The birds appear as large dark shapes. Lifting off from the tree line.

[00:19:26] Huffer claimed. The size difference. Between the two. Was noticeable. Estimating the larger one. At around. 18 foot. Wingspan. And the smaller one. At roughly 14 feet. He described them as. Heavy. Powerful gliders. Rather than birds. That were actively flapping. Rising into the air. And moving away. In a smooth motion. Here's the thing. The marlin incident. Happened in Lawndale, Illinois.

[00:19:56] And this sighting. Took place. Only roughly. 70 to 90 miles away. Within just. A few days of each other. So. Is it possible. That this. Was the same bird. That tried to take. Marlin. Now. The Department of Conservation. Later reviewed the footage. And officially dismissed it. Stating that the birds. Were most likely. A turkey vulture. Which are common. In the region. However. The identification. Was immediately disputed.

[00:20:26] By some wildlife observers. And cryptid researchers. They point out. That the proportions. In the footage. Seemed off. For turkey vultures. Especially. In the tail shape. And overall silhouette. Despite this. No alternative. Official identification. Was ever accepted. And the footage. Was ultimately. Categorized. As an unresolved. Or. Misidentified. Wildlife recording. Rather than evidence. Of anything unknown.

[00:20:55] The media reaction. At the time. Was very minimal. There was no national news coverage. Or major headlines. And the footage. Circulated quietly. For years. Before being picked up. By paranormal researchers. And later. Documentary style shows. In online communities. Like in the Lawndale case. The attention came. Long after the fact. Spreading through. Reputation. Rather than. Official validation. What it leaves. Behind is a. Strange connection. Between the two events. And the happenings.

[00:21:25] Within the same week. And in the same region. Both describing. Massive birds. That never fully received. A satisfying. Explanation. But moving along. The timeline. In June and July. Of 2001. There were a couple. Of pretty interesting. Sightings. Coming out of Pennsylvania. That fit. Right into the same. Pattern of reports. On June 13th. A resident. In Greenville. Pennsylvania. Said they looked up. And saw. What they first thought. Was either.

[00:21:55] A small plane. Or an. Ultralight aircraft. Because of how large. It was in the sky. But as it got closer. And they watched it. For around 20 minutes. They realized. It was some kind. Of massive bird. They described it. As grayish black. Fully covered in feathers. And with a wingspan. They estimated. At about 15 feet. And a body. Around 5 feet long. At one point. It even landed. In a tree nearby. And stayed there.

[00:22:24] For about 15 minutes. Before taking off again. And flying south. A neighbor later. Said they saw something. Similar the next day. And called it. The biggest bird. They had ever seen. Then. About three weeks later. On July 7th. There was another report. Out of Erie County. Pennsylvania. Also referenced. In 14 times. This one described. A very similar. Looking bird. With a wingspan. Estimated between.

[00:22:54] 15 to 17 feet. The witness said. It was dark gray. Had little to no visible neck. A dark circular. Marking. Under the head. And a thin. Long beak. That they estimated. Was almost. A foot long. None of these sightings. Were ever. Officially confirmed. Or explained. But they added. The same ongoing pattern. Of people in different places. Describing. Unusually large birds. That didn't quite match. Anything known. In modern wildlife.

[00:23:25] But then. On the evening of Tuesday. September 25th. 2001. There was another reported sighting. In South. Greensburg. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. That adds. Even more detail. To this pattern. Of encounters. A 19 year old witness. Claimed. They were driving along. Route 119. When they were suddenly. Drawn to the sky. By a sound. They described. As sounding like. Flags. Flapping. In a thunderstorm.

[00:23:55] When they looked up. They saw. What they believed. Was a massive. Winged creature. Moving overhead. Head. The witness. Estimated. The wingspan. At around. 10 to 15 feet. With a head. That they described. As being. Unusually large. Possibly. Around 3 feet long. They said. The creature. Was flying. Relatively low. Around. 50 to 60 feet. Above the ground. And that it was not. Flapping its wings. Smoothly.

[00:24:24] Like a normal bird. Instead. It was described. As almost. Awkward. Or. Heavy. In motion. With slow. Forceful. Wing beats. Followed by periods. Of gliding. As it passed over traffic. On the road below. At one point. The witness said. The creature. Landed briefly. In a dead tree. Which. Visibly. Bent. Under its weight. Before it took off again. The entire encounter. Lasted around 90 seconds. According to the account.

[00:24:54] There were no other. Confirmed witnesses. No physical evidence. Found afterward. Thunderbird. Even after the area. Was searched. Still. It was later recorded. By researcher. Dennis Smeltzer. And added. To the growing list. Of modern. Thunderbird reports. That continue to show up. In different states. Time periods. Often with very similar. Descriptions. Despite the lack of. Any official. Explanation. Now.

[00:25:23] Fast forwarding. A little. Another report. Came out. Out of a completely. Different part of the country. In 2008. Near Golden. Colorado. A man. Who only identified. Himself as. Kirk. Claims he witnessed. Something extremely. Unusual. While a storm. Was moving through. The area. He says. He saw what looked like. A massive. Bird-like figure. Moving along. The leading edge. Of an incoming. Thunderstorm. As it came out. Of Clear Creek Canyon.

[00:25:53] According to his account. It wasn't just flying. Through the weather. But. Seemed to be gliding. With it. Staying right along. The front of the storm. Without any clear signs. Of flapping its wings. Kirk described the creature. As enormous. And dark in color. And he compared. Its size. To the large birds. Already in the area. Like. Turkey vultures. Which he estimated. Were around. Four. To six feet across. Based on that comparison. He believed. That the large figure.

[00:26:23] He saw. Had a wingspan. Somewhere. In the range of. Forty eight. To seventy two feet. Something he described. As absolutely. Immense. He said. It appeared to move smoothly. And continuously. Through the sky. Almost like. It was riding the storm. Itself. After seeing it. Kirk reportedly. Contacted. The Colorado. Division of Wildlife. But the report. Was ultimately. Dismissed.

[00:26:53] And treated. As likely. A misidentification. Of known birds. Still. What makes this account. Stand out. Is how closely. It matches. Earlier descriptions. Especially. The idea. Of a massive. Dark bird-like shape. Associated with storms. Gliding without obvious. Wing movement. And appearing far larger. Than anything. People normally. Expect to see in the sky. Plus. The fact. That. Colorado. Has a strong. Native American history. And presence.

[00:27:23] It would make sense. If the thunderbird. A legendary being. To be here. In more recent years. There are still. Scattered reports. That continue to show up. In different parts. Of North America. Keeping this pattern. Of sightings. Going. Well into modern times. In May. Of 2013. Two friends. Walking through the woods. Near. Bryn. Athen. Pennsylvania. The pair reported. Being startled. By something unusual. Overhead. According to their account. They heard a loud noise.

[00:27:53] And looked up. To see a large. Black bird. Sitting above them. They said it appeared. To notice them. And took off. Shortly after. Flying about. A hundred feet. To a nearby branch. The witnesses. Estimated the wingspan. At around ten feet. And described the creature. As roughly four feet tall. When perched. Emphasizing. How large it seemed. Compared to anything. They normally see. In the area. Then. In January. Of 2018. There was another reported sighting.

[00:28:23] This time. In Alaska. Where. A woman driving. Claimed she saw. A gigantic bird. Crossing the road. Ahead of her. She described. Its wingspan. As being. So large. That it appeared. Nearly as wide. As the road itself. Which made the moment. Especially shocking. Given how close. It was to her vehicle. Like many of the other accounts. There was no additional witnesses. Or physical evidence. Confirmed. Afterward. But the report. Adds to the ongoing pattern.

[00:28:53] Of similar descriptions. Appearing across completely different locations. And time periods. And what is interesting. Is that. When you look at all of these reports together. The most consistent clusters. Seem to show up in places like. Pennsylvania. And Illinois. Illinois. And it's a little unexpected. Since those are not exactly. The regions people would typically associate. With a giant bird. Tied to Native American folklore. Which. Makes the pattern stand out. Even more. When you start.

[00:29:22] Mapping out everything. Before we read. The first. Ever. Reddit story. That was read on. Out there. There is also. A compiled list. Of reported sightings. On a site. Called. The Great American Thunderbird. Sightings. Archive. Where. Dozens. Of accounts. From across the United States. Are grouped together. Now. I'm only going to highlight a couple. But. Most of them are short on details. And kind of hard to verify. But. They do show. Just how often.

[00:29:51] These types of sightings. Continue to appear. In different places. Over time. In 2007. In Colorado. A group of hikers. Reported seeing. A massive bird. Soaring over a mountain peak. With an estimated wingspan. Of around 14 feet. And a dark brown body. With what they described. As a distinct. Red crest. On its head. A few years later. In 2010. In British Columbia. A couple picnicking. Near a lake. Said they saw a large bird.

[00:30:21] Flying overhead. With a wingspan. Estimated between. 10 and 12 feet. Light brown in color. And a noticeable. White tail. Then. In 2014. In Oklahoma. A group of hunters. In the woods. Came across. A large bird. Perched. On a tree branch. Describing it. As being covered. In glossy black feathers. With a wingspan. Close to 9 or 10 feet. And then. In 2017. In Montana. A driver. Traveling down. A quiet highway.

[00:30:51] Reported seeing. A massive bird. Sitting in a tree. Near the roadside. Estimating its wingspan. At around. 12 to 14 feet. And noting. A distinctive. White crest. On its head. None of these sightings. Were ever. Confirmed. Or officially explained. But. Together they continue. To reinforce. The same pattern. People. In completely. Different places. Describing something. Unusually large. In the sky. That doesn't quite match. Anything.

[00:31:21] Known in modern wildlife. You can check out. The website. To read some other sightings. Of thunderbirds. From around America. America. But. Now. Let's get into. The reddit story. That really kicked off. All the ones we've covered before. And will continue to cover. On out there. This. Was posted. About six years ago. By the user. Circus. Masteretti. Really glad. I found this thread. I always check back. Time to time.

[00:31:51] To see what information. I can find. Or updates. In regards. To the thunderbird. At one point. I was super obsessed. With finding answers. About it. This is my very own. Up close and personal account. With this bird. I live in Canada. In the province. Of Ontario. In the city. Of Mississauga. It took place. Mid. December. 2011. Around. 2. To 4 a.m. And it was shaping up. To be. A very green. As there wasn't. Snow on the ground. At the time.

[00:32:21] Me. My brother. And a close friend. Went to smoke a joint. Out on my balcony. As I live. On a mid. Upper floor. Of an apartment building. As we sparked the joint. I see this. Dark black silhouette. Moving. On top of the willow tree. Which is on the building property. FYI. My balcony. Has the best view of it. We'll attach a picture. For you guys. As I see this silhouette. Fluttering on the top. Crown canopy. Of the willow. I grab my brother. And friend's attention.

[00:32:51] Asking them. If they can make out. As to. What the hell. I'm seeing. Big. WTF moment. Thought it was. A big black tarp. Being. Animated by the wind flow. Once. All three of us. Locked onto. What we were seeing. Things like. Wings. A neck. And the structure. Of a bird. Became. Very apparent. This thing. Seemed. Very restless. As it kept. Pacing around. The top canopy. Of the willow.

[00:33:21] During this time. Cell phones. Had. Really bad. Night support cameras. As I'm sure. Many of you. Might remember. Trying to take videos. At night. With an iPhone. 3GS. Blackberry. Bold. LG. And early. Androids. Especially. If zoomed in. You were left. With horrible. Grainy rubbish. We tried to capture it. On camera. From my balcony. Which yielded. The above mentioned. All three of us. Ran down. To the ground floor. Man.

[00:33:51] The mere presence. Of this animal. Keeps your soul. Frozen. It's like. You can't fathom. Something like this. Being thrown to you. Visually. It was in that moment. That led me. To discover. What a natural high. Is in this world. And trust me. Whatever effects. The weed had yielded. Long dissipated. From when I thought. I was first looking at. A black tarp. Caught on top of the tree. My bro. And our friend. Made it about. Six feet away. From the door.

[00:34:20] That leads out. From the building. These guys. Weren't mentally prepared. For something like this. As they both tripped. Over each other. From keeping. Their eyes glued to it. This animal. Is quite. Frightening. Especially when. You have to come. To terms. With the reality. You now share with it. Knowing it's. Living. And breathing. As you are. I choose to proceed. Closer to the tree. Until I got. About five feet. From it.

[00:34:50] And I couldn't approach. Any closer. As it. Shrieked. A sound. So intimidating. And loud. That it sounded like. An eagle. On steroids. But. Much deeper. And sharper. In terms of its pitch. I distinctly remember. It going into a. Crouched position. With its tail up. And its head. Charging downwards. With its wings up. Halfway opened. And curled upwards.

[00:35:18] This bird is all black. With some. Red feathering. Near the face. Never felt. That specific feeling. Of fear before. I ran back. Towards my bro. And friend. The bird continued. To get more restless. And aggressive. It literally. Flapped its wings. Hopped to the next building. Which is about. Four stories high. With the willow. Is about. Seven stories. And the distance. Between both places. Are less than. Fifteen feet.

[00:35:48] It paced around there. Agitated. Then flew off again. And disappeared. The wingspan was deaf. Sixteen plus. Easily. And it was about. Eight to ten feet tall. A lot of people share. This type of experience. With themselves. I was lucky enough. To share it with two others. We told a few of our friends. And surprisingly. They believed us. I became really obsessed. With finding answers. I even thought about. Calling the avian. People.

[00:36:18] Who oversee the birds. And wildlife. But didn't want them to think. We were crazy. Or lying. Deaf found things. That helped me understand more. About the thunderbird. And my experience. Really appreciate. The opportunity. To have shared this. With you guys. My immediate circle. Of friends. I even got a tattoo. Of thunderbird. To immortalize that day. One thing that stood out most. Was that. It was at night time.

[00:36:48] I feel like it's evolved. And adapted. To being nocturnal. That's why it goes unnoticed. During the day. Never seen another bird. That active. Let alone. Be in clear sight. During the night. Besides owls. This is one of those. Reddit stories. That really stands out. Not because it's. The only strange one. But because of how detailed. And personal. It feels. Compared to most of the others. What stand out most.

[00:37:17] Is not just what they saw. But the way they describe. The experience itself. There is that shift. From confusion. To realization. And then straight into fear. Once they understood. What they were actually looking at. That kind of emotional reaction. Shows up in a lot of these accounts. Especially when people talk about. How close the creature seemed. Or how unnatural. Its movement felt. Compared to any normal bird. It also lines up with a few other sightings.

[00:37:46] In a few key ways. The size estimate. The dark coloring. And the overall idea. Of something large. Moving in a way. That does not quite match. Known wildlife. All stay consistent. With what we have already heard. From places like. Illinois and Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. And just like those cases. There is no evidence left behind. No confirmation. Just the account itself. And the fact that. Multiple people walked away. Believing.

[00:38:15] They had seen. The same thing. When you put it next to everything else. It doesn't feel like an isolated story. It feels like another piece. In a much bigger pattern. That keeps repeating. In different places over time. Time. And before we start trying to break down. What. Any of this could. Actually be. It is worth pointing out. How much the Thunderbird. Has stayed. In the public eye. Through media. Over the years. This is not just. Something that exists. In old folklore.

[00:38:46] Or scattered eyewitness reports. It is a cryptid. That keeps getting. Revisited. In documentaries. And investigation shows. Programs like. MonsterQuest. And other similar series. Have featured segments. On giant bird sightings. Including cases like. The Illinois Report. They often bring in researchers. Wildlife experts. And cryptozoologists. To debate. What people might actually be seeing. Even shows like. Expedition X.

[00:39:16] And other modern paranormal series. Continue to reference. Similar sightings. And revisit the idea that. There may still be. Unexplained large bird encounters. Being reported today. None of these shows. Have ever. Confirmed anything definitively. But. What they do show. Is that this story. Has never. Really disappeared. It just keeps getting. Brought back up. Reanalyzed. And reintroduced. To new audiences. Over time. But.

[00:39:45] After hearing all of these stories. The big question becomes. What are people actually seeing? Because at the end of the day. There has never. Been any confirmed. Physical evidence. Of a thunderbird. No body. No clear footage. No scientific classification. So while the stories. Are fascinating. And surprisingly consistent. In some ways. There are still a few. Possible explanations. That could account. For at least. Some. Of these sightings.

[00:40:15] More on the thunderbird. Revisited. Right after this. One of the most. Realistic explanations. Is that. That. At least. Some of these sightings. Could simply be. Misidentified. Large birds. That already exist. In North America. The biggest bird. Currently flying. In North America. Is the California. Condor. Which can have a wingspan. Reaching close to 10 feet. Now. They are. Massive. Soaring birds. With dark bodies. And one detail. That really stands out. Is how rarely.

[00:40:45] They flap their wings. While they fly. Which lines up. With a lot of. Thunderbird descriptions. We've talked about. Then you have birds. Like the bald eagle. The golden eagle. Both of which. Are extremely large. Birds of prey. With powerful wingspans. Sharp talons. And intimidating. Appearances. Especially if. Seen unexpectedly. Or from. Directly below. The important thing. Though. Is that. Even the largest. Known birds. In North America. Are still much. Smaller than.

[00:41:15] Any thunderbird. Reports. Most real birds. Top out. Somewhere between. Seven to ten feet. In wingspan. While. A lot of thunderbird. Sightings. Claim sizes. Far beyond that. But. Perception. Also plays a huge. Role here. A large bird. Flying overhead. With no clear. Point of reference. Can easily. Look much. Bigger than it. Actually is. Especially in. Bad lighting. Storm conditions. Or moments where. Someone is startled. And trying to process.

[00:41:45] What they are seeing. In real time. And. Even when you look. Outside of North America. At some of the largest. In the world. Nothing really. Comes close. To the sizes. People describe. In a lot of these. Thunderbird sightings. One bird that gets. Brought up pretty often. Is. The stellar sea eagle. Which is one of the. Largest and most. Powerful. Eagles on earth. With a wingspan. That can reach. Over. Eight feet. There are also. Massive vultures. Sandhill cranes.

[00:42:15] Of course. And other cranes. And other soaring birds. Around the world. That can look. Absolutely enormous. When seen in flight. Especially from far away. Or against the sky. Fly. But. Even with all of those. There still is not. A known bird species. Anywhere. In the world. That comes close. To some of the claims. Made in these reports. Once people start. Describing wingspans. Of 15. 20. Or even 70 feet.

[00:42:45] It moves. Far beyond. Anything recognized. By modern science. Which is part of why. The thunderbird legend. Has stayed. So mysterious. For so long. Another major contender. For a known animal. This cryptid. Could be. Is the turkey vulture. Turkey vultures. Are large dark birds. With wingspans. That can reach. Anywhere. From 6 to 7 feet. And similarly. To the condor. These birds. Can soar. Through the sky. For long periods of time. Without really. Flapping their wings.

[00:43:15] These birds. Are very common. Around America. And are known. To fly around busy roads. In search of roadkill. Seeing as they are scavengers. So. It's very possible. That these birds. Are being mistaken. For. The great thunderbird. The same goes for. Large hawks. And eagles. And other birds of prey. Seen from far away. The lighting. Can hide details. Silhouettes. Can distort shape. And when something is moving. High above you. With no clear reference point.

[00:43:44] It becomes a lot harder. To accurately judge. And honestly. A lot of classic. Thunderbirds. Descriptions. Do overlap. With real. Bird. And even. Physical. Descriptions. The dark coloration. The gliding movement. And the lack of visible. Wing flapping. Are all things that exist. In known species already. Which is. Why misidentification. Remains one of the strongest. Explanations. But. That brings us. To the next point.

[00:44:14] Which. Honestly. Might be one of the biggest. Explanations. Behind. A lot of cryptid sightings. In general. And. That is simply. Size. And distance distortion. When something is high up in the sky. Especially with no clear reference point. Around it. Our brains are actually. Pretty bad at judging. How large it really is. Depth perception. Starts to break down. At a distance. Objects directly. Overhead. Can appear much larger. Than they actually are.

[00:44:44] And things like. Storm clouds. Shadows. Or backlighting. Can make silhouettes. Look more dramatic. Or unnatural. Movement also plays a huge role. A bird gliding. High above you. Can appear. Slower. Heavier. And more massive. Simply because of the distance. Between you. And the object. And when you combine. All of that. With fear. Surprise. Or bad weather conditions. It becomes much easier. To understand. How a normal bird.

[00:45:13] With a six to eight foot wingspan. Could suddenly feel like something. Twice that size. Or even larger. In the moment. There are also environmental. And psychological factors. That could explain. Why so many of these sightings. Feel so. Intense. And convincing. To the people experiencing them. A huge number of reports. Happened during low light conditions. Like dusk. Nighttime. Or storms. Which already makes it harder. To clearly identify. What someone is looking at.

[00:45:43] And storms especially. Are interesting. They have always been connected. To thunderbird legends. In North American folklore. So. Seeing a large bird. During severe weather. Can immediately make. The experience feel. Even more. Dramatic. Or supernatural. Fear and surprise. Can also completely change. The way people process. What they are seeing. In the moment. If something. Suddenly appears overhead. And catches you off guard. Your brain is trying. To make sense of it. In real time. Which can easily.

[00:46:13] Amplify how large. Threatening. Or unnatural. It seems. And when there are. Multiple witnesses. Together. People can sometimes. Start feeding off. Of each other's reactions. Without even realizing it. One person saying. That thing is huge. Or. That doesn't look normal. Can influence. How the entire group. Interprets. The experience. Afterward. But. Not all hope is lost. For the people who believe. There could be something more. Behind these sightings.

[00:46:42] Because a lot of the reports. Are not just describing. An unusually large bird. Some witnesses. Describe something that feels. Almost prehistoric. Long necks. Strange wing structures. Massive bodies. And movements. That people say. Do not resemble. Modern birds. At all. And that is where. The conversation. Starts drifting. Into one of the most. Fascinating theories. Connected to the thunderbird legend. The idea that. Some kind of prehistoric creature.

[00:47:11] May have somehow. Survived. Long past extinction. One animal. That gets brought up. Consistently. In these discussions. Is the. Teratorne. A real prehistoric bird. That once lived. Throughout parts. Of north america. Including regions. Where. Modern thunderbird sightings. Still happen. Today. Teratorns. Are believed. To have. Had wingspans. Reaching over. 12 feet. And likely. Behaved. To large vultures. Or scavenger birds.

[00:47:41] Soaring for long distances. Without much wing flapping. And. Honestly. Some of the descriptions. Do line up. Surprisingly well. With modern accounts. Especially. The reports. Of dark coloration. Huge soaring birds. And the ability. To glide. Almost effortlessly. Through the sky. The thing is. Even a Teratorne. Still would not fully explain. Some of the more extreme. Thunderbird sightings. A 12 foot wingspan. Is massive. But it's nowhere near. The 20. 40.

[00:48:12] Or even 70 foot estimates. Some witnesses. Have claimed over the years. Still. The existence. Of real giant. Prehistoric birds. Does make the idea. At least slightly. Less impossible. Than it first sounds. And it raises the question. Of whether people. Are simply. Misidentifying. Large modern birds. Or if some sightings. Are tapping into something. Much older. And much stranger. And because. This was the very first. Episode of Out There. It only felt right. To revisit it all.

[00:48:42] These years later. Looking back on it now. It is honestly. Kind of crazy. How many sightings. Stories. And theories. Have continued. To pop up. Since we first. Covered the Thunderbird. Whether these encounters. Are just. Misidentified birds. Distorted perception. Something prehistoric. Or something. We still cannot explain. One thing is very clear. People. Are still seeing something. And of course.

[00:49:11] Since this is a revisit episode. We had to bring back. A weird club. To go along with it. So. Next week. TJ joins me. For a full. Weird club episode. Where we are going. Even deeper. Into the Thunderbird. The theory. Surrounding it. And say exactly. What we think. Is going on. Surrounding this. Iconic. Cryptid. So. What do you think? Is the Thunderbird. Really. Out there?

[00:49:42] Be sure to follow us on Instagram. At out there cryptids. For episode posts. Updates and more. Join our community. On discord. Where we dive even deeper. Into the mysteries. We explore here. On the podcast. The link can be found. On our Instagram. And if you're loving the show. Consider supporting us. On Patreon. As a patron. Where you get exclusive perks. Like bonus episodes. Early access. And even surprises. See you next week.