Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures. They’ve held their place in the heart of folklore for as long as human beings have been storytellers! Different birds carry different meanings within stories, often symbolizing intuition, favor or misfortune, transformation, death, and even love…

Before I began including birds in my own tales, I made it my mission to get to know the animals I encountered out in the world.

Here is an illustrated collection of the feathered friends I’ve met in my travels thus far and some of my favorite things I’ve learned about them. Visit birds by region here, or search for something specific from the full archive in alphabetical order. If you love birds and want to follow along as I get to know more species, subscribe to my newsletter, then you’ll receive updates as new birds are added!