C5A — Scout birds.

A bird, various birds, or people who then turn into birds are sent to explore the earth (whether it exists, whether it has dried up, whether there are any survivors, why smoke is rising from the earth, etc.) or with the task of bringing back a piece of solid substance to create dry land.

Berezkin category: Disasters

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 3, Cosmogony, the earth and the sky, etiology of the elements, natural and biological phenomena (fire, water, soil, thunderstorms, dream, etc.), cataclysms and cosmic threats, spirits of nature.

C5a.  A bird, various birds, or people who then turn into birds are sent to explore the earth (whether it exists, whether it has dried up, whether there are any survivors, why smoke is rising from the earth, etc.) or with the task of bringing back a piece of solid substance to create dry land.
C5b.  After a global catastrophe or during the creation of the earth, animals run around, making the earth large, reporting on its condition, or are sent to find out how large the earth is.

This motif has been recorded in 131 traditions: Akkad, Assyria, Babylonia, Old and New Testament, Berbers of Morocco and adjacent parts of Algeria, Tonga, Safwa, Mkulwe, Ngonde, Kinga, Nyakusa, Nyamwanga, Aka, Baka (Badjue) and other Western (Bantu speaking) Pygmies, Arnhem Land: Enindhilyagwa (Groote Eilandt), KuTiwi, Yulengor, Mara, Oenpelli, Murngin, Roper River, Maung, Murinbata, Murngin (Duwal), Millingimbi, Goulburn Island, Ngulugwongga, Yirrkalla, Voctoria River Downs, Alawa, Anu, Kunwinjku, Samoa, Batak (Toba, Dairi), Central islands and Bikol: Vizaya, Mansaká, Bikol, Mangyan, Panayan, Sulod, Cebuano (Cebu), Capiz, Romblomanon, Manuyu, Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, Viet, Muong, Northern Munda of Kharwar branch: Birhor, Ho, Mundari, Kol, Asur (including Agaria, Kol, Birjhia), Bhumij, Bhuiya (now Aryans, originally Munda; Rahman 1955: 203), Baiga, Bhaina, Bhumia (subgroup of Baiga, incl Bharia, formerly Munda, now speak Indo-Aryan languages of neighboring groups), Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Chin-Naga: Ao, Mao, Sema, Zeme, Kolren, Kom, Lhota, Rengma, Angami, Kabui, Tangkhul, Koirenf, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Gondi (mostly Northern Gondi), Maria, Muria, and other South-Central Dravidians: Binjhwar, Bacop, Bhattra, Bom, Jhoria (=Jhodia), Gadaba (in Koraput, neighbors of Munda-speaking Gadaba), Duruwa (Parji), Mehtar; Pardhan, Nepali; Tharu, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Lepcha, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Eastern Sami (including Skolts), Western Ukrainians, Ossetians, Tats, Armenians, Mari (Cheremis), Udmurt, Komi (Zyrians and Permyaks), Mansi, Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Khakas, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Kets, Dolgans, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Ainu, Oroch, Nanai, Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir, Chukchi, Koyukon, Lenape (Delaware), Northern Saulteaux, Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Eastern Ojibwa (Missisauga, Timagami and other groups in eastern Ontario), Ottawa, Western Woods Cree, Eastern Swamy Cree, Montagnais, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Arapaho, Iowa, Plains Cree, Caddo, Chitimacha, Creek, Seminole; Tuskegee; iconography of Kentucky Hopewell, Choctaw, Chicasaw, Catawba, Tutelo, Cherokee, Wintu, Patwin, Nomlaki, Sierra Miwok, Yana, Yokuts, Salinan, Eastern Shoshone, Ute, Navajo, Jicarilla, Western Apache (White Mountain, San Carlos), Hopi, Eastern Keres (Cochiti, Sia, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Paguate, Seama), Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Lipan, Warihio (Guarijío), Tarahumara, Mayo, Yaqui, Sinaloa, tarasques, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec, Tepehua, Totonac, Huastec (Teenek), Gulf Nahuatl, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Yucatec, Itza, Guaymi, Bocota, Dorasque; XVI century data on Western Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Yupa (Yukpa), Guajiro, Makiritare (Yecuana), Wapishana (incl Ataroi); Mapidian; Taruma, Trio, Cañari, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Urarina, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Yagua, Maue (Mawe), Kanamari, Moseten, Chimane, Yuracare, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Kamayura, Sheta, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, Ayoreo, Chamacoco (Ishir), Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Tonga (Tsonga; incl, Soli, Sala, Lenje), Yellowknife, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Terek Cossacks, Bosnians, Russian Federation