Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I83 — The sky of birds.

113 Myths, legends and folktales

113 Unique narratives for motif I83

63 Cultures & traditions where I83 is told

0 Sub-motifs of motif I83

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Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.

Summary of motif

Overview

Birds (especially vultures and eagles) lived or live in the sky, usually on one of several tiers of the upper world.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

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.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
F13	99.68%	The genitals of humans or monkeys acquire their current shape and colour as a result of copulation with a girl who had a toothy womb or no vagina.
D7	99.41%	The frog or toad possesses the first fire, steals it from its original owner, and tries to extinguish it or save it from dying out. See motif D4.
M8D	99.30%	Birds break through the hard cover on the character's body to reach his entrails.
K13A	99.08%	The character's leg (rarely: both legs) is cut off, bitten off, torn off, or damaged. The character ascends to the sky: to the moon; becomes the moon; turns into a star or constellation; becomes the sun; blood flowing from the leg colours the sky.
H35	98.86%	Human teeth are made of fragile material. Usually, the motif explains the aetiology of toothache.
G13	98.53%	Before the advent of cultivated plants, people ate rotten or soft wood (ceiba – Ceiba L., balsa – Ochroma (Bombax) Sw.); some people eat rotten wood.
J28A	98.49%	When asking how one of his parents died, the hero receives a series of false answers. He often exposes himself to the same dangers, but remains alive, proving the falsity of the proposed versions.
J15B	98.37%	While travelling, a woman finds herself in the house of a frog or toad. See motif J15.
L5D	98.30%	The rolling head suffers from thirst. See motif L5.
B24	98.29%	People who have entered into conflict or violated a prohibition are transformed into wild boars or peccaries.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

63 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 63 traditions: Bari (incl Fajulu), Kakwa, Udmurt, Daur (Daghur), Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Ainu, Menominee, Crow, Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa, Yana, Zuni, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), 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), Lacandon, Kekchi; Mopan, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Chimila (Ette), Bari, Yupa (Yukpa), Sicuani, Yaruro, Makiritare (Yecuana), Wapishana (incl Ataroi); Mapidian; Taruma, Waiwai, Trio, Akuriyo (incl Turaekare), Kaxuyana (Warikyana, Arikena), Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Locono, Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Wayana, Aparai, Wayapi, Emerillon, Colorado (Tsachila), Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Kofan, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Yagua, Ticuna (Tucuna), Xipaya, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Amuesha, Machiguenga, Harákmbet (=Mashco), Yuracare, Suruí, Gaviâo, Zoro, Arua, Cinta Larga, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Bakairi, Kuikuro, Kalapalo, Calapalo, Kamayura, Kayabi, Paresi, Caraja, Craho, Apinaye (Apinage, Apinaje), Shavante, Cariri, Makka, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Chorote

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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com

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