The Mythology and Folklore Database
K11 - The eyes of a monstrous bird: metamorphosis.




12 Myths, Legends and Folktales
12 Unique Narratives for Motif K11
8 Cultures & Traditions where K11 is told
0 Mythemes Indexed
5 Sub-Motifs of Motif K11


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 Motif Summary  -   Motifs with Simlar Dispersals  -    Map of Myth Distribution   -   List of Traditions  -   Myths



Source Data from Berezkin's Analytics Catalogue, if using this data please acknowledge and link to it here:
Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.



Summary of Motif

Brothers (brother and sister) kill a monstrous bird. Its eyes turn into heavenly bodies (among the Oaxacan Indians) or something else (among the present-day Condors of the Yokuts).

Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 1, Sun and Moon


K11 has 5 other sub-motifs


K11.  Brothers (brother and sister) kill a monstrous bird. Its eyes turn into heavenly bodies (among the Oaxacan Indians) or something else (among the present-day Condors of the Yokuts).
K11a.  Plucked feathers of a (huge) bird turn into actual birds (or their plumage) or humans emerge from them.
K11a1.  Pieces of flesh or feathers from a monstrous/unusual bird turn into present-day birds (or their plumage).
K11b.  The bones of a huge bird are turned into reeds or bamboo for making arrows or sarbacanes.
K11C.  The plucked feathers of a huge bird turn into plants.
K11D.  Pieces of flesh from a huge creature that has fallen apart or been cut into pieces turn into ordinary animals, birds or fish.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
G14100.00%A man swallowed by a water monster is carried away to an underwater or overseas world, obtains plants, and returns to people.
L5898.39%A man refuses to give food to his closest relatives or spouse; as punishment, he or his food changes its nature.
J2498.07%The hero, ground into powder, is reborn.
D4D97.91%The opossum obtains fire for humans. See motif D4A.
B2B97.16%The earth feeds on the people buried in it. See motif B2A.
L2696.90%During the (first) initiation, supernatural beings teach boys rituals and kill them for violating rules related to the consumption and distribution of food.
M12196.90%A louse or other similar creature (flea, tick, firefly) is sent to follow a certain character.
K16A96.48%In an effort to show that he is a good hunter, a man regularly walks in front of a girl, pretending to carry prey. Once he slips, and the imaginary prey turns out to be a scarecrow stuffed with ashes or a bundle of termites.
A4796.13%The sun is born or emerges from an egg.
B6296.02%Man believes that vultures live better than humans, changes his appearance to that of a vulture. The former vulture lives with the man's wife, and the man usually does not like his new life.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 8 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Yokuts, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Chinantec, Mazatec, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Tzotzil, Yucatec, Itza


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