Boogeymen: The Thunderbird

[Ninurta]

Yes, the bald headed depictions were very common because the bones are similar to condors, but the newer view is they likely had a feathered head. There were sub species as well with variations. That one website I quoted had a very different illustration and claimed it did some hunting on the ground.

When you compare the skull (your post or mine) to the golden eagle's head, the beak is longer and slimmer with less of a hook at the end. Not to mention it was bigger, but the following picture is comparing shape, not size.

So far as the beak shape goes, it was proportionally longer than that of an eagle or a hawk, but not as thin as that of a buzzard. The beak shape was sort of like these two images:






But of course it was neither of those two birds because, big wings, and flight.

I remember the beak distinctly because it made an impression - I was thinking "what the hell does it eat with that? Does it crack walnuts or something?"


.