Devil Bird

Devil Bird
Devil Bird
(Ulama)
Creature
Grouping Cryptid
Data
First reported In Folklore
Country Sri Lanka
Habitat Forest
This article is about the cryptid. For the bird, see Spot-bellied Eagle-owl.

The Devil Bird, locally known as Ulama, is a cryptid of Sri Lanka said to emit bloodcurdling human sounding shrieks in the night from within the jungles. In Sri Lankan folklore, it is believed that the cry of this bird is an omen that portends death. Its precise identity is still a matter of debate although the Spot-bellied Eagle-owl matches the profile of Devil Bird to a large extent, according to a finding in the year 2001.[1]

As the bird is not usually seen and its cry only described in vague terms, Ulama records might refer to the Ceylon Highland Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus kelaarti); the males of the latter are known to have a screaming flight-call atypical for nightjars[citation needed].

"Devil Bird or Ulama or Ulalena. The precise identity of this bird is one of the mysteries of the Ceylon jungles. Its eerie cries have been attributed to a variety of birds. The most likely candidates however are: the forest eagle-owl (Huhua nipalensis) for the up country area, the hawk-eagles and the crested honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis) in the lowland jungles."[citation needed]

Cryptid resolved

There has been a systematic investigation to the idendification of this bird by Dr. R.L. Spittel in his book 'The Far off Things'[2]. Accordingly, the Spot bellied Eagle Owl is one possible contender but Changeable Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus ceylanensis) and Oriental Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) are more likely contenders to be the "Devil Bird".

A Spot-bellied Eagle-owl (Bubo nipalensis) specimen found by the villagers in 2001 received much publicity in the press as the final resolution of the bird's identitity but the natives who actually have heard the 'true' cry of the Ulama and had seen the bird in action, are certain that its a species of crested eagle, which is more in agreement with the description of the bird in the local folklore. The reason for the confusion is probably the fact that most Sri Lankans have a mistaken perception as to the true cry of the Ulama [3].

See also

Banshee, a similar omen in Irish mythology that portends death.

References

  1. ^ http://www.cryptozoology.com/glossary/glossary_topic.php?id=251
  2. ^ http://www.lankalibrary.com/cul/veddha/spittel.htm
  3. ^ http://www.lankalibrary.com/cul/veddha/spittel.htm
  • Karl Shuker (1997). From Flying Toads To Snakes With Wings. Llewellyn, St Paul.
  • Karl Shuker (2007). Extraordinary Animals Revisited. CFZ Press, Bideford.
  • Vanished Trails, The last of the Veddas by R.L. Spittel

External links

v · d · eCryptozoology and Cryptobotany


Stub icon This cryptozoology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.