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Description

Self sacrifice.
That is what it symbolizes
The pelican.

The ever self sacrificing mother,
Thinking not of her self,
But only of her children.

When food gets scarce she will peck at her chest and feed her young of her own blood.

Of course this story is complete hogwash.
No animal would in good faith do such a thing.
How are the children going to survive later on, when you are no longer there, tell me that?

In fact if it wasn’t clear, the pelican doesn't either.

No.

I had long wondered where this myth originated.
I expected something really self evident too, something easy to mistake.

Something akin to changing feather colours...
Or gaps in chest feathers, which makes it seem like there is a wound when puffed up.
Or maybe something like the red crop milk of the flamingo.

All things that may not be found on the pelican at any rate.

Imagine my surprise when I realised the only reason was the red tip of their beaks.

....

So sometime along medieval times, someone has seen this bird, with its red beak tip, made a quick conclusion, and the poor thing has been a near saint ever since.

In a way, that is kind of funny.

Description

Self sacrifice.
That is what it symbolizes
The pelican.

The ever self sacrificing mother,
Thinking not of her self,
But only of her children.

When food gets scarce she will peck at her chest and feed her young of her own blood.

Of course this story is complete hogwash.
No animal would in good faith do such a thing.
How are the children going to survive later on, when you are no longer there, tell me that?

In fact if it wasn’t clear, the pelican doesn't either.

No.

I had long wondered where this myth originated.
I expected something really self evident too, something easy to mistake.

Something akin to changing feather colours...
Or gaps in chest feathers, which makes it seem like there is a wound when puffed up.
Or maybe something like the red crop milk of the flamingo.

All things that may not be found on the pelican at any rate.

Imagine my surprise when I realised the only reason was the red tip of their beaks.

....

So sometime along medieval times, someone has seen this bird, with its red beak tip, made a quick conclusion, and the poor thing has been a near saint ever since.

In a way, that is kind of funny.