Elwetritsch is a hybrid bird creature from the Palatinate region in southwest Germany. She's described as a chicken or woman-like bird with horns or antlers but has a variety of manifestations.
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She's compared to the Wolpertinger of alpine forest lore. Elwetritsch officially became a woman in the later 20th century, when artists began adding breasts to images and sculptures. Now a good male is hard to find.
At one point her mythology almost vanished. Fortunately a 19th century German in the Middle Rhine area became interested in the mythical creature. He organized "hunting parties" as pranks or games to find the elusive Elwetritsch.
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Rumors and popularity grew. Even a Bavarian king who received roast birds for dinner was told they were Elwetritsche. The myth of the Bird Woman rose back up from the ashes.
In some depictions she might have scales instead of feathers. She's fundamentally flightless, but can make a terrific wind flapping her wings. Her voice is a type of cluck, like a chicken.
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The tradition of make-believe hunting parties, or pranking one's out-of-town friends into looking for the Elwetritsch, is still found today. Folklore of the hybrid bird leads to increased tourism and sales of souvenirs in the Palatinate, proving the Bird Woman Elwetritsch is a sign of prosperity.
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Other famous hybrid animals include
Rasselbock - Thuringian Forest in central Germany, a rabbit with antlers
Dilldapp - Alemannic region: southern Germany, Switzerland, Tyrol, Lichtenstein, Swabia
Wolpertinger - Bavaria, Switzerland, Austria, Bohemia - hare with wings and antlers
Skvader - Swedish cousin of Wolpertinger.
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Raurakl - Austrian Wolpertinger
Jackalope - America esp Colorado, Wyoming & Nebraska, a jackrabbit with antlers
Al-Mi'raj - one-horned hare, unicorn hare or unicorn rabbit in Arabian mythology. The sight of it causes enemies to flee in terror.
Mušḫuššu - Mesopotamian hybrid animal, companion and helper to the god Marduk
Sphinx - head of a human, body of a lion and wings of an eagle, Greek, Egyptian
Lamassu - head of a man, body of a bull, wings of an eagle; Assyrian protector entity
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Elwetritsch might be heard rustling around in the underbrush and vines looking for nest material. She moves quickly. She can burst out of the bushes and run in front of a person. A feather on the path is a sign of luck.
Sometimes her beak is shown to be especially long. In other depictions she might have only the suggestion of a beak.
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