History Main / BirdVsSerpent

This concept can be tied to the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)#Chaoskampf chaoskampf,]]'' a recurring motif in Indo-European and Middle Eastern mythologies pitting a sky or thunder god representing order against a serpent or dragon representing chaos. It doesn't innately lead into this trope, as the deities were usually humanoid, but it's a fairly simple stretch to associate a sky god with [[AnimalMotifs avian motifs]], to depict them as an angel-like WingedHumanoid, [[DivineBirds or to use birds to represent a celestial figure]].

* ''Ferruginous Thrush''[[note]]This bird is now called the brown thrasher[[/note]], by the American naturalist [[https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.122.html John James Audubon,]] depicts a small flock of birds defending their nest from a predatory snake.

* ''Ferruginous Thrush'', by the American naturalist [[https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.122.html John James Audubon,]] depicts a small flock of birds defending their nest from a predatory snake.

* The Polish artist Stanislaus Szukalski made a sculpture the Rooster of Gaul (a symbol of France) in combat with a three-headed serpent, representing Nazi Germany. He designed it as a tribute to LaResistance, and originally hoped to built a much larger version as a monument but couldn't get the funding.

This concept can be tied to the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)#Chaoskampf chaoskampf,]]'' a recurring motif in Indo-European and Middle Eastern mythologies pitting a sky or thunder god representing order against a serpent or dragon representing chaos. It doesn't innately lead into this trope, as the deities were usually humanoid, but it's a fairly simple stretch to associate a sky god with [[AnimalMotifs avian motifs]], [[DivineBirds or to use birds to represent a celestial figure]].

* Myth/EgyptianMythology: While there are several snakes on the side of good in the bodies of myth in it, there is GodOfEvil and Chaos Apep, who is opposed by gods often with associated with or even have heads of birds of prey, such as Horus and Ra

* ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'': In the first episode, an eagle catches a snake and perches with it in the opening sequence. This is an obvious reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Mexico the Legend of Tenochtitlan and the Mexican coat of arms,]] [[spoiler: but it's actually also foreshadowing the very end of the series. In the climatic final battle, Lord Mictlan takes the form of a giant two-headed serpent, and Maya, Eagle Warrior and Great Eagle of the prophecy, clashes with him.]]

* ''Manga/{{Basilisk}}'': The opening to every episode shows a battle between a snake and a bird of prey, with each inflicting serious, possibly fatal, wounds on the other.

* ''Ferruginous Thrush'', by the American naturalist [[https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.122.html John James Audubon]], depicts a small flock of birds defending their nest from a predatory snake.

This concept can be tied to the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)#Chaoskampf chaoskampf]]'', a recurring motif in Indo-European and Middle Eastern mythologies pitting a sky or thunder god representing order against a serpent or dragon representing chaos. It doesn't innately lead into this trope, as the deities were usually humanoid, but it's a fairly simple stretch to associate a sky god with [[AnimalMotifs avian motifs]], [[DivineBirds or to use birds to represent a celestial figure]].

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', the characters are saved from the basilisk when Fawkes the phoenix arrives, attacks the serpent and tears outs its eyes.

There is a recurring mythological motif where giant birds or birdlike creatures (often, but not always, a NobleBirdOfPrey) fight against reptilian monsters, typically a snake, a sea serpent, or a dragon. The bird will use its beak and talons to grip and rip, maybe even drop it from heights after flying up carrying it. Meanwhile, the snake will coil and bite.

* The opening to every episode of ''Manga/{{Basilisk}}'' shows a battle between a snake and a bird of prey, with each inflicting serious, possibly fatal, wounds on the other.

* The page illustration is ''Ferruginous Thrush'', by renowned American naturalist [[https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.122.html John James Audubon.]]

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'': In the film adaptation of the books, the "fell beasts" that the nine Nazgûl ride upon are given a more reptilian appearance (as opposed to the ''somewhat'' bird-like description given in the books), giving the impression of gigantic, hideous, winged serpents. At the final Battle of the Morannon, all of the remaining Nazgûl gather to menace the Men of the West, led by Aragorn, but are driven back by the timely intervention of the [[NobleBirdOfPrey Eagles of Manwë]].

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': Fawkes the Phoenix vs. Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk during ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets''.
* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': In the final days of the War of Wrath, [[GreaterScopeVillain Morgoth]] unleashed a hundred of his newest creation, the winged fire spitting dragons, upon the combined forces of the Valar, Men and Elves and nearly defeated them. The arrival of Earendiil and Thorondir, the Lord of the Eagles, and a host of thousands of Great Eagles only managed to turn the tide of the battle, but only just, as for all the might of the Great Eagles it still took over a day and half for them to slay every dragon.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Symbolically played out in the backstory of the Ghiscari Wars. Thousands of years prior to the main storyline, the emerging Valyrian Freehold waged a series of five wars against the ancient Ghiscari empire to become the dominant power on the continent of Essos. The Ghiscari emblem was the harpy - a legendary bird-human hybrid - and while harpies do not actually exist in the world, their symbolism remains prominent. Meanwhile, the Freehold had actual dragons at their disposal, filling the serpent half and allowing them to utterly defeat the Ghiscari.

This concept can be tied to the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)#Chaoskampf chaoskampf,]]'' a recurring motif in Indo-European and Middle Eastern mythologies pitting a sky or thunder god representing order against a serpent or dragon representing chaos. It doesn't innately lead into this trope, as the deities were usually humanoid, but it's a fairly simple stretch to associate a sky god with [[AnimalMotifs avian motifs]], [[DivineBirds or to use birds to represent a celestial figure]].

* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'', an eagle catches a snake and perches with it in the opening sequence. This is an obvious reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Mexico the Legend of Tenochtitlan and the Mexican coat of arms,]] [[spoiler: but it's actually also foreshadowing the very end of the series. In the climatic final battle, Lord Mictlan takes the form of a giant two-headed serpent, and Maya, Eagle Warrior and Great Eagle of the prophecy, clashes with him.]]

* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': Fawkes the Phoenix vs. Basilisk during ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets''.

This concept can be tied to the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)#Chaoskampf chaoskampf,]]'' a recurring motif in Indo-European and Middle Eastern mythologies pitting a sky or thunder god representing order against a serpent or dragon representing chaos. It doesn't innately lead into this trope, as the deities were usually humanoid, but it's a fairly simple stretch to associate a sky god with avian motifs, [[DivineBirds or to use birds to represent a celestial figure]].

* Myth/EgyptianMythology: While there are several snakes on the side of good in the bodies of myth in it, there is GodOfEvil and Chaos Apep, who is opposed by gods often with asscociated with or even have heads of birds of prey, such as Horus and Ra
* Garuda is a character who appears in various legends from Asian cultures (particularly those that practise Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism) and is depicted as a [[GiantFlyer giant bird]] or WingedHumanoid. His Myth/HinduMythology version has a vicious rivalry with the snake-like nagas, and fights them at every available opportunity.

This is often a symbolic representation of opposites: most obvious is the the [[LandSeaSky Sky above versus the Sea or the Earth below]] (and thus many serpents are of the [[SeaSerpents "Sea" kind]]), but as informed by [[https://aquilathephoenix.tumblr.com/post/175375009084/eagle-vs-serpent-a-dichotomy this Tumblr post]], by extension there's sacred vs unholy, light versus darkness, and OrderVersusChaos. There's also subtext of ClashOfEvolutionaryLevels, where it's the warm-blooded and advanced birds that soar above, and the primitive reptiles that crawl under. WhatMeasureIsANonCute and SnakesAreSinister plays a part in this trope as well. Technically, ''both'' creatures are reptiles, but birds are fluffier and cuter than the evil serpent.

* The page illustration is ''Ferruginous Thrush'', by renowned American naturalist [[https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.122.html John James Audubon]].

This concept can be tied to the ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)#Chaoskampf chaoskampf]]'', a recurring motif in Indo-European and Middle Eastern mythologies pitting a sky or thunder god representing order against a serpent or dragon representing chaos. It doesn't innately lead into this trope, as the deities were usually humanoid, but it's a fairly simple stretch to associate a sky god with avian motifs, [[DivineBirds or to use birds to represent a celestial figure]].

* Many types of birds, ranging from eagles to roadrunners, prey on snakes in real life. The one most linked to this trope, however, is probably the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretarybird secretary bird]], whose scientific name is ''Sagittarius serpentarius'' or "archer/hunter of snakes". The bird's reputation as a snake-eater has earned it a revered status in some traditional African cultures, such that some countries like South Africa have [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa#/media/File:Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa.svg included it on their national emblem]].

* The page illustration is Ferruginous Thrush by American naturalist John James Audubon.

* Myth/AztecMythology: The Aztecs saw an eagle devouring a serpent while it was perched on a cactus plant and took it as a sign to build their capital city, Tenochtitlan, there. In commemoration of this, the Mexican national flag has an eagle holding a snake in its talons.

%% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1646067694005016900
%% Please see thread to discuss a new image.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]

* ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'': Zig-zagged with Ho-Oh and Lugia. While they’re not opponents in any canonical sense, they are the mascots of the titular games, and their aesthetics definitely fit the trope; Ho-Oh is brightly colored, associated with the sky and rainbows, and is much more overtly feathered (i.e. bird-like). Lugia is mostly white, associated with the ocean and, while possessing wings, who’s body is much more streamlined (like a serpent or whale).

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/eagle_vs_cobra_daniel_eskridge.jpg]]
[-[[caption-width-right:350:Image by Daniel Eskridge.]]-]

* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'', an eagle catches a snake and perches with it in the opening sequence. This is an obvious reference to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Mexico the Mexican coat of arms,]] [[spoiler: but it's actually also foreshadowing the very end of the series. In the climatic final battle, Lord Mictlan takes the form of a giant two-headed serpent, and Maya, Eagle Warrior and Great Eagle of the prophecy, clashes with him.]]

* One of the prey animals of roadrunners (a bird related to cuckoo birds) are snakes, including rattlesnakes, so roadrunner/snake pairings can be this.
* The scientific name for the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secretarybird secretary bird]] is ''Sagittarius serpentarius'' or "archer/hunter of snakes". The bird's reputation as a snake-eater has earned it a revered status in some traditional African cultures, such that some countries like South Africa have [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa#/media/File:Coat_of_arms_of_South_Africa.svg included it on their national emblem]].

This is often a symbolic representation of opposites: most obvious is the the [[LandSeaSky Sky above versus the Sea or the Earth below]] (and thus many serpents are of the [[SeaSerpents "Sea" kind]]), but as informed by [[https://aquilathephoenix.tumblr.com/post/175375009084/eagle-vs-serpent-a-dichotomy this Tumblr post]], by extension there's sacred vs unholy, light versus darkness, and OrderVersusChaos. There's also subtext of ClashOfEvolutionaryLevels, where it's the warm-blooded and advanced birds that soar above, and the primitive reptiles that crawl under. WhatMeasureIsANonCute and SnakesAreSinister plays a part in this trope as well. Technically, both creatures are reptiles, but birds are fluffier and cuter than the evil serpent.

[[folder: Film - Live-Action]]

* In ''Literature/TheUnderneath'', Hawk Man (a hawk who can transform into a human, then in a human form) fights Grandmother (a snake who can transform into a human, in snake form having already gotten a ShapeshifterModeLock over her [[spoiler:tricking Night Song into transforming into a snake permanently]]. [[spoiler: He seals her in a jar but dies from her venom.]]
* In ''Literature/TalesOfTheMagicLand'', it is mentioned that the tyrannical leader of a tribe of giant eagles died after challenging the King of Serpents to a duel out of vanity.
* ''Literature/TheCaseOfTheToxicSpellDump'' has the heroes face an evil pantheon, so they summon the Garuda Bird for help. It has an inborn hatred toward snakes, and one of the major members of the pantheon being a lizard turns out to be enough to trigger that.
* The ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' gamebook ''Literature/{{Magehunter}}'', being set in the Middle-East inspired land of Kallamehr, has an encounter where you can get whisked away by a Giant Roc to the bird's nest... only to be suddenly ambushed by a Winged Serpent, where an aerial battle commences with you clinging on the Roc's talons. If the Roc loses, you'll end up falling to your death.
* Literature/TheSilmarillion: In the final days of the War of Wrath, [[GreaterScopeVillain Morgoth]] unleashed a hundred of his newest creation, the winged fire spitting dragons, upon the combined forces of the Valar, Men and Elves and nearly defeated them. The arrival of Earendiil and Thorondir, the Lord of the Eagles, and a host of thousands of Great Eagles only managed to turn the tide of the battle, but only just, as for all the might of the Great Eagles it still took over a day and half for them to slay every dragon.
* The fifth book of ''Literature/TheSpiderwickChronicles'' involves a battle between a very bird-like griffin and a dragon. Author Tony Diterlizzi has said that he had this motif in mind when coming up with that scene.

* In Aztec legend, the Aztecs saw an eagle devouring a serpent while it was perched on a cactus plant and took it as a sign to build their capital city, Tenochtitlan, there. In commemoration of this, the Mexican national flag has an eagle holding a snake in its talons.
* Garuda is a character who appears in various legends from Asian cultures (particularly those that practise Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism) and is depicted as a [[GiantFlyer giant bird]] or WingedHumanoid. His Myth/HinduMythology version has a vicious rivalry with the snake-like nagas, and fights them at every available opportunity.
* ''Literature/ArabianNights'': In Sinbad's second voyage, he becomes stranded on an island inhabited by RocBirds. He escapes by attaching himself to one of the enormous birds when it flies away and lets it carry him to the mainland, where it lands after reaching a valley home to monstrous snakes large enough to swallow an elephant whole, these snakes being the rocs' main prey.
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* Myth/NativeAmericanMythology: In many tribes of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, there is a reccuring myth [[{{Thunderbird}} Thunderbirds]] fighting against aggressive giant serpents or serpentine monsters from the ocean or within the earth or in sea. Although in the latter, it's often not cenentionally sea serpents or reptiles, but [[MonsterWhale whales]].