History Main / NobleBirdOfPrey

Though always considered powerful and usually majestic, certain birds have their own special attributes as well. Eagles, for instance, are associated with power, royalty and empire while hawks represent aggression even in [[WarHawk the English language itself.]] Of course, being symbols of pride and power is not always a positive thing: They can also be portrayed as cruel or merciless, this portrayal being commonly attributed to falcons.

See FeatheredFiend and BrutalBirdOfPrey for more atrocious avians and GiantFlyer for enormous birds. It should also be noted that, while [[OminousOwl owls]] and [[CirclingVultures vultures]] are also considered birds of prey, they usually have different connotations in fiction. Only add examples pertaining to them here if they fit the "noble, majestic, badass hero" stereotype.

* ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman''. All 5 members of the team represent a different type of bird.

* Mexico's eagle is of Aztec origin, hence it's preying on a snake over a cactus. It had a rather Romanesque pose during the time of the Second Empire (1864-1867) and Porfirio Diaz's dictatorship (1881-1917). Interestingly, the species of eagle is the same as the Roman eagle: Both are the golden eagle ''Aquila chrysaetos'', which (having a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holarctic_realm Holarctic]] distribution) was found in both Italy and Mexico even before the Columbian Exchange.

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'': Both the Romulans and [[ProudWarriorRace Klingons]] have warships referred to as Birds of Prey or Warbirds. The Klingon one is pretty small but the Romulan one is massive. The Romulans are also associated with eagles, likely due to the parallels with the Roman Empire.

See FeatheredFiend and BrutalBirdOfPrey for more atrocious avians and GiantFlyer for enormous birds. It should also be noted that, while [[OminousOwl owls]] and [[CirclingVultures vultures]] are also considered birds of prey, they usually have very different connotations in fiction ([[TheOwlKnowingOne even if the positive portrayals]] [[CuteOwl of owls are also popular]]). Only add examples pertaining to them here if they fit the "noble, majestic, badass hero" stereotype.

See FeatheredFiend and BrutalBirdOfPrey for more atrocious avians and GiantFlyer for enormous birds. It should also be noted that, while [[OminousOwl owls]] and [[CirclingVultures vultures]] are also considered birds of prey, they usually have very different connotations in fiction. Only add examples pertaining to them here if they fit the "noble, majestic, badass hero" stereotype.

* ''VideoGame/GameAndMatch'': The Condor of ''Climber'' that carries you to new areas should you reach it. Sometimes you have to catch a sword to chase away a dragon first.

* Hawkmon from ''{{Anime/Digimon Adventure 02}}'' qualifies as this, being a heroic, well-mannered hawk Digimon who is a partner of the heroic digi-destined.
* Generally, all Bird-type ''{{Anime/Pokemon}}'' Ash and his companions manage to capture. Pidgeotto is a obvious case. It introduced itself trying to eat Caterpie (as expected from a hungry bird), though as soon as it was captured, it became a loyal battler and friend for Ash's group.

* Birds of prey in ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'' are always on the side of good, though being predators they tend towards CreepyAwesome.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect'': The Turians are [[http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/122/1221597/Turianfin_1332788897.jpg meant to evoke this image]], although in a subtle way, being "realistic" aliens in a hard sci-fi setting. They are also a ProudWarriorRace of SpaceRomans, and their homeworld is in the Aquila (Eagle) Nebula.

* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''

* The redesigned Rito from VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild seem to be this.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* A few {{Transformers}} have bird of prey alt modes. It's more prevalent in ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'', [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin for obvious reasons]]. Silverbolt stands out as being equal parts eagle and [[NobleWolf wolf]].

* [[DubNameChange Eaglette/Washimi]] from ''Anime/AggressiveRetsuko'' is a [[SeldomSeenSpecies secretary bird]] who is the company's president's [[VisualPun secretary]] and one of Retsuko's best friends. Sure, she (like anyone else at the office) can get on Retsuko's nerves at times, but when all is said and done, the two are great friends. It's also implied that since the president is so incompetent, she's running the show for him, meaning that the most powerful person in the company is on Retsuko's side!

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: Eagles are the emblem of the Amazons, and they are furious and heartbroken when an invader kills one that nests just off their shore. Later a troop of Amazons are mentally enthralled using a captured golden eagle as a focus, and freeing the bird to it's majestic and noble flight frees their minds as well.

* Parvarotti, [[Series/{{Glee}} Blain'se]] [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Dragon Hawk]] in ''Fanfic/SolarWinds'' instills fear in all who dare come near--except for Blaine, who treats him like one of his best friends. Parvarotti is a messenger hawk and is fiercely protective of Blaine.

* [[DubNameChange Eaglette/Washimi]] from ''Anime/AggressiveRetsuko'' is a [[SeldomSeenSpecies secretary bird]] who is the company's president's [[VisualPun secretary]] and one of Retsuko's best friends. Sure, she (like anyone else at the office) can get on Retsuko's nerves at times, but when all is said and done, the two are great friends. It's also implied that since the president is so incompetent that she's running the show for him, meaning that the most powerful person in the company is on Retsuko's side!

* [[DubNameChange Eaglette/Washimi]] from ''Anime/{{Aggretsuko}}'' is a [[SeldomSeenSpecies secretary bird]] who is the company's president's [[VisualPun secretary]] and one of Retsuko's best friends. Sure, she (like anyone else at the office) can get on Retsuko's nerves at times, but when all is said and done, the two are great friends.

** Rolls-Royce, who had been making piston aircraft engines since World War I, named all of their engine types after birds of prey by custom. The engine powering the Hurricane was the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Merlin Merlin]] (not the wizard, but [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin_%28bird%29 a type of falcon]]).

* Mexico's eagle is of Aztec origin, hence it's preying on a snake over a cactus. It had a rather Romanesque pose during the time of the II Empire (1864-1867) and Porfirio Diaz's dictatorship (1881-1917).

* This was why the bald eagle was selected to be the national bird of the United States of America; people believed that the eagle's fierce expression was a representation of power and nobility.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': Eagles are the emblem of the Amazons, and they are furious and heartbroken when an invader kills one that nests just off their shore. Later a troop of Amazons are mentally enthralled using a captured golden eagle as a focus, and freeing the bird to it's majestic and noble flight frees their minds as well.

* Birds of prey are usually aligned with White mana in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the color of magic more often associated with light and morality. However, as [[LightIsNotGood White is not always good]], they do get to also be major villains (Lieutenant Kirtar) or mindless predators, including [[BodyHorror phyrexian]] [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=213758 var]][[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=217994 iants]].

[-[[caption-width-right:350:[[https://www.ivancavini.com/portfolio/dark-knight/ "The Last Goodbye"]] by Ivan Cavini. Used with [[[[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ivan_cavini.png
permission]].]]-]

[-[[caption-width-right:350:[[https://www.ivancavini.com/portfolio/dark-knight/ "The Last Goodbye"]] by Ivan Cavini. Used with permission.]]-]

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/un_ultimo_saluto_colore_small.jpg]]

[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/falcon_with_shank_7014.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:330:[[AwesomeButImpractical It is even more dangerous without the knife.]]]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wolfwalkers}}'' has Robyn's pet hunting falcon Merlin, who's a brave and loyal companion to both her and Mebh.