| Similar entities | Ravens Púca |
|---|---|
| Folklore | Legend |
| Other name(s) | lit. transl. corpse bird |
| Country | Wales |
TheAderyn y Corff (Welsh for 'corpse bird'; sometimes also known asAderyn corff orDeryn corff, or archaicallyAderyn y Corph) is a bird from Welsh folklore who portends death. It is said to chirp outside a soon-to-be deceased person's door with a cry that sounds similar todewch (Welsh for 'come').[1][2] The bird has no feathers or wings.[2] When not calling outside of a person's door, it is said to live on another plane of existence.[2]
The Aderyn y Corff is referenced twice in the Welsh-language version of the bible, which some authors have claimed is the origin of the superstition.[3][1] Many contemporary accounts of the corpse bird have suggested that it is actually ascreech owl, drawn to lights coming from the room of a patient.[3][1][4]