Ornithology.

Is there any bird that's supposed to know the names of things?  I'm writing the climax of Sir Dinadan's Tale, and I have an idea about how to achieve a proper fairy-tale grimly heroic ending, but my folklore knowledge is failing me on this one.

And today's writing goal is five hundred words, because I didn't make my quota yesterday.

Still trimming my rough soundtrack down to a manageable and relevant selection.

Thank you, everyone.

I got a lot of useful info on birds in folklore from the comments everyone left today.  Though it did remind me to define my parameters a little more closely.

Anyway, I've just finished the climax of Sir Dinadan's Tale, and I'll wrap up the denouement and a round of edits tomorrow, and post it either tomorrow or the day after.  I am going to be posting it f-locked and filtered, because I want it to be salable and if it's readable publicly online that hurts my chances -- but if you're interested in having a look, let me know and I'll put you on the reading filter.

Which leaves, I suppose, a question for my prospective readers:  which version should I post?  The standalone short story, or Chapter One of Knight of the Star, Part II?