Here’s what it symbolized to different tribes. The thunderbird was both respected and feared simultaneously. Some depictions portray it as a shapeshifter. It was believed to be so powerful that it could also blast lightning from its eyes whenever it got enraged. It was described as a beast who created loud thunder with just the flap of its wings. Regardless of tribe, the common description of a Thunderbird is a bird-like mythical creature that dominated nature. Thunderbird in Various Native American Tribes The earliest record of the Thunderbird symbol however, can be traced as far back as 800 CE to 1600 CE around Mississippi. Due to this, different tribes share similar myths sometimes with variations. There are reasons for this, one being that the Native American people had no centralized organization and instead, existed in various tribes with their own leaders and traditions. It was a mythical creature that was common to many Native American tribes.

The truth of the matter is that the Thunderbird does not have one origin story.

The thunder bird