If one desires a wish to come true, they must first capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it. Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly can not reveal the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit who hears and sees all.  In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom, the Great Spirit grants the wish. So, according to this Native American legend, by making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom, the wish will be taken to the heavens and granted.

Crow is a member of the corvid family which includes ravens, magpies and blue jays. They are found worldwide. These birds are highly intelligent, adaptable and omnivorous. They can be taught to communicate with people and to count. Crows are mischievous and like to steal shiny items, but are suspicious and shy.

Dragonfly symbolism crosses and combines with that of the butterfly and change. The dragonfly symbolizes going past self-created illusions that limit our growing and changing. Dragonflies are a symbol of the sense of self that comes with maturity.

Ducks are birds. They are also called "waterfowls" because they are normally found in places with water like ponds, streams and rivers. They are related to geese and swans. The duck is the smallest of them all. Ducks also have shorter necks and wings and a stout body. They can live from 2-12 years, depending on species.

Donald Duck first appeared in the Silly Symphonies cartoon The Wise Little Hen on June 9, 1934 (though he is mentioned in a 1931 Disney storybook). Donald's appearance in the cartoon, as created by animator Dick Lundy, is similar to his modern look — the feather and beak colors are the same, as is the blue sailor shirt and hat — but his features are more elongated, his body plumper, and his feet bigger.

Flamingo or Maybe Dodo Nearly everyone knows what flamingos look like; pink birds with long legs. You can see them at just about every zoo. You can find them in storybooks. Alice uses flamingos as croquet mallets in Through the Looking Glass (by Lewis Carroll). Images of flamingos, standing under palm trees, appear in paperweights and snow globes. Plastic flamingos make colorful lawn ornaments!! But did you know that some flamingos live high up in the Andes Mountains of South America? Flamingos can swim, and flamingos can fly.

Hummingbirds are found only in the western hemisphere, so they are absent from the traditional fairy tales, legends, and myths of European and African Americans. There is, however, a rich supply of stories about these tiny birds in Native American mythology. A Mayan legend says the hummingbird is actually the sun in disguise, and he is trying to court a beautiful woman, who is the moon. Menacing and marvelous, the dragonfly has for centuries captivated human imaginations with its daredevil flying maneuvers, vibrant colors and bullish disposition.

almost any part of the world.

Owl

Owls are an amazing example of God’s handiwork. Depending on the species, owl eyes may account for one to five percent of its body weight. Owl eyes are fixed, forcing the bird to look straight ahead. However, an owl’s neck has 14 vertebrae, which allows it to turn its head throughout a wide range of motions. In fact, owls can turn their head a full 270 degrees! Truly owls are an incredible display of God’s creative nature.

Penguin

Penguins are birds with black and white feathers and a funny waddle.  But unlike most birds, penguins are not able to fly -- in the air that is.  Penguins spend as much as 75% of their time underwater, searching for food in the ocean.  When they are in the water, they dive and flap their wings.  It looks just like they are flying!

Pheasant

The Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), known in the US as the Ring-necked Pheasant or Chinese Pheasant, is a bird in the pheasant family. It is native to Asia but has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. The Common Pheasant is one of the world's most hunted birds, where it has been introduced, and is also common on game farms where it is commercially farmed for this purpose.
 

Phoenix

The Phoenix was a graceful bird, with brilliant plumage and a distinctive tuft of feathers at the back of its head. There are at least three different descriptions of the plumage colors of the Phoenix. One says that the head, breast, and back are scarlet or reddish-gold, and the iridescent wings are many colors. Its feet are a Tyrian purple hue, while its eyes are sea-blue. Another says the body is plum-colored with a scarlet back and wing feathers, a golden head, and a long tail of rose and azure. The third description states that the Phoenix is a royal purple with a golden neck and head. It is possible that these descriptions are of the Phoenix in various stages of its life.

 Toucan

Toucans are birds that live in the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are brightly colored and have enormous beaks.  Toucans are primarily eat fruit, but will occasionally eat insects and other small prey. Toucans do not migrate. Toucan Sam is the mascot of Kellogg's Fruit Loops cereal.

Turkey

Ben Franklin thought the North American wild turkey should be the national bird. Of course, the turkey of his day was nothing like the domesticated descendants we know today. The wild turkey of Ben Franklin's day was a brightly plumed, cunning bird of flight.  Without turkeys, Big Bird would be naked. Big Bird, of Sesame Street fame, is actually dressed in turkey feathers. Although he is not a turkey, his costume is made of nearly 4,000 white turkey feathers, which have been dyed bright yellow.

A pottery coffee mug makes a wonderful gift for family or friends.  We customize mugs with personalized name at no extra charge. All mugs are made by the artist Erick Talboom.