Zirl

The zirl (also referred as messenger bird or traveller bird) is a small bird from the turdos family. Compared to other birds the zirl has a more developed intelligence, speed, and sense of orientation and for this reason they are used since ancient times by many civilizations as an effective and realiable mean to exchange correspondence.
For its capacity to connect the world, the zirl has become a widespread symbol of exchange and commerce in many cultures and a zirl's head is commonly printed on one side of coins or other currencies.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The zirl is a fairly small-sized bird that can reach about 23 to 26 centimetres in length. The beek is short and pointy, the eyes black and the feathers are dark brown on the back and light brown or white with black spots on the belly. There are almost no difference between males and females, although adult males tend to be slightly bigger.

Additional Information

Domestication

It is unknown how wild zirls originally were domesticated, but it is believed that the intelligence and natural docility of these birds made them easy to approach after regularly feeding them. In general zirls are connected to their birthplaces and rarely escape to other locations unless they feel in danger, therefore they normally don't need to be caged when at home. In general, zirls are trained to travel a specific route without needing to always transport the receiver's bird to the sender's place. In order to do so, young zirls are transported the first times to the sender's location in a cage, after feeding them, they are released with a letter tied on their leg so that they naturally fly back to their home. After some attempts they get accustomed to the travel route and automatically travel by themselves from one location to another when instructed to do so by attaching a message to their leg or back. For this reason older zirls are considered more reliable and tend to be used for high priority and urgent correspondence.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The use of the zirl is very important for exchanging correspondence. Although its first employment is unknown, historical records suggest that the zirl was widely domesticated during the imperial era to meet the need of large empires to quickly exchange important messages covering long distances minimizing the risk of being intercepted. The role of this bird is especially crucial in periods of wars or civil unrest when sending messages by ground would be too dangerous.

Scientific Name

Turdos comunicator

Lifespan

5 to 7 years

Conservation Status

Not endangered

Average Length

23-26 cm