Harakka’s nest, Varis and Mikko in Van Everen’s1922 bird-and-fox illustration
The nesting bird and her adviser share the composition with Mikko below. The story identifies Harakka as the magpie whose fledglings the fox extorts and Varis as the crow who exposes his empty threat. The stylized drawing is a narrative witness rather than a guide to distinguishing real bird species.
Overview
Harakka is a magpie caring for fledglings in a tree. Mikko pretends that he must fell it to make skis and offers to spare the nest if she drops one young bird. Harakka reluctantly sacrifices a fledgling in hope of saving the others. The fox returns the next day, retracts his promise on the pretext that no other tree suits him, and obtains a second fledgling through the same threat.
Her friend Varis notices the missing young and explains that Mikko has no axe and cannot carry out his threat. Harakka then refuses the fox’s third attempt and names Varis as the adviser. The story leaves her remaining nestlings protected by this correction; it does not restore the two already taken. This is a speaking mother-bird in Fillmore’s animal cycle, rather than evidence that magpies as a species possess supernatural powers.
Origins & earliest records
Parker Fillmore, Mighty Mikko (1922), Mikko the Fox, Adventures III, pp. 243–250; author’s note vii–xi.
Records & interpretation
Located historical English literary retelling. Fillmore identifies these as his own versions, not translations; the cycle supplies the named characters and narrated actions.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
Mighty Mikko: Mikko the Fox, Adventures III, pp. 243–250
Animal-cycle witness. Fillmore credits Lydia Tulonen as his Finnish guide and refers generally to Salmelainen’s collections; no individual Finnish manuscript or oral contributor is specified.
Family, evolution & connections
Harakka’s fledglings — Fillmore Adventure III
Complete Adventure III, The Fox and the Crow, pp.243–250.
Scroll sideways to see all branches. With a keyboard, focus the tree and use the arrow keys.
- Her unnamed fledglings (total unspecified; two surrendered)
Repeated narrator and mother designations of her fledglings as her children. No father, personal names or total brood count is given. Two fledglings are surrendered; the number remaining is unspecified. Varis is a friend, and Mikko is a predator, not a relative.
Her unnamed fledglings
Harakka repeatedly calls the fledglings her children. Two are surrendered to Mikko under his false tree-felling threat; the number remaining in the nest is not specified.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Primary historical literary retelling of folkloreFillmore 1922: Mikko the Fox nursery epicResearch access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationHarakka’s nest, Varis and Mikko in Van Everen’s1922 bird-and-fox illustration
The nesting bird and her adviser share the composition with Mikko below. The story identifies Harakka as the magpie whose fledglings the fox extorts and Varis as the crow who exposes his empty threat. The stylized drawing is a narrative witness rather than a guide to distinguishing real bird species.
