A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

A hen accepts a hawk’s proposal on condition that he wait for her to grow wings capable of flying like his. He gives her a ring, but a cock reminds her of an earlier promise and orders her to throw it away. When the hawk returns with feathers for her, she falsely says a frightening snake caused its loss. He recognizes her deceit, postpones marriage until the ring is found, and threatens to take her chickens. The account explains hens’ scratching as the search and hawk attacks as the suitor’s punishment. It never narrates the promised change of wings or a completed marriage, and the snake belongs only to the hen’s excuse.

Bird suitor whose broken engagement explains scratching and predationPublic traditional narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Philippines; Visayan account as grouped by Cole

02

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant story, collection preface, regional introduction and attached notes directly read.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Philippine Folk Tales

    Mabel Cook Cole, compiler and annotator · 1916

    Visayan, The Hawk and the Hen, pp. 212–213

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Mabel Cook Cole, Philippine Folk Tales (Chicago: A. C. McClurg, 1916)

Visayan section. Visayan, The Hawk and the Hen, pp. 212–213

Complete tale and attached notes read. Exact source-specific identities, narrative ending and limits retained. Earlier recordings credited by Cole have not been independently inspected for this entry.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical collected narrative and editorial notesCole, Philippine Folk Tales (1916), Visayan, The Hawk and the Hen, pp. 212–213Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

FT·1810 · RESEARCH EDITION 01Back to top ↑