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Overview

An emperor repeatedly fails to complete a church because its steeple collapses. His dream says that a bird from the other shore, with its nest installed in the tower, will let the structure stand. The youngest prince obtains it from a dragon palace, taking its cage as he escapes. Its plumage has a thousand hues and every feather shines like the sun. It is not called a phoenix and has no narrated fire, death or rebirth cycle.

The elder brothers steal the achievement after cutting off the youngest’s feet. Once the bird and nest reach the steeple, it remains standing, but the bird is silent. The injured prince eventually returns disguised as a shepherd after being healed with scorpion blood. Whenever he enters the church the bird sings exuberantly, and it stops when he leaves. This response brings him before his father and initiates disclosure of the theft. Its recognition matters alongside its architectural effect; the tale does not identify the bird as a transformed human.

Sun-bright multicoloured feathersNest stabilizes steepleSings for rightful rescuerCaged in dragon palace
01

Origins & earliest records

Roumanian Fairy Tales, collected by Mite Kremnitz, adapted and arranged by J. M. Percival (New York: Henry Holt, 1885), The Wonderful Bird, pp. 16–29.

02

Records & interpretation

Complete selected English tale and original hosted title/preface transcription. Preface assigns tale 2 to P. Ispirescu’s collection.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Roumanian Fairy Tales: The Wonderful Bird, pp. 16–29

    Mite Kremnitz, collector; J. M. Percival, adapter and arranger · 1885

    Preface assigns tale 2 to P. Ispirescu’s collection. Complete selected English witness; original Romanian and intermediate source editions not collated.

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.

References

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

  1. Primary historical English adaptationKremnitz/Percival 1885: The Wonderful BirdResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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