The Woodpecker Fairy

Overview

The horse tells the prince that this enormous woodpecker was formerly a woman, transformed by her parents’ curse for disobedience. She has children and kills intruders within her domain; bones on a neighbouring plain mark failed crossings. Charging through the forest, she tears trees down. The horse rises above her, allowing the prince to shoot off one foot. Before he can shoot again, she promises safety in her own blood.

She admits that the horse’s enchantment prevented her from roasting and eating its rider. At her house she entertains them, but the injured foot still causes pain. The prince returns the severed foot and it immediately heals. She celebrates for three days and offers him one of her three daughters in marriage. He refuses because his quest is for deathless life. She accepts that purpose and predicts success with his horse and courage. Later the prince finds her country changed into settlements, while inhabitants know her only as an old tale. Her own death or human restoration is never directly narrated.

Origins & earliest records

Roumanian Fairy Tales, collected by Mite Kremnitz, adapted and arranged by J. M. Percival (New York: Henry Holt, 1885), Youth Without Age and Life Without Death, pp. 42–55.

Records & interpretation

Complete selected English narrative and ending. The preface assigns tale 4 to P. Ispirescu’s collection; original Romanian and intermediate editions remain uncollated.

Selected bibliography

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

1. 01

   Roumanian Fairy Tales: Youth Without Age and Life Without Death, pp. 42–55

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

   Preface assigns tale 4 to P. Ispirescu. Complete English journey, return and fatal ending read.

Family, evolution & connections

Woodpecker Fairy and Scorpion Witch — cursed sisters

Complete English adaptation, pp. 42–55; sisters and daughters described on pp. 46–49.

Horse’s explicit sibling identification and narrator-stated daughters. Parents are unnamed and no parent is linked to an unrelated tale. The daughters’ father is unstated, and the prince declines the proposed marriage. No natural bird/scorpion evolutionary relationship is implied. Romanian originals have not been collated.

References

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

1. Primary historical English adaptationKremnitz/Percival 1885: Youth Without Age and Life Without DeathResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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