Magical North American bird related to the Phoenix which creates storms with thunder and lightning as it flies (Pm). The large albatross-like wings shimmer with a “cloud and sun-like pattern” that turns black and gold when it senses danger (WFT).
- Famous 1920s wandmaker Shikoba Wolfe used Thunderbird tailfeathers as cores for her wands (Pm).
- Chadwick Boot named Thunderbird House at Ilvermony after his favorite creature (Pm).
- Newt Scamander came into possession of a Thunderbird named Frank which he rescued from captivity in Egypt. He hoped to release him into his native habitat, the wilds of Arizona in the United States. But after New York was attacked by a Obscurial, Newt released Frank there, asking him to drop a vial of Swooping Evil venom over the city along with a thunderstorm to wash away bad memories from the No-Maj as wizards made repairs (WFT, FB/f).
Commentary
Notes
From Wikipedia:
The thunderbird is a legendary creature in certain North American indigenous peoples' history and culture. It is considered a supernatural bird of power and strength. It is especially important, and frequently depicted, in the art, songs and oral histories of many Pacific Northwest Coast cultures, and is found in various forms among the peoples of the American Southwest, Great Lakes, and Great Plains.
Thunderbird mythology parallels tales of the Roc from around the Indian Ocean; like the roc, the thunderbird is generally assumed to be based on real (though mythically exaggerated) species of birds, namely the bald eagle, which is very common on the Northwest Coast.
From the Web
Pottermore: History of Ilvermorny School by J.K. Rowling
Pottermore: Thunderbird House at Ilvermorny
Thunderbird House on Harry Potter Wiki