The cy|'''Aderyn y Corff'''|corpse bird|paren=left; sometimes also known as Welsh: '''Aderyn corff''' or Welsh: '''Deryn corff''', or archaically Welsh: '''Aderyn y Corph''') is a bird from Welsh folklore who portends death. It is said to chirp outside a soon-to-be deceased person's door with a cry that sounds similar to cy|dewch|come.[1] The bird has no feathers or wings.[1] When not calling outside of a person's door, it is said to live on another plane of existence.[1]
The Aderyn y Corff is referenced twice in the Welsh-language version of the bible, which some authors have claimed is the origin of the superstition.[2] [3] Many contemporary accounts of the corpse bird have suggested that it is actually a screech owl, drawn to lights coming from the room of a patient.[2] [3] [4]