THEBIRDS

By far the largest group of animals Carl Barks drew in his comic books was the birds - and that's not counting his main characters: the ducks. Amazingly, there is hardly a story in which birds of different kinds are not seen, though sometimes they just appear in the background. But quite often they play an important part in the stories. Most of the panels chosen for this page represent examples of birds from that category.

Because of the multitude of panels to choose from it has been decided to divide them into specialized groups (of strictly four drawings to each) in order to give you a clearer view of the material. However, the groups are still somewhat intertwined insofar that drawings can sometimes be transferred to other groups and function there under the new titles.

THE AGGRESIVE
Often Donald's feelings for the birds he encountered throughout the stories were very intense indeed! The trouble he found himself in was nearly always self-inflicted and brought about by his short temper and general lack of understanding.
WDCS209 During his route as a flying mailman Donald meets a hungry eagle.	WDCS063 Donald visits his neighbours, but is greated with watchdogs - and worse...	WDCS075 Donald raises a turkey for a Thanksgiving meal. The turkey is not cooperative.	WDCS192 Donald battles a fierce and sly kingfisher when he tries to breed salmons.

THE INNOCENT
Many of Donald's adversaries among the birds are at first innocent spectators to his actions - until they got involved...
WDCS047 Just having a falcon is not enough. You need to know how to handle it...	WDCS204 Donald tries to force a peaceful eagle off the monument of Senator Snoggin. Bad move!	WDCS240 The Fraidy Falcon Donald tries to raise a very timid falcon. Will it ever prove its worth to him?	WDCS062 While waterskiing Donald accidentially lands on an unsuspecting pelican. Now what?

THE HELPFUL
Some of the birds in the stories are either trained or expecting a reward.
WDCS139 The nephews are training a racing pigeon. It also saves Donald and Daisy.	FC0009 Pirate Gold Captain Yellow Beak, the parrot, offers Donald a share in a buried treasure.	U$70 The Doom Diamond Scrooge uses a trained falcon to weld shut the windows in his Money Bin.	U$41 Snow Duster Little Helper persuades a flock of snowbirds to clean up Duckburg's stadium.

THE DISGUISED
Bird costumes and different forms of disguises were also part of the stories.
WDCS077 Donald dresses up as a menacing crow in order to scare his nephews.	WDCS243 Donald is cheated in a deal. He thought he bought turkeys but they are not...	U$50 Rug Riders in the Sky Magica transforms herself into a big bird to get to Scrooge's flying carpet.	WDCS057 Donald wants a photo of an elusive bird. Perhaps he could get closer in a woodpecker suit ?

THE REAL
You may be wondering if Barks could also draw naturalistic birds ... here are a few examples.
FC0189 Chickadee	WDCS057 Bluejay	FC0189 Nuthatch	U$18 Roadrunner

THE LEGENDS
Here are examples of Barks' interest in birds from fairy tales, mythology, poetry, and symbolism
U$37 Cave of Ali Baba The terrible and colossal Roc from the famous 1,001 Arabian Nights tales	U$12 The Golden Fleecing Harpies from Greek mythology. They lived by snatching food - and people...	WDCS312 The Not-So-Ancient... A shot albatross from the poem 'The Rime of The Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge	FC0199 Sheriff of Bullet Valley The dove is well-known as a peace symbol. However, Barks placed it on a smoking gun...

THE PLENTIFUL
In his stories, Barks would often have to draw an abundance of birds, because large numbers were called for.
WDCS146 Donald tries his hand in the fine art of raising chicken.	U$45 Isle of The Golden Geese Scrooge visits a large breeder of geese - and golden eggs...	WDCS162 Donald has to store hundreds of baby turkeys in his train station.	FC1047 The Bird Camera Gyro invents a great bird watching camera, but where are the birds?

THE STUBBORN
Barks' principle characters would from time to time meet birds with their own strong wills. Then it was time for a showdown.
U$46 Gyro tries to paint the Narrows Bridge but a hatching seagull will not move.	FC0408 The Golden Helmet A hatching puffin on a cairn of stones is the only obstacle to finding the helmet.	FG1946 Santa's Stormy Visit Donald has to move an albatross from his lighthouse lamp - but it is a warm and cosy spot.	FC1047 The Stubborn Stork Scrooge and Gyro tries to move Hetty from the air vent on the Money Bin. But she won't budge.

THE FUNNY
Animals are not funny per se but from time to time Barks placed them in situations that were funny. It happened in the form of background vignettes which he scattered around in some of the stories.
WDCS092 Clearly the small bird family is offended by the trespasser.	FC263 Land of the Totempoles An inversed situation: a small kingfisher with a large fish.	WDCS198 The term 'bird bath' takes on a whole new meaning.	WDCS107 What could be better than a good soak on a hot day?

THE TALKATIVE
On several occasions Donald encountered birds with a special talent - they could talk. Sometimes that proved to be a good thing, but mostly Donald found himself bullied by their independent and strong character.
WDCS065 Joe from Singapore can make sailors blush. Donald isn't amused!	WDCS168 A talking bird can be a joy. It can also bring you to court!	FC0282 The Pixilated Parrot A parrot that counts anything can be helpful - or not!	WDCS222 This mynah will go to any length to get the prunes it so desires.

THE INVENTED
Barks' rich imagination was often working overtime resulting in the most surprising ideas as can be plainly seen here.
U$26 Krankenstein Gyro Gyro is trying to create life via an experimental egg. Will it hatch into a brassfeathered crocodile hawk?	WDCS199 'Bigger and Bigger' Donald and the nephews take part in a strange story which serves as an educational tale of comparative sizes.	U$54 Billion Dollar Safari Scrooge owns a Zoo with strange animals. This is a two-faced Politician Bird...	FC223 Lost in the Andes Barks not only invented the famous square eggs - they were hatched by square hens!

EXTRA
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