The Legend of the Lechuza
by Alan Peschke
Most readers of "Elsewhen" are probably familiar with reports of
the crypto-creature known as the "thunderbird." Several years
ago, Texas had its own version of this phenomenon, commonly known
as the Big Bird. Having never encountered the Big Bird myself
(other than the occasional crane or buzzard), I nevertheless stumbled
across an obscure folk legend that may have some relation to the
thunderbird and the Big Bird. This is the Mexican folk legend
of the lechuza.
A quick glance in The University of Chicago Spanish-English Dictionary
reveals that the word lechuza is simply Spanish for "owl." In
the local Mexican dialect of my home area it more specifically
means "screech owl." However, the folk tale of the lechuza goes
deeper than this.
According to Francis Edward Abernethy, in The Folklore of Texan
Cultures (1974 Encino Press), "the lechuza is a woman who, having
sold her soul to the devil, becomes a screech owl at night."
The lechuza closely ties in with the bruja, or witch, and is sometimes
considered more--or at least, other--than human.
As with many folk tales, there are contradicting bits of information.
Again according to Abernethy, "Some say that even in the form
of birds lechuzas retain the faces of hideous women." This suggests
that the lechuza is of normal size for an owl. However, Ed Syers,
in Ghost Stories of Texas (1981 Texian Press), says, "She [the
bruja] knows the secret of becoming her own familiar--a self-transformation,
usually to a lechuza, or screech owl. . .Or, if she disdains the
extra step, she may make incredibly long journeys herself,
flying high over the housetops. . ." This suggests that
the lechuza may retain a larger human-like size, and with the
addition of wings, would make an adequate Big Bird.
The nature of the lechuza herself (for in the legends it is invariably
female) is of a malignant sort of bogey-woman. In personal interviews,
the most common tale related to me was that she sits outside
one's door and makes a crying sound, like an infant. Then, "if
you go outside to see what it is, it gets you." It also seems,
from personal accounts, that the lechuza is easily recognizable
from a mere screech owl--another clue that it is usually considered
human-sized. Seeing a screech owl during the day is by some considered
unlucky; seeing the lechuza by night (for she never appears during
daylight) is calamitous, and usually signals the death of a family
member, much like the banshee of Celtic lore. The lechuza is
thought to possess sorcerous powers, especially those dealing
with darkness, illness, and death. She is thought to be impervious
to bullets, and perhaps even immortal. Signs that one has been
visited by the lechuza are scratches on the bedpost, door, or
windowsill that can't be explained.
The most telling clue that the lechuza is thought to be of a large
size is also told by Abernethy: "The tellers of lechuza stories
at times point out the likenesses of their tales with. . .the
Harpy of Greek mythology." This suggests that she must be at
least human- sized, if not larger.
In any case, if we ever do manage to explain the mysterious thunderbird,
I doubt that it will have anything to do with so malicious a legend
as the lechuza. Even so, tales of the lechuza are some of the
most violent and disturbing in Texan folklore, and it seems that
among some people, belief in the creature still persists.
*****
The above is the complete article as it was originally. To it
I might add that, as I said before, tales of the lechuza are often
quite violent. I have heard several stories of how, when the lechuza's
ruse to get you to come outside doesn't work, she turns instead on
any pets or livestock she might find outside. Her appearances are
also sometimes accompanied by sudden thunderstorms.