According to aborigine mythology, the Bunun tribe was once isolated by flooding and had no way to make fire, but a black bulbul came to the rescue by flying off to Jade Mountain and carrying back a batch of glowing embers. The smoke turned the bird's body black, while the hot embers burned the bird's beak and feet to a bright red.
在原住民的神話故事裡，相傳上古時代紅嘴黑鵯曾為布農族祖先渡過洪水至玉山取火，因此被火燻黑了身體，燙紅了嘴巴與雙腳。