Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

400–1000
Overall: 11.4 x 7.2 x 6 cm (4 1/2 x 2 13/16 x 2 3/8 in.)
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Did You Know?

A museum visitor corrected our identification of this bird!

Description

This gold finial fit over the end of a staff, an emblem of rank. The bird has the hooked beak of a raptor—perhaps the harpy eagle, the “king” of tropical forests. The enormous crest, however, may be inspired by the Royal Flycatcher, a smaller bird that fans its unique, brilliantly colored crest during mating.
Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

Finial with Bird (Harpy Eagle with Royal Flycatcher Crest?)

400–1000

Isthmian Region (Colombia), Sinú (Zenú), 5th century-11th century

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