Not all depictions of medieval crows show them as black. This blue and brown crow is from the "Topographia Hibernica" which dates from the 12th century. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows
@flusteredduck.bsky.social![A standing brown bird with blue wings facing right. It has a derpy-looking expression. Image from National Library of Ireland, MS 700 [Topographia Hibernica / Expugnatio Hibernia], folio 13r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreifxxmzlwsodkrjuthavpgovauia7jzwdparbw4smphesp6y3sisvu@jpeg)
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialNot all depictions of medieval crows show them as black. This blue and brown crow is from the "Topographia Hibernica" which dates from the 12th century. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialMedieval crows were thought to be very responsible parents, not only feeding their offspring but also escorting them in flight. This pair of crows is from an Italian herbal (c1440). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows
![A pair of standing crows facing each other on a manuscript page . The crow on the right has its head raised and its beak open. Image from British Library, Sloane MS 4016 [Herbal], folio 34r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreihsrqvy7ya4avehj44b7rfuswb7fnbvnpjgjmix4sm5q2yrejhqee@jpeg)
@myimaginarybrklyn.bsky.social
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialMedieval crows were said to be able to predict rain, reveal ambushes and foretell the future. This sad-looking crow is from a 1425 "De rerum naturis". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows
![A black crow with a sad eye is walking towards the left in a green square on a manuscript page with its tail extending out of the square into the margin. Image from Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 291 [De rerum naturis], folio 104v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreifcymklwfyksyeqn545h2lttbug4hb47ir2xsq3p4gsnhnerhgphm@jpeg)
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialOur medieval beast this week is the crow which was thought to live a long time and be monogamous. This gorgeous crow is from the Aberdeen Bestiary (c1200). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #crow #crows
![A black crow with its neck extended and its beak in the air is walking towards the left in the centre of a red lozenge with a pale grey border set within a square red and blue frame decorated with white zigzags. The non-painted parts of the image are covered with solid gilt. Image from Aberdeen University Library, Univ. Lib. MS 24 [Aberdeen Bestiary (Second Family)], folio 58r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreif3tzk6f3su22e7mm5smhqy5hvkez3vvhw4gskwcok7s5qnvtympm@jpeg)
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialSome medieval scribes were obviously puzzled by the description of squirrels in the texts they were illustrating. This "squirrel" is from a 14th century "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
![A winged beast with a single horn in a gilt frame against a red background facing right on a manuscript page. The wings, head and horn are blue while the very long neck and body are a golden brown. The beast seems to have scales and its bushy tail is like a very fat horse's tail. Image from Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 13440 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 3v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreigsueqemlzgpscj3bnfwrnf4xbhlisv4jbjga3dyw3gqpineqtbuu@jpeg)
@medievalists.bsky.socialNearly 600 Medieval Manuscripts from German Monasteries Now Online www.medievalists.net/2026/09/600-... #medievalmanuscripts
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialMedieval squirrels were also known as "varius" and their fur was known as "vair". This plump squirrel is from a c1300-1325 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
![A very short-legged and plump red-brown squirrel climbing a green hill towards the left. Its bushy tail is resting over its back. Image from British Library, Additional MS 11390 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 27v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreihhweap2wtgm5cxdl6hrd2ie77lm4tp2vjuncdcqesdgeodgc5qmy@jpeg)
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThe medieval squirrel was said to use its upright tail as a sail when it wanted to cross water, although I haven't been able to find this illustrated. This squirrel is from a c1287 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
![A red-brown squirrel seated on its hind-legs eating something, facing right. It has a very large bushy tail and unusually long forelegs. It is shown against a blue background inside a gilt frame on a manuscript page. Image from Lippische Landesbibliothek, Ms. 70 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 41v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreidnbv7ervfeepht3s43qqwrs2h7ctjdcjrccjjx6dilectfisvbga@jpeg)
@securityonline.bsky.socialDiscover how ancient sheep pox genomes hidden in medieval parchment and Bronze Age teeth reveal the 3,700-year evolutionary history of this livestock virus.
#SheepPox #AncientDNA #MedievalManuscripts #BronzeAge #Genomics #Capripoxvirus
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThe medieval squirrel was said to be a "petty" animal that climbed trees. This particularly lovely squirrel is from the Ormesby Psalter (13th-14th century). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #squirrel #squirrels
![A red-brown squirrel eating a nut facing left. It has a very upright bushy tail and surprisingly long forelegs. Its ears are also very long and very upright. Image from Bodleian Library, MS. Douce 366 [The Ormesby Psalter], folio 38r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreiaj25y2r6u3ucvunullai4p56lzhrvdlyf7yehmsx522otlslvnkq@jpeg)
@medievalists.bsky.socialMedieval Manuscript Linked to St. Francis of Assisi Goes on Display www.medievalists.net/2026/09/medi... #MedievalManuscripts
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThe medieval pheasant was described as being a very beautiful and colourful bird. This pheasant is from the Alphonso Psalter (c1284). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
![A somewhat alarmed-looking bird with a red head, green throat, white belly and folded brown wings perched on a red flower within a decorative blue and red element on a manuscript page. Image from British Library, Additional MS 24686 [Alphonso Psalter], folio 18r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreiehvd4yqgymrngsu6b4dmuc3pfr2fjf6pmd43bq5kwe2toyrzmglq@jpeg)
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThe medieval pheasant was said to have feathers which were bright like fire and glittered. This image is from a 13th century "Liber de natura rerum". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
![Section of a manuscript page showing a block of red text above a gilt-framed picture of a right-facing brown bird with prominent wattles and a long blue curving tail. Image from Bibliothèque Municipale de Valenciennes, MS 320 [Liber de natura rerum], folio 100r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreiemecdcpz72jug4duqcqc23odar2oyveenhlndtf5guj7j4bzfzle@jpeg)
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThe medieval pheasant ("phasius") was also known as the "gallus silvester" (wild cock) as shown in the text below this image from a c1350 version of "Der Naturen Bloeme". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
![A fierce-looking red-brown bird with a rooster-like tail, crown and wattles against a gilt background with stylised trees. Below the red and blue, gilt-cornered frame, the text reads "Gallus silvester". Image from Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KB, KA 16 [Der Naturen Bloeme], folio 89v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreicmlbdptwwqqcwbe6g64mmsqofmep4zo3i65zd4r7kjcinvfcaecq@jpeg)
@juedstudien.bsky.social#JomKippur | #EinBlick 10. Schön, kostbar, gigantisch. Der Leipziger Machsor in der Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig | 11. September-25. Oktober 2026 | Details: www.ub.uni-leipzig.de/ueber-uns/pr...
@ubleipzig.bsky.social
@medievalists.bsky.social176 Medieval Manuscripts Now Online in Sweden www.medievalists.net/2026/09/176-... #ManuscriptMonday #MedievalManuscripts
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThis week's medieval beast is the pheasant which was named for its original home, the Greek island of Phasis. This lovely pheasant is from the Lutterell Psalter (c1325-1340). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #pheasant #pheasants
![A surprisingly accurate painting of a pheasant with a green head and long neck, a red-brown belly and very long tail and white-trimmed black wings folded over its back. Its legs and feet are painted white. It has a red-ringed eye and red wattles. The drawings on the reverse side of the page are visible like a watermark behind and around the drawing. Image from British Library, Additional MS 42130 [The Lutterell Psalter], folio 84v.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreihovuv4o2jzknesqumxxt33mgumx7ff4bwdypbmirdtnyoqdbjlpy@jpeg)
@medievalists.bsky.socialLost Pages of Medieval Bestseller Rediscovered After Centuries www.medievalists.net/2026/09/lost... #medievalmanuscripts #medieval
@flusteredduck.bsky.socialThe blood of medieval turtledoves was said to help with eye ailments. This illustration of a mated pair is from an English bestiary (c1200-1210). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #turtledove #turtledoves
![Two grey turtledoves are perched on a green leaved plant with yellow and white flowers touching their beaks together. The illustration has a dark gilt background and is in a black-bordered blue circle on a manuscript page. Image from British Library, Royal MS 12 C XIX [Bestiary (First Family)], folio 53r.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:hmq6dpbhsfnbzqxa6mrixd5i/bafkreidayuta454z57htsylzp6lmld2vk6eighp75o54ebxe7op5mygyje@jpeg)