TIL: The legend of the Pitogüé

The Pitogüé ("great kiskadee" - Pitangus sulphuratus) is found from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas to Argentina. This bird has an onomatopoeic name in Spanish-speaking countries: bien-te-veo ("I see you well") and sometimes shortened to benteveo.

Pitogüé, Credits: Public Domain

Today I Learned about The Legend of the Pitogüé:

The Pitogüé, according to the legend, was an accoucheuse in his previous life as a human. For that reason, he knows when a woman is pregnant and is able to announce it even before the woman interested in knowing if she is pregnant is sure about her state.

Some people from the guaraní culture get angry over his indiscretion and calls him pitogüé juru mbyhi (delator pitogüé).

There is a chamame song dedicated to this bird:

Song: El Pitogüé - Author: Antonio Giannantonio - Performer: Isaco Abitol

...Escuchá lo que te digo,
a una amiga le pasó,
despertó una mañana
y en su ventana se posó,
no era el pájaro campana,
jamás se iba a imaginar
el silbido que estaba por escuchar

Cháke el pitogue,cháke el pitogue,
cháke el pitogue que te va cantar...

Enjoy!