#acanthis

photograph by Brandon Christopher Davidson

Stephanie Rew - Acanthis, 2024

lesser redpoll (acanthis flammea cabaret), ireland

Common Redpoll

In Greek mythology, Autonous was the husband of Hippodamia, and was father to several children, including Erodius, Anthus, and Acanthis. Because Autonous neglected husbandry, the land they lived in produced no crops but only rushes and thistles. Erodius, who loved his father's horses the most, pastured them on grassy meadows, but one day, Anthus drove them out of their familiar pastures. Out of hunger, the horses attacked Anthus and ate him. Autonous, stricken by panic, could not help his son, while Hippodamia was trying to drive the horses off but failed due to her physical weakness. Zeus and Apollo, out of pity for the grieving family, transformed the members into birds. Autonous became a stone curlew (Greek όκνος, because he "was not in time", όκνησε in Greek, to save Anthus), Hippodamia became a lark (the bird has a crest which symbolizes her courage), Acanthis became a thistle finch, and Erodius was transformed into a heron.

Redpoll by jelve

Common redpoll (Acanthis flammea)

Photo by Courtney Celley/USFWS.