Lesson plan
Devil Bird
__NOTOC__ In Sri Lankan folklore, the Devil Bird or Ulama (Sinhala: උලමා) is a creature said to emit bloodcurdling human-sounding shrieks in jungles at night. It is believed that the cry of this bird is an omen that portends death. Its precise identity is still a matter of debate although the spot-bellied eagle-owl matches the profile of Devil Bird to a large extent, according to a finding in 2001. Other possible identities include the crested honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis), the Brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica) and various eagles. As the bird is not usually seen and its cry only described in vague terms, Ulama records might also refer to the Ceylon highland nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus kelaarti).
Article summary
__NOTOC__ In Sri Lankan folklore, the Devil Bird or Ulama (Sinhala: උලමා) is a creature said to emit bloodcurdling human-sounding shrieks in jungles at night. It is believed that the cry of this bird is an omen that portends death. Its precise identity is still a matter of debate although the spot-bellied eagle-owl matches the profile of Devil Bird to a large extent, according to a finding in 2001. Other possible identities include the crested honey buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus ruficollis), the Brown wood owl (Strix leptogrammica) and various eagles. As the bird is not usually seen and its cry only described in vague terms, Ulama records might also refer to the Ceylon highland nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus kelaarti).
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.