The Mythical Story of The Liver Birds of Liverpool

Long ago, in a stretch of damp woodlands near a deep river bank, there lived two birds. These birds were unlike any other; bigger than humans with similarities to both Cormorants and Eagles. Eagle Body. Cormorant head. Strange birds indeed! 

These were the only two birds of their species in the entire world. They spent their lives looking for each other, finding little clues that one another existed, such as big birdy footprints, or feathers with a similar scent to their own. However, they were never quite able to find each other. They projected their love for each other onto the land where they lived instead. The deep river felt like a spiritual Goddess to them. It was all they had.

As the centuries passed, the birds continued to thrive, growing bigger. They were giant! The woodlands slowly gave way to the Port of Liverpool; a huge industrial city. The birds generally kept out of human sight, but they would occasionally be seen flying in the moonlight, or diving for fish out on the vast river.

In 1911, the world’s tallest building (at that time) was built in Liverpool: The Liver Building. It had two tall towers on the top. 

Shortly afterwards, the city suffered mysterious, terrifying earthquakes. Small buildings collapsed, people died. The magnificent Liver Building threatened to collapse too, and the whole city seemed as if it was about to crumble into dust. 

At a critical moment, the two birds —who had still never found each other — came to the rescue. From separate areas of the city, they flew into the air and each landed on a separate tower with their backs to each other. One bird was looking out over the river, and the other bird was looking out over the city. They landed there to put their full weight on the building, to stop the city that they loved so deeply from crumbling into dust. Miraculously, their spare of the moment plan – which they both devised independently of each other – worked.

The birds saw each other mid-flight as they flew towards the towers. However, instead of flying off together, they both made a split-second decision to put their weight on the towers to control the earthquake.

Once they landed, they both knew that if they moved an inch, the city would start to shake all over again. It was so hard to have their backs to each other, after searching for each other for so long. However, they both adored their respective views of the river and the city, and the feeling of living so high up in the air.

These two enormous, mythical birds are now known as The Liver Birds of Liverpool. They are still on the towers of the Liver Building now, in the city centre. The locals have affectionately given them the names of Bertie and Bella. 

It is known that if Bertie and Bella ever do turn around and look at each other, they are likely to fly off together, which will make Liverpool begin to shake once more. Only the heavy strength of the birds keeps the mysterious earthquakes of Liverpool under control. 

The Liver Birds make this incredible sacrifice for the city that they love, and the locals have thanked them by making them the official symbol of the city itself. 

If you ever visit Liverpool, you must visit the Liver Building to see Bertie and Bella. Although they look like statues, if you look closely enough you can actually see them breathing.