Beasts and monsters often play an important role in mythology; and whilst in Greek mythology the Stymphalian Birds might not be the most famous of creatures, they were amongst the most deadly.

The Stymphalian Birds (Orinthes Stymphaides) were a large flock of deadly birds of prey, which nested around Lake Stymphalis, next to the city of Stymphalis in Arcadia. Everyday they would leave the nests and ravage the surrounding countryside eating all the crops and fruit.

These birds were also called man-eating, as they had beaks and talons of bronze, and metallic feathers that could be released as if they were darts. The Stymphalian Birds were said to have been raised by Ares, and were regarded as his pets.

The Stymphalian Birds and Heracles

Ridding the Arcadian region of the deadly birds was the sixth Labour given to Heracles by King Eurystheus.

The area around Lake Stymphalis was a swamp, and Heracles soon found that he could not venture very far into it without being submerged. Apparently there was no way to get close to the birds to actually deal with them.

Heracles though was in favour with some of the gods of Mount Olympus, and Athena gave the hero her assistance. The goddess of wisdom would collect a specially made krotala, a percussion instrument, from Hephaestus, and would present it to Heracles.

Heracles would play the instrument from a hill overlooking the lake, and the immense noise made from it drove the Stymphalian Birds to flight. Heracles quickly drew his bow and many of the deadly birds were killed by his arrows, whilst the rest fled the area, never to return.

Heracles would collect some of the carcasses of the birds to show to King Eurystheus that the Labour had been completed.

The Birds of Ares and the Argonauts

In mythological tales it was subsequently told that the birds departed from the swamp and made their way to the Isle of Ares (Chalceritis) in the Black Sea. It was an island by which Jason and the Argonauts would pass on their way to Colchis. These birds were referred to as the Orinithes Areos, the Birds of Ares.

The Argonaut Oileus was injured by a feathered dart, and it was only through the suggestion of Amphidamas that the Argo continued safely onwards. Amphidamas argued that half the crew should row, whilst the other half protected the men and boat with their shields; also as the Island of Ares was approached, each Argonaut should make as much noise as possible to scare away the birds. The Birds of Ares did briefly attack the Argo but the feather darts harmlessly hit shields and helmets, and so the voyage could continue.

Later writers, most notably Pausanias, would talk of birds to be found in Arabia that were similarly described to the earlier birds, and were said to be a match for man, lion or leopard. Those birds encountered by Heracles and the Argonauts though, were deadly enough.