; Phantoms and Monsters: Pulse of the Paranormal

Saturday, March 11, 2023

HUGE THUNDERBIRD Sighting & Description in Northern Illinois Recalled by Witness (SKETCH)

A young boy living in northern Illinois recounts his sighting of a huge cryptid bird with a 25 feet plus wingspan. His friend also witnesses the creature and speculates the size to be somewhat larger.

The following report was submitted publicly on February 3, 2002:

"It was an average summer day for us ten-year-olds in northern Illinois. It was a day just like any other before it. We saw the same people, we watched the same cars drive by, and we heard the same animals making the same noises they always make. There we were, the four of us, taking a break from playing basketball and for some reason, I looked up.

There it was the biggest bird I had ever seen flying out of the western sky, but I wasn’t sure it really was a bird. When I first saw it I was certain it was one of those custom-made biplanes, that was just made to look like a bird. However, I noticed there wasn’t any noise coming from its engines. That’s when the beast’s wings flapped. It was at that time I realized I was actually staring at a bird bigger than any I had ever seen in my life.

I shouted at my three friends to look up, partly so they could see this giant bird and partly so I’d have someone to tell me if I was seeing things or not. At the time I wasn’t sure if any of them did look up, my eyes were fixed on the bird. I continued to watch it as it flew over my house, then off into the eastern sky. The entire sighting was only about 30 seconds, but those 30 seconds were etched into my mind forever.

The bird itself was probably around 6 to 10 feet in length. As for its wingspan, I am certain that it was at least around 25 feet, maybe bigger. It was a dark brown color with no other marks that I could see. One thing that stands out in my mind is its huge claws. I had seen both vultures and birds of prey’s claws and something about these made me think of a bird of prey. The only part of the bird that I didn’t get a good look at was its head. All I can remember seeing is its beak, and that was only for a brief moment.

Submitted sketch by the witness MJE

As for the other three witnesses, I am certain that two of them saw the bird too. As for the third one, he wasn’t around when I looked to see if anyone else was present after the bird was out of my view. As for one of the other witnesses, at the time of the sighting, and for a while after it, he agreed that we saw a rather large bird, but a couple of months after the sighting he said he didn’t remember seeing anything. As for the fourth witness, he has always agreed that we saw a giant bird that day. He remembers it being a dark color but isn’t sure which color because the sun was in his eyes from his viewpoint. One thing we don’t agree on about the bird is its size. He thinks it was slightly bigger, around 12 feet with a wingspan of about 30 feet.

That sighting was seven years ago (1995) and to this day I’m not sure what it was. I know it wasn’t a vulture or a hawk of some kind, because I see those all the time around here. After reading about thunderbirds I believe that is what it was. I just wish I could get a glimpse of it again, one then I can be certain if all I saw was my imagination taking over for a moment, or a truly massive bird roaming the Midwestern skies." MJE

NOTE: The witness doesn't give a specific location, but there have been traditional sightings of huge cryptid birds in the general area for centuries. Lon

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We are asking the worldwide public to come forward with your sightings & encounters. Contact us by email - Thanks. Lon

Have you had a sighting of a winged humanoid or huge bat-like creature in the Chicago, Illinois metro area / Lake Michigan region? The entity has also been referred to as the 'Chicago Mothman', 'Chicago Owlman' & 'O'Hare Mothman' or 'O'Hare Batman.' - Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map - Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com - your anonymity is guaranteed. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. We are merely seeking the truth and wish to determine what eyewitnesses have been encountering. Your cooperation is truly appreciated.

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