also: けちょう
noun
mysterious bird; monster bird
Refers to a strange, eerie, or supernatural bird, or a monster that has taken the form of a bird. Often used in folklore, fantasy, or metaphorical contexts.
その伝説には、夜に現れる怪鳥の話がある。
In that legend, there is a story of a mysterious bird that appears at night.
怪鳥のような影が空を横切った。
A shadow like a monster bird crossed the sky.
Alternate spelling using 化 (transformation), emphasizing a monster that has taken bird form. Reading けちょう is less common.
Contains outdated kanji 恠 (variant of 怪). Rarely used in modern writing.
Compound of 怪 (kai, 'mysterious, strange') and 鳥 (chō, 'bird'). The reading けちょう for 化鳥 uses 化 (ke, 'transformation') to emphasize a transformed monster.