Alkonost

The Alkonost is a captivating creature from Slavic folklore, depicted as a bird with a woman's head. Unlike similar mythological beings, the Alkonost appears to be a specific individual character in many legends rather than representing a species.

Her name derives from the Greek demigoddess Alcyone, who in Greek mythology was transformed into a kingfisher by the gods. The Alkonost possesses an extraordinary voice that produces sounds of such otherworldly beauty that those who hear them forget everything they once knew and desire nothing else for the remainder of their lives.

This mystical being makes her home in the underworld alongside her counterpart, the Sirin. The Alkonost's reproductive cycle is linked to dramatic weather phenomena—when she lays her eggs on the shore and rolls them into the sea, their hatching triggers violent thunderstorms and creates impassable waters. In Slavic mythology, she shares kinship with other mythological birds including Rarog and Stratim.

Folk tales describe the Alkonost's appearance during the Apple Feast of the Saviour day, when she arrives in apple orchards during the afternoon, expressing joy and laughter in contrast to the sad cries of the Sirin who visits in the morning. When the Alkonost shakes dew from her wings onto the fruits of her perching tree, they are believed to gain healing properties.