Chickcharney

The chickcharney (also spelled chickcharnie or chickcharnee) is a legendary creature from the folklore of Andros Island in the Bahamas. Said to inhabit the island’s dense forests, the chickcharney is described as a strange, owl-like being covered in feathers or fur, standing about 3 feet (0.91 meters) tall. It has an unusual appearance, with long legs and clawed hands that are part of its wings.

According to local legend, those who encounter a chickcharney and treat it kindly will be rewarded with good luck. However, mistreating the creature—or even mocking its odd appearance—is said to bring misfortune or even provoke a deadly response. Stories of sightings continue into modern times.

Chickcharneys are believed to build their nests by bending multiple pine trees together and nesting at the center of the formation. Several such tree clusters have been reported on the island, further fueling the legend.

In 1995, Oregon forester Bruce G. Marcot proposed that the chickcharney myth may have originated from the now-extinct Bahamian barn owl, Tyto pollens. This large prehistoric owl once lived in the region, though no fossil evidence of the species has been found on Andros itself. Additionally, the most recent known fossils of Tyto pollens date from a period before the arrival of the first human inhabitants, the Lucayans.