Gorcrows

From Tolkien Gateway
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Alan Lee - Gorcrows

Gorcrows were a legendary species of birds, only mentioned in passing in Hobbit verse. These foul crows, who croaked in their sleep, are said to have lived in the same damp marshes as the fearsome Mewlips.[1]

"And gloomily the gorcrows stand
Croaking in their sleep.
"
The Mewlips

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Gorcrow, "gore crow", is an old English name for carrion crow.[2]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Gorcrows are said to have 4 ft. wingspan and to be smaller cousins of the crebain,[3] and to be attracted to shiny things.[note 1][4] The northern gorcrow, living in Forodwaith, is described as a larger version of the common gorcrow. The Lossoth are said to regard the northern gorcrows as birds of ill-omen.[5]

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Gore-crows are a type of crebain native to the Lone-lands. They also appear in great number in Mordor.

Notes

  1. A common character trait of crows, ravens, magpies and jackdaws, for example.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Mewlips"
  2. Patrick J. Cassidy, ed. (1913), Webster Dictionary
  3. Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012)
  4. John Crowdis (1990), Rogues of the Borderlands (#8014), p. 6
  5. Randy Maxwell (1997), The Northern Waste (#2025)
Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow