Tradition / Region: American Mythology
Alternative names: Dingbat
Category: Bird
The Myth
The Dingbat is a legendary Fearsome Critter of the Great Lakes region. It is described as a strange hybrid of bird and mammal, with a short feathered body, large wings, and a pair of short antlers.
Rather than attacking people directly, the Dingbat delights in tormenting hunters. During deer season it is said to catch bullets in mid-air before they can strike their target, drink the gasoline from hunters’ automobiles, and play countless other tricks that leave sportsmen frustrated and unsuccessful.
Because of its mischievous nature, hunters have long blamed the Dingbat whenever an apparently perfect shot inexplicably misses. Although sightings of the creature are rare, it remains one of the best-known pranksters among the legendary Fearsome Critters of North American folklore.
Sources
A Book of Creatures. (2019, October 25). Dingbat. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/10/25/dingbat/