Tradition / Region: Argentinian Mythology
Alternative names: Tagänogók; Tuyango
Category: Bird
The Myth
The Tuyango, known to the Mocoví as Tagänogók, is a monstrous swamp bird said to resemble a rhea but with a distinctive yellow neck. It is a fierce carnivore that hunts humans, dragging its victims back to its lair to devour them.
According to legend, the Tuyangos became infamous for their cannibalism, earning the hatred of the hawk. One day, a Tuyango returned home carrying the bodies of two slain men, only to discover that the hawk had killed all four of its chicks. Crying out in grief, the bird and its mate set out to avenge them.
The hawk outwitted the pair by asking for fire and repeatedly darting through the smoke until the bewildered Tuyangos became exhausted and confused. Seizing the opportunity, the hawk struck them down with a club and killed them both. Returning home in triumph, he assured his frightened daughter that the man-eating bird was dead, and the people rejoiced, believing the terror of the Tuyango had finally come to an end.
Sources
A Book of Creatures. (2016, November 28). Tuyango. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2016/11/28/tuyango/