Is a Thunderbird an actual mythological creature?

Yes. But horns aren't common on them - but neither are clear descriptions. But this may be an inspiration: http://animals.nationalgeographic.c.....andean-condor/ (Wingspan of adult, 23')

Oop, dropped the latter link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argent.....is_magnificens So there is vague evidence of a large condor or possible large raptors in the Americas.

But it's more likely the thunderbird is just a mythological anthropomorphization of lightning. ^-^

And it works for the transformation as ki'rins were supposed to use lightning as punishment against wrong doers. At least that is how I see the phrase "Fires from heaven" referencing in myths about ki'rins.

Ah, wat did she look like after and before?

well there really isn't an after pic for any of the ones I have gotten from Shiro but this is how she looked before hand:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8180044/

Cool!

Fascinating. :)

Thank you

Ah thunderbirds, awesome pilots and cool mythical creatures

My fursona Sylvius, a four-armed red thunderfolf, is part thunderbird - the other two parts being red wolf and red fox - and he can tell you that that wingspan is nowhere near big enough...yet. (I made a quick MOC of him - the full wingspan is about twice his height. Just saying. I'm hoping to post a photo of the MOCs of him and his brother Mason, the sona of my Wattpad friend Scarlet-The-Fox, on Thursday.)