What is Jordan’s National Bird?

Today I read the following:

…Unfortunately, pharmacy wildflowers are not the only thing you see along the highways and byways of Jordan. Black plastic bags are everywhere. A student told me in jest that the black bag carried by the wind is the national bird of Jordan and the white plastic bag is his mate [source]

I wonder if this is true…

Now usually I would insert an image that corresponds to the subject of this post. But I could not find on the Internet a picture of a Jordanian desert littered with black plastic bags. Then I thought of American Beauty. You know how in the movie that guy films the bag dancing in the wind? But once again I could not find a picture. So I went outside and tried to make a grocery bag break some moves but the wind only made it cling to my pant leg before speeding off down the street. I guess they used strings in the movie.

P.S. the Sinai Rosefinch is actually the national bird of Jordan

18 Comments

  • lol, that’s funny and it’s true. I’ve spotted those black bags flying many times while at home.

    It’s funny coz just two days ago I was searching the internet trying to find out what Jordan’s national animal was. I didn’t have any luck.

  • lol nas ,let it flow, sqeezing things wont help,they’ll come out when they need to

    my thoughts come out in exam periods, perrrrrrfect timming :mob:

    p.s: the spam quiz got on my nerves :mad:, i mean black iris is dark purple! eh!

  • Ibrahim, lol yeah we actually have real birds that fly here. And the national bird come to think of it is not rare, you can see it all the time.

    Kinzi. it sure is šŸ˜€

    Hamzeh, lol national animal? do I dare venture forth a guess? oh this will be fun šŸ˜€

    Promises
    , and here I thought “what color is the black iris” was the most simple question I could come up with! you’re killin me here (p.s. some of them are dark purple but they are mostly black)

  • SC, i think people would frown upon the constant killing of the national animal šŸ˜€

    Promises, i was going to change it to “what color is black” but then i thought you might say “black is not an actual color” or if i changed it to what color is the sky would say its not blue, it’s actually the refelction of the ocean or something like that šŸ˜€

  • I have seen some kids tie this black plastic bag with a long string and play with it as a kite, and that is mostly because they don’t have the money to buy a colored one or to buy material to make one, and they would be running and playing with it as if it was the best kite they have ever had.

    As for the black iris issue; apparently we have two breeds of the flower in Jordan; one is Iris nigricans which is literally black and the other one is Iris petreana (Petra iris) which is purplish black and has larger petals (click here for details)

    I love the black iris and by the way; there are purple irises and they are called purple not black šŸ™‚

  • When I was a child I used to love ants (and play with them), never kill them or let anyone do that, they are harmless, simple, organized and funny! ( also cute)

    they represent the Jordanian spirit.

  • Khalidah, thanks for the info! šŸ™‚

    Promises, told ya so šŸ˜‰

    SC, problem is most will be walking all over the jordanian spirit without even realising it šŸ˜€

  • Jordan’s natoinal bird should be the “dead sea sparrow”
    Man I love Sparrows! And the dead sea one is very rare, I mean it only exists on the east and west bank of the Jordan river in the dead sea area…

  • I love the Dead Sea sparrows too! Ever notice how they flock to one tree just before sunset and then break out into raucous song as it goes down? To me, I think they are thanking their Creator for a good day and good pickings at those 5 star hotels.

    National animal of Jordan? 20 year old shabaab on the prowl like those feral cats everywhere. No, no, that wasn’t kind…what about the Oryx?

    P.S. I typed in purple, too, the first time

  • Firas & Kinzi, the dead sea sparrow is probably the most visable one. for awhile i thought it was that black falcon on the royal crest of jordan, you know the one?

    SC, abu brai9…hmm…i think a lot of people (especially women) would not like that šŸ˜€

Your Two Piasters: