Liver bird

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Liver Bird on a tower of the Royal Liver Building

The Liver bird /ˈlvərbɜrd/ is the symbol of the city of Liverpool, England. The use of a bird to represent the city dates to the medieval era, but the idea that the "liver bird" is a mythical creature specific to Liverpool evolved in the 20th century. The bird is normally represented in the form of a cormorant holding a frond in its mouth.


Liver bird relief at the Museum of Liverpool


Since then the bird has been portrayed in many forms to represent the city. Two birds top the clock towers on the Royal Liver Building, at Liverpool's Pier Head, overlooking the River Mersey. The building, headquarters to the Royal Liver Assurance, is probably the best-known in the city and was opened in 1911. Each tower is topped by a metal sculpture of a cormorant-like liver bird, designed by Carl Bernard Bartels and constructed by the Bromsgrove Guild.


Possible species[edit]

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)


The bird shown on the medieval seal is generic, but the wording of the seal contains references to King John, who granted the town's charter in 1207. John, in honour of his patron saint, frequently used the device of an eagle - long associated with St. John. Further indication that the seal was an homage to King John is found in the sprig of broom initially shown in the bird's beak, broom being a symbol of the royal family of Plantagenet.

Arms of the Earls of Liverpool from 1790



The bird thus appears to have originally been intended to be an eagle, but is now officially a cormorant. Many modern interpretations of the symbol are of a cormorant, although several - notably that on the emblem of Liverpool Football Club - distinctly show the short head and curved beak more readily associated with a bird of prey.

Everton Football Club used the Liver Bird symbol on its medals and souvenirs up until the 1930s when it was replaced by Prince Rupert's Tower, another iconic Liverpudlian symbol, in 1938. The club commissioned the incorporation of the Liver Bird on the league championship winners' medal in 1890, Everton's first ever championship title, won at Anfield, their home ground at that time. Some fans still believe the symbol should be used on the club's strip, arguing that it should be a representation of both clubs in the city.[3]

Modern myths and popular culture[edit]


Two birds perched on the Liver Building

The modern popularity of the symbol largely dates to 1911, when the Liver Building was built. This prominent display of two liver birds rekindled the idea that the liver was a mythical bird that once haunted the local shoreline. According to popular legend, they are a male and female pair, the female looking out to sea, (watching for the seamen to return safely home) whilst the male looks towards the city (making sure the pubs are open). An alternative version says that the male bird is looking in to watch over and protect the families of the seamen. Local legend also holds that the birds face away from each other as, if were they to mate and fly away, the city would cease to exist. In fact, they were indeed designed to watch the City (Our People) and the Sea (Our Prosperity). Another legend says that if an honest man and a virgin woman were to fall in love in front of the liverbird that the couple of liverbirds that are in statue form would come to life, fly away and Liverpool would cease to exist.




In November 2008, Liverpool Football Club attempted to register the version of the Liver bird shown on the club badge as a trademark to stop false club merchandise. The deputy council leader, Flo Clucas, said. "The Liver bird belongs to all the people of Liverpool and not one company or organisation".[4]

The Liver bird also forms part of the logo of the University of Liverpool, its Medical Students Society, Liverpool John Moores University and Edge Hill University. The Liverpool Echo also has a slightly altered version of the Liver bird featured on Liverpool F.C.'s emblem on its front page, the differences being it is drawn slightly rounder and carrying a rolled up newspaper instead of a branch.


  1. ^ Liverpool museums - Maritime Archives Information Sheet No. 21 : Liver Bird
  2. ^ [1] Heraldry Society Gazette, March 2008
  3. ^ [2]
  4. ^ BBC NEWS | England | Merseyside | Flap over Liverpool's bird symbol

External links[edit]

Media related to Liver birds at Wikimedia Commons