Mythical Bird: Ziz

In Jewish Mythology, the Ziz is a griffin like creature that has a wingspan big enough to block out the sun. It is seen as a guardian of other lesser races of birds, and without it the other birds would suffer and die. It would attack those who would trespass into its territory and kill the birds of the sky. It is believed to be just a simple metaphor for the sky, as the Leviathan is a metaphor for the ocean and the Behemoth for the land.