The bald eagle is common all along the Northwest Coast, while the golden eagle lives mainly in mountainous regions. Eagles are large birds of prey with impressive hunting and fishing skills. Eagle is one of the most important beings in the art and mythology of the Northwest Coast. It is respected for its intelligence and power, as well as its extraordinary vision, in both the literal and figurative senses. Eagles in myth are, likewise, usually noble characters. Eagle spirits are associated with lofty ideals and the pursuit of freedom. Eagle is revered as a powerful hunter. Groups of mythical Eagles may gather for co-operative whale hunting expeditions, since, unlike the giant Thunderbird, Eagle is not strong enough to hunt whales alone. Eagle may often be depicted with Salmon, one of its favourite foods, with a hooked beak and small ears.
Raven is central to coastal mythology. As a culture hero, a transformer, and a trickster, his adventures at the beginning of time released the sun and the moon and brought the world into existence. Raven is identified by its straight beak and lack of ears or plumage on the head.
Moon is associated with peace and transformation and is also widely regarded as a protector and guardian spirit. In some stories the Moon originated as chip of the Sun, which Raven broke into pieces. Moon is often depicted with humanoid features and can be distinguished from the Sun by a labret in its bottom lip indicating female nobility.
