The thunderbird is a legendary creature found in Native American folklore. It's considered a "supernatural" bird of power and strength. It is especially important, and richly depicted, in the art, songs and oral histories of many Pacific Northwest Coast cultures, and is found in various forms among the peoples of the American Southwest and Great Plains. Thunderbirds were major components of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex of American prehistory. The Thunderbird's name comes from the common belief that the beating of its enormous wings causes thunder and stirs the wind.
"A legendary bird of Native American lore. They are said to live high in the mountains. Their flapping wings cause winds, their claps cause thunder, and their eyes shoot light. It is said they can carry the ocean on their backs and eat whales whole."
—Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey compendium
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse[]
"A legendary bird found in Native American lore. Thunderbirds are said to live high in the mountains. Their flapping wings cause winds, their claps cause thunder, and their eyes shoot light. It is said they can carry the ocean on their backs and eat whales whole."
"A revered bird of Native American mythology said to live atop cloud-shrouded peaks. It resembles an eagle, and its wingbeats create mighty thunderclaps. Some legends say its eyes can unleash lightning, and other accounts say it can carry an entire lake on its back or even swallow an entire whale whole."
—Shin Megami Tensei V lore
Thunderbird can be found as a punishing foe circling the Container Yard. It will ignore the protagonist as it circles overhead, only engaging them in battle should they stand directly in its flight path atop the shipping containers or strike it.
During battle, Thunderbird may begin to spam Sonic Boom as part of its normal string of attacks, so keeping a demon that resists or nullifies Force damage is advised to deplete the number of actions it can take. It will use Mazionga following Omagatoki: Critical.
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers[]
If Thunderbird's loyalty is maxed out, it can be converted through Mystic Change into the Raijin Sword, a blade that can inflict Shock on enemies.
Soul Hackers 2[]
"A revered bird of Native American mythology said to live atop cloud-shrouded peaks. It resembles an eagle, and its wingbeats create mighty thunderclaps. Some legends say its eyes can unleash lightning, and other accounts say it can carry an entire lake on its back or even swallow an entire whale whole."
—Soul Hackers 2 demon info
Thunderbird is a demon of the Avian race and can be found as an enemy in the 24th Ward Municipal Tower.
Persona 5 Royal[]
"A revered bird of Native American mythology said to live atop cloud-shrouded peaks. Resembles an eagle. Its wingbeats create thunderclaps, and some legends say its eyes can unleash lightning."