The 'Alicanto' is a mythological bird of the desert of
Atacama, pertaining to
Chilean mythology.
Legend
The
legend says that the alicanto's wings shine during the night with beautiful, metallic colors, and their eyes dismiss strange lights; making a luminous flight some would not project shade on the desert.
This bird brings the luck to any
miner who sees it. Alicanto live in small caves between hills containing
mineral, and feed on
gold and
silver.
If the lucky miner follows an alicanto without being caught, they can find silver or gold. But, if the alicanto discovers them, the bird will guide the greedy miner off a cliff, causing them to fall to their death.