Stymphalian birds

American  

[stim-fey-lee-uhn, -feyl-yuhn] / stɪmˈfeɪ li ən, -ˈfeɪl yən /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a flock of predacious birds of Arcadia that were driven away and killed by Hercules as one of his labors.

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Example Sentences

Polyphemus, the Cyclops, crouches atop one set of revolving doors, and the Stymphalian birds, known for their toxic dung, hover over another.

From New York Times • Jul. 10, 2014

The sixth labor, was to drive away the Stymphalian birds, which were a plague to the people of Stymphalus because of their enormous numbers.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

So far, they’d slain a Laistrygonian ogre in the bakery, battled a giant warthog in the public square and defeated a flock of Stymphalian birds with some well-aimed vegetables from Piper’s cornucopia.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

But wherever this "heavenly treasure" has been, about it have always hovered the Stymphalian birds of superstition, thrusting their brazen beaks and claws deep into the flesh of honest men.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 6 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Discussions by Ingersoll, Robert Green

At the island of Aretias they drove away the Stymphalian birds, who used their feathers of brass as arrows.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various