There is a hidden Liver Bird in the city many people walk past every day without even realising.
The third bird is hidden just a few hundred yards away from the world-famous pair that stand atop the Liver Building as one of the city's most renowned landmarks.
Four tonne Bertie and Bella may be the most famous, a third bird actually pre-dates them.
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Known as the 'mother' bird of the more famous pair, it has been perched on top of the Grade-II listed Mersey Chambers since 1870.
The bird is also distinguishable because it has only had one wing — a mystery that has puzzled historians and art curators since they first believed it went missing in 2014.
Not many have seen the mysterious third bird, but a new photograph taken by Tim Ludgate of TL Roofing has recently been seen by the ECHO.
Mr Ludgate's rare snap captures the bird's mysterious shape due to only having one wing.
The ECHO has previously reported how historians were left scratching their heads when the left wing of the statue went missing.
In 2016, David Hearn, an economic and social historian, said: “It has to be found because, with it pre-dating the two famous birds on the Royal Liver Building, which opened in 1911, it is as though this bird is the mother bird. It is probably the earliest free-standing Liver Bird.’’
The date of the disappearance is unknown, but David believed it may have vanished "in 2014."
But the mysteries of the 'mother' bird don't end at the wing disappearance.
A mystery also remains in regard to what the bird was made of.
Ben Murphy, a local art restorer, told the ECHO at the time: “It looks like there have been supports added to the wings as a later addition. This can be seen by fixings running along the leading edge of the wings.
“It is impossible to tell what materials have actually been used to make the bird, as it has been painted. However, it can be said that it is certainly not bronze and there are no rust marks on the original bird, but there are on the wrought iron balustrades besides it.”
Author David Cottrell, who wrote The Little Book of Birds, also said: "‘I think, ‘where is the third Liver Bird?’ is one of those local history questions which catches people out. And now the question can be ‘where is the left wing?’ ’’
"We need to look after them, they’re an endangered species. It’s a conservation issue, they’re part of our heritage, the fabric of our city. And they’re very noticeable. Everyone needs to be eagle-eyed.”
In 2019, Dennis Morris implored Mersey Chambers Ltd, the owners of the building, to restore the statue as a symbol of pride for the city after he noticed the missing wing.
At the time, the ECHO approached Mersey Chambers Ltd for a comment at their official registered office address but did not receive a response.
The bird can be seen perched on top of the chambers beside St Nicholas Paris Church of Liverpool off Chapel Street.
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