Varjundi

Varjundi is a term found in Baltic folklore describing a nocturnal bird-like spirit linked to shadows and the boundary between day and night. In Estonian lore, varjund means shade or silhouette, and varjundi is portrayed as a being that embodies the liminal space of twilight. The name and its precise origins vary among sources, but it is generally treated as a folkloric figure rather than a biological species.

Descriptions of varjundi vary, but it is commonly depicted as small and elusive, with dark plumage that blends with forest and marsh shadows. It is often heard more clearly than it is seen, with a quiet, soft call that residents associate with dusk. Its movements are described as swift and almost silent, slipping between trees and reeds as night approaches.

In folklore, the varjundi can serve multiple roles. It is sometimes regarded as a messenger or omen, offering guidance or warning to travelers at twilight. Some tales cast it as protective, while others view it as a mysterious symbol of transition, memory, and hidden knowledge. Its presence tends to evoke the feeling of crossing from one state to another—between wakefulness and sleep, presence and absence.

In modern culture, varjundi appears in Baltic poetry and contemporary fantasy works as a symbol of mystery and the liminal space of night. It is also used in nature writing to evoke the atmosphere of nocturnal habitats where real birds of shadowy plumage may inhabit wetlands and forests.

See also: nightjar, Baltic folklore, shadow symbolism.