The Plague Doctor

August 30th, 2024, Birding @ A Random Place Beside the Road

Rook

In Xinjiang, I came face to face with the real-life inspiration behind the "plague doctor."

If you know a little about the Middle Ages, you will probably recall the Black Death and the iconic image of the plague doctor.

Back then, doctors wore waxed cloth robes, black hats, and long beaked masks to filter the air, and white gloves. They carried wooden sticks to lift the sheets or clothes of the patients or to lead them during treatment, believing this dress would protect them from infection.

The appearance of this plague doctor is very close to that of the Rook, and after watching them closely in Xinjiang, the similarity is even more striking.