Hwyaid Annwn (Welsh for "Ducks of Annwn") are spectral birds in Welsh folklore. They are essentially the avian counterpart to the more famous Cŵn Annwn (Hounds of Annwn).
- Spectral Connection: Just as the Cŵn Annwn are the spirit hounds of the Welsh Otherworld (Annwn), the Hwyaid Annwn are spectral waterfowl that inhabit its misty lakes and rivers.
- The "Honking" Myth: The link between spectral creatures and waterfowl stems from the night-time sounds of migrating geese or ducks. In folklore, their loud, rhythmic calls heard in the dark were often mistaken for the baying of ghost hounds or the passage of the Wild Hunt.
- Omen of Death: Like many entities from Annwn, hearing or seeing these spectral ducks was traditionally considered a portent of doom or an omen of death.
- Modern Context: Today, "Hwyaid Annwn" is sometimes used creatively in local Welsh events, such as the famous Llangrannog Duck Race, which playfully nods to the mythical term.