The Birdman of Porto

While wandering the streets of Porto, I came across this extraordinary street performer surrounded by birds perched calmly on his curious collection of masks, chimes, sticks and musical contraptions.

The centerpiece of it all was a hurdy‑gurdy — a medieval string instrument he cranked by hand, producing a droning, violin‑like sound that blended with the gentle chiming of his setup.

The birds seemed completely at ease, as if they were part of the performance — quietly observing the crowd from their little perches while the whole assemblage gently chimed and clinked in the breeze.

Naturally, I went home and tried to Google him. Surely someone this unusual must be famous, right? But surprisingly, I found almost nothing about him.

Who is he?
A local character? A travelling performer? A well-known busker that everyone in Porto recognizes but nobody has written about?

Sometimes the most memorable people in a city leave the smallest trace on the internet.

If anyone knows the story behind Porto’s mysterious bird busker, I’d love to hear it.