The Liver Birds never existed as flying creatures. Since its proclamation as a city in 1207 Liverpool has always had a bird on its coat of arms and its town seal, but this was originally an eagle, the bird of St John the Evangelist. In the Civil War, the original Town Seal was lost, and when a new seal was made, the bird looked less like an eagle and more like a cormorant. It had some weed in its beak, known as "laver" or "laever" and this gave rise to the term "liver bird".

The most famous Liver Birds are those on the Royal Liver Building at the Pier Head. They were designed by Carl Bernard Bartels, a woodcarver from Stuttgart, who won a competition in 1908. The Birds were completed at installed in 1911, and their centenary is in 2011. Standing on domes at the top of the building, they are over three hundred feet above ground, making close inspection very difficult. Even from the Promenade Deck of the building, it is only possible to see the rear view of one bird, and close up to the dome only part of a tail is visible.

Liver Birds can now be found all over Liverpool in various guises and interpretations, most of which be read about in "A Little Book of Liver Birds".

Another good source of information about the Liver Birds is "The Third Liver Bird Project" website and its linked pages.