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What The Bird On The Pontiac Trans Am's Hood Is Actually Called

CarScoops • October 31, 2026 • technology

Key Points:

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am, produced over 35 years and four generations, is best known for its iconic hood graphic called the "screaming chicken," which became a signature design element of the car.
The original bird emblem was inspired by Hopi Native American jewelry and later evolved into a dramatic phoenix graphic designed by Pontiac's Bill Porter, who was influenced by Tiffany vases.
Despite initial rejection by GM design boss Bill Mitchell, the graphic was eventually approved after designer John Schinella enhanced it and cleverly presented it on a black Trans Am with gold accents, aligning with Mitchell's tastes.
Introduced as an option in 1973 for $55, the hood decal grew in size and popularity through the late 1970s, becoming standard on most 1979 Trans Ams and influencing even Ford's Mustang King Cobra design.
The graphic remained a key feature through the 1980s but was discontinued after 1987 as its popularity declined, marking the end of an era for one of Pontiac's most recognizable design elements.

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