wait did I miss something in the hobbit book that says that bard can talk to birds???
Yes, so men of Dale can talk to thrushes and Bard is descended from the Lords of Dale, and thus has this ability in his bloodline! Thorin speaks about it in this line below:
“The Men of Dale used to have the trick of understanding their language, and used them for messengers to fly to the Men of the Lake and elsewhere.”
This is the passage where Bard specifically communicates with a thrush:
“Suddenly out of the dark something fluttered to his shoulder. He started — but it was only an old thrush. Unafraid it perched by his ear and it brought him news. Marvelling he found he could understand its tongue, for he was of the race of Dale. “Wait! Wait!” it said to him. “The moon is rising. Look for the hollow of the left breast as he flies and turns above you!” And while Bard paused in wonder it told him of tidings up in the Mountain and of all that it had heard.”
He's not cited to be able to talk to any other type of bird, though. Hope that helps!
