The article examines the origin of the trope of the crocodile bird in Egyptian culture and its dissemination in classical, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. It discusses whether the crocodile bird actually existed and which bird species could be identified with it. The text describes various versions of a story about the friendship between a crocodile and a bird that was widespread in ancient literature. It also points out that the trochilus may be mentioned in Byzantine poetry and in Horapollo's treatise on hieroglyphs. However, there is no clear evidence for the depiction of the trochilus in visual art. The article describes the origin and dissemination of the trochilus trope, a narrative about a bird that cleans the teeth of a crocodile. The story originated in ancient Egypt and was passed down in various cultures, including Greek, Roman, Islamic, and Jewish traditions. [Extracted from the article]