Gwaihir is the eagle who rescues Gandalf from Orthanc in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Gwaihir, called the Windlord, is the greatest of the Great Eagles who appear in the narrative. He carries Gandalf away from the summit of Orthanc after the wizard is imprisoned there by Saruman. The rescue allows Gandalf to continue opposing Sauron’s plans.
Gwaihir later carries Gandalf from the Misty Mountains to Lothlórien and helps rescue Gandalf and the others after the Battle of the Peak. He also participates in the final rescue of Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom after the Ring is destroyed.
Tolkien’s legendarium contains several named Eagles, so Gwaihir is sometimes confused with Landroval or Meneldor. Thorondor is another major Eagle, but he belongs chiefly to the First Age and is not the bird who rescues Gandalf from Orthanc.