The bird with a woman’s face that sings mournful songs in Slavic mythology is Sirin.
Sirin is a bird-woman from Russian and East Slavic legend, usually shown with the head and upper body of a beautiful woman and the body of a bird, often an owl-like bird. Her enchanting singing is associated with paradise, supernatural knowledge, and powerful emotional effects on listeners.
The figure ultimately reflects the influence of Greek siren imagery, transmitted through medieval cultural contacts and religious art. Sirin appears in Russian visual culture, including pottery, jewelry, manuscript decoration, and later popular prints. In some stories, hearing her song causes a person to forget earthly concerns, follow her, or even die; in others, her songs promise heavenly happiness.
Sirin is often confused with Alkonost, another woman-headed paradise bird. Their roles vary by source, but Sirin is commonly linked with sorrow, danger, or ecstatic longing, while Alkonost is more often associated with joy. Gamayun, by contrast, is chiefly a prophetic bird.