There are two birds actually. One stands for truth, the other for beauty, thus to remind us that,
"When old age shall this generation waste, Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe Than ours, a friend to man, to whom thou say'st, 'Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.'"
Hey, can you Harvard types stay in your own posts? This is about two birds and everything they stand for (and on). Either get with the program or ... or ...