Monster: The Ed Gein Story - Why was Richard Speck called Birdman? Details from the Netflix series explored

The third installment in Ryan Murphy's serial killer verse, titled Monster: The Ed Gein Story, is certainly the most chilling. The latest season not only explores the chilling story of one of America's most horrific body snatchers turned serial killers, but also how he left a dark legacy behind. The final episode features allusions to multiple serial killers in a fever dream Ed Gein has towards the end of his life.

Among these serial killers is Richard Speck, infamously dubbed the Birdman by his inmates. Speck was a mass murderer who murdered eight student nurses in July 1966 in their Chicago residence by stabbing, slashing and strangling. This real-life serial killer makes a brief appearance in the Monster: The Ed Gein Story finale, making the final hour even more chilling.

Following Richard Speck's appearance in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, this unfortunate curiosity is bound to plague everyone's mind: Why was he called the Birdman? The answer lies in John E. Douglas' (of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit) book Mindhunter, where he details how two sparrows casually flew into Richard Speck's cell one day:

"He found an injured sparrow that had flown in through one of the broken windows and nursed it back to health. When it was healthy enough to stand, he tied a string around its leg and had it perch on his shoulder.''

Thus, Richard Speck was dubbed the Birdman. But this infamous nickname also carries a darker and sinister meaning.

Read on to know why Richard Speck was called Birdman.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story - The dark legacy of Birdman

Long after you finish Monster: The Ed Gein Story, you are haunted by the eerie visions of the titular Monster being ushered into a long hallway by similar monsters he inspired, praising and revering him as their role models. While this chilling detail was one of Ed Gein's visions in the finale, he actually received fan letters from many, including Richard Speck aka Birdman. It's this inclusion of the many real-life serial killers like Speck and Ted Bundy that makes the third installment even more chilling.

While the nickname 'Birdman' might feel casual, it holds a dark and chilling legacy to convicted murderer Robert Franklin Stroud, also known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz." As one of the most notorious killers in the US in the 1940s. Robert Stroud was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment in Leavenworth Penitentiary, where he became a respected ornithologist. During his time in prison, he sold and reared birds, thus earning him the infamous nickname.

Richard Speck's appearance in Monster: The Ed Gein Story is thus a nod to Robert Stroud's terror, suggesting how the cycle of violence continues. While Richard Speck was dubbed Birdman by his inmates after two sparrows flew into his cell one day, it is symbolic of the serial killer's solitary nature. According to prison records, Richard Speck was a loner who kept to himself in his cell and occasionally listened to music. One of the most chilling incidents surrounding Speck's life is noted by John E. Douglas as:

''At one point, a guard told him pets weren't allowed. 'I can't have it?' Speck challenged, then walked over to a spinning fan and threw the small bird in. Horrified, the guard said, 'I thought you liked that bird.' 'I did,' Speck replied. 'But if I can't have it, no one can.'"

Monster: The Ed Gein Story- Did Richard Speck and Ed Gein have any connection?

The final episode of Monster: The Ed Gein Story features Birdman's letter to his idol, Ed Gein. The letter revealed how Speck idolized Ed Gein and called him his role model. Richard Speck's brief appearance in the Netflix show is symbolic of the many suspicions around the real-life serial killer, who was speculated to have undergone hormone therapy while in prison, resulting in alleged gynecomastia.

While Richard Speck was a part of Ed Gein's fan club in Monster: The Ed Gein Story, there are no recorded shared histories between the two killers. Additionally, there is no proof that Speck was inspired by Ed Gein and considered him his role model. However, this chilling tribute was Murphy's way to expose society's perverse fascination with serial killers and how Ed Gein inspired many (undocumented) serial killers like him.

Monster: The Ed Gein Story is streaming on Netflix.

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