Is it just me, or shouldn't the bird on the Hylian shield have importance in the game? It is carrying the Triforce after all...

I don't think Nintendo initially meant it to mean anything. A lot of shields and flags have an animal or monster on in an attempt to intimidate the opponent. However, later on in the Zelda series (Twilight Princess to be specific) the race "Oocca" was introduced. They are a race of bird-like creatures who are said to be the closest related to the goddesses of Hyrule, who created the Triforce (which is often seen with the eagle-like symbol)

well the bird should becouse it is the one who found the triforce and relized its importance.

umm... not really it's just a symbol of strength.

I just think it is an important symbol for the hylians

i think the guy who said its like kind of like a symble of the triforce i agree with him.

i think it does ( i mean stay )
i mean its traddition?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

the game skyward sword answers this question.

i think that it means that the birds in skyward sword and the rito from WW have some importance

There are rumors that the bird is a phoenix