This constellation, almost universally recognized as a bird, has also been called The Griffin, The Eagle, The Young Ostriches (Arabic), and The Fire Bird (Chinese).
From tppm@we.mediaone.net:
"Phoenix" is the Greek word for dark red or purple. The Phoenix bird was
given that name for its color. The region & culture of Phoenicia were
given that name because of their famous Tyrian purple dye made out of
rotted molluscs, altho' the Phoenicians were the direct descendents of
the Canaanites and "kenani" means dark red in Canaanite & may have
refered to sunburned complexions.