I was regarding magic in the HP universe in general and how most wizards are unfamiliar with things in the muggle world, and understandably so. They are familiar with their own lives and experiences and magical frames of reference. Then I thought about the Patronus Charm.

Every Patronus in the books took the shape of normal nonmagical animals. No dragons, no trolls, no hippogriffs, no manticores or sphynxs. Not even a pygmy puff I find that interesting given that the Patronus Charm is an extension of the wizard and their personality, and even though wizards are exposed to magical creatures sometimes on a daily basis, their Patronuses are representations of decidedly nonmagical creatures.

I don't know if that was a conscious decision on JKR's part, but I find it interesting nonetheless. Just something I noticed and I doubt it really affects anything, but I thought I'd mention and open it for any discussion

Yeah on the whole that is true. Dumbledore's is a phoenix, though. Maybe that is some sort of indication of his affinity with magic. He has magic in his soul! Also on one of the chocolate frog cards I'm pretty sure someone has a giant patronus. I guess it happens, but rarely. I do wonder why that is, though. Maybe because magical creatres themselves are rarer than non-magical, and it would take an unusual peronality to have an unusual patronus. Most witches and wizards do have ordinary personalities and aren't that different to muggles in how they act and talk etc. I suppose it also might be that those with magical animals for patronus' have a sort of mysticism about them as well as possibly having a very good insight into magic.

True true, as Dumbledore's was only mentioned once and never seen I forgot about it (though I wonder how Harry knew what it was). Yah, I can see Dumbledore being who he is and as powerful as he is just decided to have his Patronus be a phoenix. Hmmm... perhaps after the battle with Grindlewald and his motivations and drives changed so radically...

I can see what you're saying about magical creatures being rare and unusual, but to me in Missouri a Kiwi is rare and unusual. To my friend who lives in Auckland, New Zealand... not so much. I'd think since wizards are exposed to magical creatures there'd be more than just the one mentioned in passing.

It is an interesting thing though.. perhaps since the Patronus is fueled by the natural emotions of joy and happiness rather than raw magic, perhaps it takes on the shape of something more natural than magical. I'm grasping at straws here (or wands as the case may be ;) ) but it's something for the brain. More likely than not the real reason is JKR saying "Honestly, I didn't think about it all that much..."