I may have asked this a couple of years ago, but still have no good answer. Given all the new 'faces' in the forum let's throw the question out again and see what comes of it.

What a beautiful thought I am thinking
Concerning the Great Speckled Bird

Further into the song reference is made to "Desiring to lower Her Standards", giving the entity a female reference.
How do YOU interpret this wonderful old standard? Or is it meant to be one of the mysteries of life? What is the Great Speckled Bird??