In the Gravity Falls fandom, I’ve come across many posts comparing Ford to an owl, or jokingly calling him one. I haven’t yet seen any other characters get this treatment outside Monster Falls AUs, and wondered what their counterparts would be, especially Stan.
After thinking it over, I propose that Stan is a crow.
Crows, at least in Western culture, get a bad reputation. They’re considered thieves and tricksters, known for stealing shiny things. Long-held superstitions claim crows are bringers of bad luck. They’re often an unwelcome sight to humans.
But behind the notoriety, crows are highly intelligent. They’re among the less than 1% of animal species that have been observed to use tools. Studies show crows can successfully solve multi-step problems and puzzle boxes. They can remember human faces, and communicate that knowledge to other members of their groups. Crows hold grudges for years, and will sometimes attack people their groups deem dangerous. They’re fiercely loyal to their family members. Who does that sound like?
In other words, they’re not what they seem - a perfect match for Stan!