Al Damiri defines the phoenix by quoting Qazwini….
The Phoenix (qaqnus) is a bird from India of a most unique nature. It collects a large quantity of firewood to build a nest; while mating male and female rub their beaks together to set the wood on fire, and be consumed; rain falls on their ashes, and beget caterpillars that will grow wings and become phoenix and will perpetuate their forebears rituals.
…probably from this source, Kawizni’s account in the Zoological Section of the Nuzhatu-l-Qulûb
The Phoenix (Qaqnus) is said to be well known. ((It lives in India; it has a long beak, with many holes in it, and from every one there proceeds a different note. When it sings, no animal can pass by because of the sweetness of its song. And it does not beget young; at the time of death male and female collect a large quantity of firewood, and interlink their beaks together and flap their wings; from the clash of their wings the wood catches fire, and blazes, and the two phoenixes are consumed; rain falls on their ashes, and a worm appears therein, and eats of the ashes, and grows to a large size and becomes another phoenix.