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Birds are animals of the class Aves. They are typically characterised by having feathers, hollow bones, and wings. They are usually capable of flight. Birds in the Magic universe can be of tremendous size and quite intelligent, while some are even anthropomorphic.

[edit] Types of Birds

[edit] Aven

Aven are sentient, anthropomorphic bird creatures found on Dominaria and several other planes; on Dominaria, they are most prevalent on the continent of Otaria. According to Otarian myths, the aven were created when eagles begged the Ancestor to make them human, with the Ancestor granting half the wish. On the other hand, some believe that the aven were refugees from another plane who settled on Dominaria, while others claim that they evolved naturally from birds such as the Suntail Hawk.

There are several different subraces of aven:

[edit] Aven

Although "aven" is used to refer collectively to all bird-like humanoids, it refers specifically to these human-sized people. Aven resemble humanoid eagles, and are tall and strong, possessing arms, legs, and powerful wings capable of flight. Most aven live along Otaria's northern coasts around Balshan Bay as fishers, but many are also found inland on the Daru Plains and other Order-controlled regions. They are militant creatures who make up a significant portion of the Order's members. Many aven are accomplished warriors, wizards, or both. Around the time of the Time Spiral crisis, the aven were reduced to squatters in the continent's ruins.

Notable aven:

[edit] Owl Aven

Most aven resemble eagles, but some are owl-like in appearance. Owl aven seem less militant than eagle aven, specializing as wizards.

Some owl aven also inhabited the planes of Dominaria, Ravnica and the Shard of Alara known as Bant.

[edit] Mutant Aven

As the Mirari's magic washed across Otaria, altering its inhabitants, many aven became taller and more muscular, with long, razor-like talons jutting from their wings. The most advanced of these mutants lost their arms, regressing into huge sentient raptors.

On the other hand, mutant owl aven, known as crookclaws, also grew larger and sprouted talons from their wings, but retained independent use of their arms. The crookclaws' magical abilities were also enhanced by the Mirari's emanations.

Crookclaws appear to have bred true after the Mirari crisis ended and survived at least until the time of the rifts. It is unknown if eagle avens survived as well.

[edit] Elen

Hulking, wingless, featherless avian humanoids with gray skin, legs of nearly solid bone, and limited intelligence, elen stand nine to ten feet in height. They are slow-moving creatures who serve as enforcers and infantry for the Order in Otaria.

[edit] Kathari

The kathari are a race of scavenging vulture-people native to Grixis.

[edit] Raypen

Raypen are small, fragile, four-foot-tall bird-people with vestigal wings (whose magical feathers still afford them flight) and thin, withered-looking legs with prehensile feet. They serve as scouts and magical support for the Order in Otaria.

[edit] Aesthir

Aesthirs are giant birds that were used by the Kjeldorans as flying mounts for their elite skyknights. Aesthirs were highly prized by the Kjeldorans, with mistreatment or disrespect towards them being heavily frowned upon. They gradually became extinct after the Ice Age ended and their natural habitat disappeared.

It is said that Oriel Kjeldos was the first to train an Aesthir, and that Márton Stromgald was the first to use them in combat against the goblins.

[edit] Mesa Falcons

Mesa Falcons are dangerous birds on Ulgrotha that visit Serra's Aviary. Serray's Falconers are able to communicate directly with the birds.

[edit] Parea

The Parea are large, flightless, carnivorous birds living in the east of Jamuraa. They were mostly wiped out in the civilised areas of the continent, but remained a danger in the wastes where they would hunt in packs and prey on travellers. During the Keldon invasion of Jamuraa they were often found following the Keldon war barges looking for carrion and were therefore used to execute worthless prisoners, cowards and traitors.

The Darba are enormous relatives of the parea that would attack even well-armed Keldon encampments in search of food. The can grow upwards of twenty-five feet and are capable of picking up oxen in their beaks.

[edit] Percher

Perchers look nothing like normal birds, but more like flying squid. They were used by the Phyrexians and Rathi to relay messages across long distances, due to their parrot-like ability to memorise and repeat short phrases.

[edit] Phoenix

Phoenixes are half-animal/half-elemental avians. They are capable of turning their body into fire and flame, and literally rising from their ashes, resurrecting themselves. They are seen on Dominaria in various fire-aligned regions (Shiv, Bogardan), Ravnica, Jund, and used to exist even on Rath. Some phoenixes are called firebirds.

[edit] Primoc

Primocs, hybrids between birds and monkey-like beasts were created by the Riptide Project. They have a natural inclination to serve wizards as familiars.

[edit] Roc

Rocs are humongous birds seen on Rabiah, Terisiare, Jamuraa, and Ravnica. The Boros use them as flying mounts for the Skyjeks.

[edit] Rukh

Rukhs, also called "stonefeathers", are similar to phoenixes, except their base element is stone, not fire. They look like great vulture-like birds with leathery, dragon-like wings. They are native to Rabiah.

[edit] Gallery

Aven. Art by Tony DiTerlizzi and Randy Gallegos.	Mutant aven. Art by Luca Zontini and Ron Spencer.	Aesthir. Art by Michael Sutfin.	Mesa Falcon. Art by Mark Poole.
Parea. Art by Arnie Swekel.	Darba. Art by Heather Hudson.	Percher. Art by Edward P. Beard, Jr.	Phoenix. Art by David O'Connor.
Primoc. Art by Tony Szczudlo.	Roc. Art by Andi Rusu.	Rukh hatchling. Art by Mark Zug.