Beware of pinpiercers

The trample steppe bears resemblances to the Pleistocene mammoth steppe, especially in biotic-abiotic interactions. Yet, it boasts unique faunal and botanical assemblages, notably featuring endothermic shrubs known as doorpeas and a much richer mega-bird biota. Large avian species aren't just limited to terrestrial herbivores; they include various predators like the ubiquitous pinpiercers. These fierce parstrikers, equipped with a sabre-tooth-like beak, rank among Antarctica's largest flying birds (excluding hoofpoles). Their territory now extends across the coldvanna and the trample steppe, ranging from sea level to over 1000 meters in altitude.

One pinpiercer species, the atrocious pinpiercer (Atrociramphos giganteus), has achieved astonishing dimensions, placing it among the six superpredators of Antarctica's carnivorous guild. Females of this lethal glider can approach 25 kg in weight (55 lbs), boasting a 4-meter wingspan, capable of hunting prey as large as a steppe stottmouse. Their extensive, elongated wings facilitate minimal effort flight, enabling moderately prolonged flying pursuits. An individual was once observed tracking a rostrid for an entire day, alternating between swift aerial pursuits and slow ground pursuits.

Due to the lack of large trees in their habitat, atrocious pinpiercers typically nest on cliffs in mountainous regions or atop lowland inselbergs. The A. giganteus planitialis subspecies, dwelling in the vast plains of the Great Depreasseaon, has also adapted to nest on the ground near small thickets. Remarkably fearless of predators (except for beasters), these birds fiercely defend their kills or, conversely, scavenge from others.
Sporting a white to grey plumage with lighter head feathers and blackish wing spots, atrocious pinpiercers blend seamlessly into rocky, snowy, or misty environments. Both genders bear a distinctive long black feathery eyebrow, serving as a form of interspecies communication rather than a functional feature. These predators often scavenge carrion and opportunistically steal kills from large geotters like barkdowners, carnieri, and even solitary tarsisnatchers. To scare off predators, they execute repetitive jumps with fully spread wings. Whether on land or sea, anything ascending suddenly becomes scarier.

Some pinpiercers have maintained a "modest" size akin to their ancestors, like the parkland pinpiercer (Deinoramphos deinoramphos), adapted to the most inhospitable Antarctic regions. Its habitat spans the southernmost parts of the trample steppe, barren tundra, and even sea ice. Preying mainly on ground birds, from rostrids to basking reefsurfers, this species wields a curved beak with a long, serrated maxilla acting as a swift prey-subjugating knife. These pinpiercers adopt a polygamous breeding system, with males mating with several females bordering their territories. The males boast exceptionally large home ranges, covering over 400 km2 due to the challenging environment, compelling them to seek mates across vast areas. Consequently, the sex ratio skews heavily toward females, with some subpopulations having a male ratio as low as 10%. Glacial phases witness a higher abundance of this species, with 80,000-120,000 mature individuals, while during interglacial periods, these numbers drop by more than half.

A notable trait among all modern pinpiercers is their prehensile tongue, inherited from their parrot ancestors, featuring a hooked bone to enhance gripping while piercing prey. Despite its sharpness, the tongue also serves grooming and preening, aided by small keratinous denticles in its innermost part.