AVIAN BIRDS

Blood hawks resemble normal hawks in size alone, as their beaks are razor sharp and their talons unusually strong. Their wings are similar to those of an eagle, giving them considerable speed in flight. For purposes of aerial combat, they are manoeuvrability class B.

They attack with their beaks (1-6 hit points of damage) and two sets of talons (1-4 hit points of damage each set), swooping swiftly and silently onto their victims. Blood hawks are fond of human flesh and will continue to attack humans even when the melee is going against them.

They will pick at the dead bodies of their prey, not only for food but also for gems with which they line their nests as an allurement to blood hawk females. All other types of treasure will be ignored.

In colour the blood hawk is a uniform medium grey.

Giant cranes are found in the same habitats as are ordinary cranes, herons, bitterns, and similar wading birds. They hunt large fish in marshes and swamps, along the banks of watercourses, or on lake verges. Although generally nonaggressive, giant cranes are protective of their mates, young, and nesting areas. If more than 10 are encountered, it is 50% likely that each additional bird will be an immature specimen. If 20 are encountered, there is a 50% chance that they are part of a great flock of 31-50 (1d20+30). From 3-12 of the flock will be half-grown fledglings.

EAGLE

Neutral Man-sized Animal (avian) (7-ft.+ wing span)

FREQUENCY: Rare

NO. APPEARING: 1 or 2 (5-12 in a rookery)

SURPRISE: Never suprised (unless in lair or at night, 17%)

SENSES: exceptional eyesight

ARMOR CLASS: 6

MOVE: 1" — fly 30" (Class C)

HIT DICE: 1 + 3 (hp 7)

% IN LAIR: 20%

TREASURE TYPE: (10% chance of a coin or gem)

THAC0: 18

MELEE: 2 talons (1d2 each) and bite (1d2)

SPECIAL ATTACKS: dive attack - Hits As: normal

SPECIAL DEFENSES: none

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)

MORALE: +8%

SAVES: Poison 14, Petrify 15, Wand 16, Breath 17, Spell 17

LEVEL: II (XP 35 + 2 per hp)

There are several species of eagles, all of which conform generally to the statistics given here. While it is usual to encounter a single bird or mated pair, there is a slight (5%) chance that an encounter will be in a rookery area where 5-12 of these creatures will nest. Nests are in the tallest trees, on cliffs or in mountains. There will be 1-4 eggs in a nest. There is a 10% chance that some small, shiny item will also be there (a coin, gem, etc.).

During attack, eagles typically dive from a great height. Diving movement is double normal speed (if from 100 feet or more) and damage is restricted to 2 claw attacks. However, these attacks are at +2 to hit and cause twice normal damage. Due to their exceptional eyesight, eagles are almost never surprised. Unless exceptionally hungry, eagles will not attack even the smaller demihumans, although a brownie, for instance, would be in considerable danger, for the birds would attack prey of that size without hesitation.

Eagles are difficult to train for hunting. Only about 25% can be properly managed. Nevertheless, viable eggs or eaglets will bring 60-100 gp on the open market.

EAGLE, Giant

Neutral Man-sized Monster (animal, avian) (20-ft. wing span)

FREQUENCY: Rare

NO. APPEARING: 1-20

SURPRISE: Never (17%)

SENSES: exceptional eyesight

ARMOR CLASS: 7

MOVE: 3" — fly 48" (Class D, 9/4 hp)

HIT DICE: 4 (hp 18)

% IN LAIR: 20%

TREASURE TYPE: Q, C (magic only)

THAC0: 15

MELEE: 2 talons (1d6 each) and bite (2d6)

SPECIAL ATTACKS: dive attack - Hits As: normal

SPECIAL DEFENSES: none

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Average (8-10)

MORALE: +20%

SAVES: Poison 13, Petrify 14, Wand 15, Breath 16, Spell 16

LANGUAGES: Giant Eagle, telepathy (100-ft, limited vocabulary)

LEVEL: IV (XP 150 + 4 per hp)

Giant eagles are found only in places where there are great bluffs, cliffs, mesas, or mountain crags to nest on. Their eyesight is such that they are never surprised unless encountered in their lair or at night. 

If they attack by diving 50 or more feet they add +4 to hit probability, do double claw damage (2-12/2-12), but get no beak attack. 

They can carry up to 2,000 gold pieces at half speed.

If encountered outside their lair, giant eagles will typically ignore any good creatures but attack evil creatures which seem to be threatening.

They are fairly friendly towards certain dwarves and elves. They have their own language and can also communicate through a limited form of telepathy. If encountered in their lair they will always be hostile. If there are young (50%) or eggs there they will attack any creature within 50-ft.

There will be 1-4 young per nest, 1 nest per 2 giant eagles. They can be tamed. Eggs sell on the open market for 500 to 800 gold pieces each.

Falcons and hawks are common throughout the world, from tropic to subarctic re-gions. These birds nest in tall trees or inaccessible cliff areas. There is a 5% chance that a nest will contain some small, shiny item, such as a coin or gem. 

Attack is typically by a plummeting dive from 100 feet or higher. This increases to-hit probability by +2 and inflicts twice the amount of normal talon damage, but no beak attack is then possible.

Because of their exceptional eyesight, birds of this sort are never surprised. 

If taken while young and trained by an expert, falcons and hawks can be taught to hunt. These same birds can be set upon opponents, and this attack will be by claw and beak. 

However, if the opponent has unprotected eyes, a beak hit has a 25% probability of actually blinding 1 eye.

Large falcons have been known to attack small demihumans while hunting in the wild. Such occurrences are extremely rare.

Various types of owls are found in every clime. While some are smaller than those covered by this data, most encounters will be with the large specimens. Attack is by talon and beak. 

When plummeting from a 50-foot or greater height, attack is at +2 to hit, and damage inflicted is twice normal, but no beak attack is possible. 

Owls have double normal ultravision, have quadruple normal hearing, and they fly in total silence.

They are likely to surprise prey 5 in 6, and are never surprised during hours of dusk or darkness. 

In light of twilight to daylight brightness, owls see at just under human standard. Thus, despite their hearing, they are surprised 3 in 6 if discovered in their hidden daylight roosting place.

While they cannot be trained to hunt, they can be somewhat domesticated if taken young enough and inured to human presence. 

Because daylight birds (such as crows, ravens, etc., which are normally prey to night-hunting owls) flock to attack an owl discovered in daylight, the owls are sometimes used as decoys by hunters. The anger and determination of attacking birds causes them to lose caution in their desire to kill the decoy owl.

Screech Owl. These owls are smaller, with a 2-3 ft. wingspan. Otherwise, they conform to normal owl statistics.

Giant owls are rarely encountered as they inhabit only very wild areas. They are nocturnal predators and effective hunters. Giant owls speak their own language.

A giant owl strikes with its two sets of sharp talons and its strong beak. Its feathers allow it to fly with nearly absolute silence, thus it surprises on 1-5 (on a 6-sided die).

These creatures are intelligent and will sometimes befriend other creatures. If encountered in their lair there is a 20% chance that there will be 1-3 eggs (25%) or 1-3 hatchling owls, 20% to 70% grown. The parents will always attack any creature threatening the eggs/owlettes. Eggs sell for 1,000 gold pieces, young for 2,000 on the open market.

Environment. Arctic (Giant. night only: plains, rough, cauldrons); Sub-arctic (Giant. night only: plains, scrub, forest, rough, desert, hills, mountains, marsh); Temperate and sub-tropical, uninhabited/wilderness areas (Giant. night only: plains, scrub, forest, rough, desert, hills, mountains, marsh);