Hjað Cormorants
Kmúþic: Úmjahil Jöxan /uːmjahɪːl jœːksaːn/
High-Æjalan: Hjaðhlún /çaːðl̥un/
Low-Æjalan: Jaðlún /jaːðluːn/
Hjað cormorants1 are aquatic birds native to Þjaris, a region in northwestern Jælondis, specifically the coast of Niþvú Sea to the west and around Þlónó Lake.
The birds are medium-sized compared to other cormorant species in Borgalor, and display significantly less sexual dimorphism than the latter, to the point that virtually the only way to easily tell males and females apart are their calls during mating season. While excellent divers, the hjað cormorant generally prefers catching various fish and -to lesser extent- amphibians and and aquatic invertebrates in shallow waters.
Low-Æjalan: Jaðlún /jaːðluːn/
Hjað cormorants1 are aquatic birds native to Þjaris, a region in northwestern Jælondis, specifically the coast of Niþvú Sea to the west and around Þlónó Lake.
The birds are medium-sized compared to other cormorant species in Borgalor, and display significantly less sexual dimorphism than the latter, to the point that virtually the only way to easily tell males and females apart are their calls during mating season. While excellent divers, the hjað cormorant generally prefers catching various fish and -to lesser extent- amphibians and and aquatic invertebrates in shallow waters.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
The native Þjaric Elves had already begun using cormorants to fish in southern Þlónó Lake by the time they isolated themselves from the world and supplanted virtually all 'foreign' crops and livestock with native fauna and flora, though during this isolationist period the practice intensified and spread westwards to the niþvútic coast. The birds are allowed to eat whatever smaller fish they can catch, but prevented from swallowing larger ones via leash, which are retrieved when the cormorant returns to the fisherman.
In the west, the birds are allowed to roost up on the roof to guard their owners' home and alert them of approaching visitors or wild animals, as dogs are now a rarity around the coast.
Hjað cormorants often feature in the folklore of Æjala, and the Æjalans avoid harming the birds as they are considered a good omen.
In the west, the birds are allowed to roost up on the roof to guard their owners' home and alert them of approaching visitors or wild animals, as dogs are now a rarity around the coast.
Hjað cormorants often feature in the folklore of Æjala, and the Æjalans avoid harming the birds as they are considered a good omen.
1Original icelandic: hjaðskarfar, singular: hjaðskarfur.
Hjað cormorant at Þlónó Lake by Lappalingur
Average Height
Up to 70 cm
Average Weight
~1kg
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The wings, head and back are black with white speckles, the underside ranges from dark to bright yellow, the legs are orange, as is the beak though with a black tip
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