Birdfolk

Aarakocra

Species Stats: Aarakocra
Place of Origin: Western Wildemount
Creator: Melora, the Wildmother
Aarakocra are a race of flighted bird-like humanoids. In Exandria, they are primarily found in western Wildemount, where they were originally created by Melora, the Wildmother. Aarakocra have birdlike heads, talons, and wings, in addition to arms and hands, and are covered in feathers. They stand about 5 to 6 feet tall. Their appearances vary, but usually mirror that of the birds native to the mountains and forests of Wildemount like eagles, vultures, and other birds of prey.
Preferring the mountains, jungle canopies, and skies, aarakocra have little to do with people living on the ground and have a fairly insular and isolated society. They have their own language, which includes elements of birdsong and is difficult for those of other races to pronounce. Aarakocra often go by nickames if they must interact with outsiders.
Some people across the world have never seen birdfolk and consider the winged aarakocra to be a myth; so infrequently do they descend from their lofty aeries to deal with wingless folk. Where they are known, the aarakocra rarely engage with the land-bound societies, though some take great pleasure in traveling on the open ocean with Concord sailors and Revelry pirates. Some legends say that Melora, the Wildmother created the aarakocra as storm herders who drive the clouds across the sky, and some aarakocra tribes play a sport called h’aara-shie, or “cloud chasing,” that reflects this ancient tale.
Within the Dwendalian Empire, most aarakocra keep to the hidden settlement of Vol’antim in the Cyrios Mountains. The appearance of an aarakocra is seen as a blessing in the settlements of the Truscan Vale and the Marrow Valley—often much to the aarakocra’s embarrassment. Most rural folk consider the aarakocra to be angels of Erathis, the Lawbearer, no matter how diligently the aarakocra explain otherwise.
The few aarakocra who descend from the Cyrios Mountains or emerge from the canopy of the Quoraska Jungle for longer than a day or two are often swept up in the beauty of the sea. Thus enamored, many join a ship’s crew and set out to explore the Lucidian Ocean with their new allies. The common people of the Menagerie Coast look upon the aarakocra’s bright wings with awe and dream about taking to the sky, but are often baffled by their seemingly nonsensical idioms and figures of speech.

Eisfuura

Species Stats: Owlin
Place of Origin: Jungles of Marquet
Creator: Corellon, the Arch Heart
Eisfuura are a humanoid birdfolk known to live in the jungles and deserts of Marquet. Typically smaller and lighter than their eastern aarokocran cousins, Eisfuura can stand between 3 to 5 feet tall. Unlike aarokocras, eisfuura have conjoined arms and wings which they use to both fly and accomplish tasks. They generally reflect the native birds typically found in the deserts and jungles of Marquet, like parrots, kingfishers, owls, and falcons.
While the aarokocra were created by Melora in Wildemount to contribute to the natural order, Eisfuura were created by Corellon in Marquet to further appreciate the vibrance and beauty of Marquet's lush jungles and serene deserts. The colorful and graceful Eisfuura have a natural tendency towards the arts. In adventuring settings, they often rely on their vibrant colors to draw crowds as bards, or their joined wings and arms to navigate the battlefield with grace in a way impossible for other species. While one would think that an eisfuura may be at a disadvantage in the air compared to their aarokocran cousins, an eisfuura's grace and mobility make up for any lack of flying strength. An eisfuura can use their flying momentum to perform quick actions with their hands without losing any altitude by catching themselves with quick disorienting turns. It is rare for an eisfuura to remain in any one spot for long while flying.
Eisfuura are natural explorers, eager to see all the world has to offer. Because of this, there are not many pockets of eisfuura civilization throughout the world. Most eisfuura villages that do exist are small jungle canopy treehouse hamlets and canyon cave settlements in Marquet. Since eisfuura, as they come of age, yearn to wander off to explore the world, the populations of these villages remain fairly small. While an uncommon sight in general, eisfuura can still be found in decent number in the bigger cities of Marquet like Ank'Harel and Jrusar.

Kenku

Species Stats: Kenku
Place of Origin: Originally the Shadowfell, then scattered throughout the Material Plane, namely Xhorhas in Wildemount, and southern Issylra
Creator: The Raven Queen
Kenku are a race of crow-like humanoids in Exandria. Kenku have corvine heads with a large beak and glossy black feathers, which covered their whole body except for their bird-like arms and legs. Unlike aarakocra and eisfuura, they lack wings. Kenku are smaller than humans, averaging only 5 feet tall and weighing only between 90 and 120 pounds.
During the Age or Arcanum, the kenku were once black-winged angels who served the Raven Queen as her emissaries. Their voices called across the planes of existence to the souls of the deceased, beckoning them towards the Queen's embrace. In the Calamity, the kenku saved the Raven Queen from an attack by Tharizdun. In this attack they were thought to have been annihilated by the Chained Oblivion, but when Tharizdun was sealed, the kenku reemerged forever changed. They were greatly diminished, having been rendered mortal, stripped of their wings, voice, and memories of their angelic existence. Tharizdun's Curse of Oblivion left them only able to mimic the sounds of other creatures.
In modern times, kenku generally reside in remote areas. In Wildemount, they usually live on the far outskirts of the Dwendalian Empire or Xhorhas, or in remote regions of southern Issylra. They're typically in small family units that live on their own. There isn't much of a Kenku culture. They're just small little groups that look out for themselves.
Despite their inability to speak on their own, kenku can mimic a wide variety of sounds, including the voices of other humanoids. These imitations sound identical to their original source to all except for the most discerning ear. A kenku's affinity for mimicry also extends to their craftsmanship, being deft at creating forgeries and copies of existing objects.