Flitterbird

Busy forest bird.

Ateri reached the edge of the woods, her footfalls scaring a few flitterbirds into action. She took a moment to appreciate the small birds flapping their wings faster than her eyes could see. They moved in quick short bursts, singing and chirping, and entered the forest.
The moment ended and she left the light of the clearing following the birds into the shaded darkness of the woods.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Flitterbirds have a pair of wings and small legs ending in talons. Their bones are hollow reducing their already tiny weight further and reducing the energy required to stay in the air.

Biological Traits

The size and lifespan of the flitterbird does not vary by sex. They have a beak longer than that of birds that consume seeds in order better collect insects from small crevices.

Genetics and Reproduction

To find a mate the bird will sing a specific call - this call is different for flitterbirds on different islands and even in different regions. Once a pair of mature birds have found each other, the male will perform an elaborate airborne dance. If the female finds this dance of acceptable quality, they will become a couple for the season. They will build a nest to house the two eggs the female will lay. These eggs hatch after about 20 cycles.

Growth Rate & Stages

A newly hatched flitterbird is a nestling and will be fed by its mother until its feathers come in and it becomes ready to forage for itself - usually after 19-22 cycles. During the first dozen or so cycles of foraging the mother may still feed the young birds.

Ecology and Habitats

Flitterbirds have to live in locations with an abundance of food but can survive in both hot and cold conditions.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Small insects are the primary food source of the bird and it spends almost every waking moment searching for or eating food.

Biological Cycle

They have the ability to enter a state of hibernation greatly reducing their metabolic requirements and use this during seasons of scarcity and even when they are resting to conserve every last bit of energy.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Flitterbirds are a common species found on many islands of the skies including Breharan, Outpost 13, and Ratoghar.

Average Intelligence

The ability of the flitterbird to learn songs from other members of their species and to communicate to a limited extent with lizardfolk shows a level of intelligence but nothing else of note.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The sight of flitterbirds is their strongest sense which stays amazingly accurate even when flying at high speeds and rapidly maneuvering while hovering.

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

The flitterbirds of Ratoghar chirp a certain song at lizardfolk who have learned that if they chirp back correctly, the flitterbird will lead them to a birdeating spider guarding some webweaver ants . The bird can't defend itself from the spider but the lizardfolk it brings will eat the spider leaving the ants unprotected so it can gobble them up.

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Lifespan

4 years

Average Weight

2 - 5 g

Average Length

7 - 9 cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The males are more colorful than the females sporting purple or blue heads and wings while the females are brown and grey. Both have speckled underbellies.