Blue-tailed Eagle
The blue-tailed eagle (commonly known as a bluetail) is a large species of eagle native to the Tescaries. Slender but long and with an impressive wingspan, the bluetail is typically a meter long from head to tail, and has a wingspan of over 2 meters. Recognizable for its unusual coloration, the bluetail has a shaggy black and light-blue crest of feathers on its head, and an immediately recognizable light-blue tail. The bird's face is black, as is its large beak, while most of its body is a white color. The wings, however are also pitch black. The female eagle is slightly larger than the male, but has a less prominent crest. The bluetail can live for over 50 years, both in the wild and in captivity.
Bluetails usually nest and hunt in breeding pairs, with a male and female eagle and chicks. Like most Tescarana birds of prey, the Bluetail hunts whichever game is most readily available to it, usually fish or local rodents. The Tescarana have long practiced falconry with various raptor species, but the bluetail is particularly popular for its large size and unusual appearance, with specimens being captured for the amusement of foreign aristocrats.
Additional Information
Domestication
The Tescarana practice falconry, and typically obtain birds by capturing them when they have not yet learned or have only just learned to fly. Most popular among highland Tescarana who use the birds to hunt rodents, the birds are trained to perch on the falconer's arm and fly forth to hunt prey. Young birds are often tied to the glove by string to teach them to return, and are fed by throwing meat to the ground for the bird to retrieve by diving down from the falconer's glove. A successfully trained bluetail will thus fly forth from the glove on cue, and return to it.
While the original purpose of Tescarana falconry is hunting for dormice and other rodents, the bluetail in particular is occasionally seen away from the isles as a fancy pet. While these birds fetch a high price abroad, a prospective owner is wise to let the bluetail fly and hunt free regularly. A consummate predator, the bird will become extremely agitated if not allowed to fly and hunt in a large range. However, bluetails are also regarded as very reliable once trained, and extremely good hunters to boot even if foreigners mostly value them for their appearance.
Entry for WorldEmber 2020
In response to the prompt I want to adopt a cute pet in your world. What is it and how do I look after one?
They sound beautiful! I like how you've gone into detail about falconry with them. :)