#ouughhdghh

[nomsfaultau]

My fic based on the Eleonora's falcon's whumpy hunting strategies is here! Summary:

For generations, a certain population of Eleonora’s Falcons have been observed learning to capture smaller birds by shredding their wings and trapping them in rocky crevices to have fresh food available later. In the Avian tongue, Eleonora translates to Elytrian. In the Avian brain, Elytrian translates to nightmare. But while Avian Techno is dreading the moment he’s turned into lunch, Elytrian Philza hasn’t slept in three days trying to take care of his newborn. When the line between chick and chick food starts to blur, how will predator and prey handle it?

Design details below cut :) featuring lots of speculative biology and culture based on real birds.

General

Both species don't have feathers around their mouth for hygiene.

Evolutionary, they follow the

Their teeth are convergent evolution. They are not the same as mammal teeth.

We are ignoring the fact their flat faces are not the most aerodynamic.

Head wings are to increase mobility and the face aerodynamic problem. Somewhat similar to dragonflies where they have a lot more aerial precision, but doesn't allow them to hover.

Languages are grouped by Order. Some portions are instinctual, others are learned.

Avians

Avians are passarines. There are multiple species of Avian. Technoblade is based on colorful songbirds, but doesn't have a specific source.

Omnivores. Diet includes fruit, nuts, fish, insects, grains. Become more herbivores during migration because they can store long term.

Technoblade's feathers mimic the spears of a crown, with his back similar to cTechno's blue cape. His shoulders are very fluffy to mimic the fur of cTechno's hood, and because it's winter.

Evolved for long distance migration across the ocean. Their arms were primarily an adaptation for holding supplies during migration, but have found new purposes with the invention of society.

Because of their long head wings, Avians can't wear typical shirts. They also don't have a concept of chest modesty. The halter top is a way to carry more supplies while flying, and has a net interior. The sleeves are to keep their arms warm during migration. (and to mimic ctechno skin).

The long head wings make them incredibly agile in flight. Combined with their incredible endurance, if they can survive the initial attack they tend to do well.

Walk more upright than Elytrians since they don't have to counterbalance the same magnitude of wing.

Like to wear shiny stuff like gold.

Baggy drop pants to trap heat and because they don't tend to walk too much.

Can sleep with only one half of their brain while migrating so they're able to keep going.

Good mimicking abilities.

Elytrians

Elytrians are falconiformes.

Elytrians don't typically do the de-winging thing, it is a learned behavior within Philza's area (much like Eleonora's falcon). They find arms very useful for tearing while clutching the prey in their feet talons.

Nearly exclusively carnivorous.

Elytrians live further south of Techno's species, and migrate about a month after they've passed through.

Their general diet does not typically consist of Avians but instead other birds, or terrestrial prey like deer or smaller. They only eat Avians during migration/hatching season, targeting exhausted migrators.

The main hunting strategy is divebombing at incredible speeds. If they miss, they might pursue it little bit, but have a lower success rate.

As such, they have small head wings to avoid getting in the way of aerodynamics.

Small head wings also mean they can have more of a shirt! Tend to have sleeves, and don't cover up the chest because there's lots of fluffy feathers there, particularly in females. They don't have boobs. They're birds. That's. That's not how that works.

Females are larger.

Giant talons for ripping and shredding.

I uh did read articles about the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction and stuff about gigantification and what not, but I think I'll stop myself before pontificating about the oxygen ratio in the atmosphere and potential gravity differences.......