Bird

Bird
Creature Type
	(Subtype for creature/kindred cards)
Statistics	398 cards 36.4% 34.4% 7.5% 3.3% 3.3% 5.5% 1% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.8% 0.5% 1.5% 2% 3% 54 Bird creation cards 37% 29.6% 3.7% 3.7% 18.5% 3.7% 3.7% as of Bloomburrow
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	type:"Bird"

Bird

Aven

Bird is a catch-all creature type for animals characterized by having feathers, hollow bones, and wings. They are usually capable of flight.

General[ | ]

Birds in the Magic universe can be of tremendous size and quite intelligent, while some are even anthropomorphic. Natural birds are usually blue or white balanced creatures with flying. Many of them, being blue, have deck-searching/drawing abilities. An exception is Birds of Paradise which is a Green, 0/1 with a mana acceleration-related ability.

The first creatures to bear the type Bird were Roc Hatchling and Circling Vultures in Weatherlight. Roc of Kher Ridges from Alpha, Osai Vultures and Mesa Falcon from Legends were later issued errata to become birds as well. The type Bird was eventually solidified in the Grand Creature Type Update.

Bloomburrow was the first set to feature Bird-typal.^[1]

Types[ | ]

Aven[ | ]

Main article: Aven

Aven are sentient, anthropomorphic bird folk found on several planes. Aven was introduced as a type on a test card but they remain birds in normal sets.

Aesthir[ | ]

Aesthir are giant birds that were used by the Kjeldorans of Dominaria's Ice Age as flying mounts for their elite skyknights. Aesthir were highly prized by the Kjeldorans, with mistreatment or disrespect towards them being heavily frowned upon. Though the cold-weather breed gradually became extinct after the Ice Age ended and their natural habitat disappeared, a breed that could survive warmer weather was bred by Kjeldorans and exists to the modern day.^[2]^[3]

It is said that Oriel Kjeldos was the first to train an Aesthir and that Márton Stromgald was the first to use them in combat against the goblins.

Birdfolk[ | ]

Not to be confused with aven, birds are one of the animalfolk of Bloomburrow.^[4] They come in all species and are centered in white-blue. Unlike aven and other anthropomorphic birds that have grasping fingers, the birdfolk of Bloomburrow seem to use their wing feathers to manipulate objects. Birdfolk houses are known as Perches, typically found high up in trees or on stilts.^[5] Birdfolk help connect the animalfolk, carrying mail, delivering aid, and even transporting other animals across Valley.

At their best, birdfolk are chivalrous, stalwart, and selﬂess.^[5] Raised to be staunch idealists, birdfolk see themselves as natural leaders among the animalfolk in Valley. They often form adventuring parties alongside other species, where they declare themselves as leaders and assert themselves through grandiose speeches. At their worst, birdfolk are self-important, stubborn, and patronizing. They are highly concerned with their physical appearance and social status. Birdfolk in larger villages will even congregate at speciﬁc times, in bath houses called preeneries, to take a break from their work and keep up their appearances.

In combat, birdfolk tend to dive from above, either straight down or at sharp angles, carrying a long lance or other polearms.^[5] Birdfolk weavers can use their ﬂight to quickly save other animalfolk even in difficult terrain. However, birdfolk lack the grounded combat prowess of other animalfolk, so when conﬁned to narrow undergrowth, or when their injuries prevent them from ﬂying, their attacks are clumsy and unpracticed. Alongside their academic teachings comes an ethical framework, The Wingbeat Way, which instills a lifelong commitment to use their magic for the common good. Their closest allies are the mousefolk, while they are often at odds with the frogfolk.

A revered birdfolk tradition known as the Plumecreed is a risky flight to the Tip of the World, a mighty peak that only a brave birdfolk can reach.^[4]^[5] A birdfolk must plant one of their wing feathers at the peak and weave an ancient spell before leaving. The birdfolk who successfully make the journey are blessed with supernatural speed and agility. They are called Windcrested, a testament to their mastery of ﬂight, and often wear a single dyed feather as plumage atop their heads to show off their achievement.

Cranes[ | ]

In Theros cranes are white aligned domesticated birds that fly into the battlefield to supply soldiers with weapons. In contrast, in Shenmeng they are wild, red aligned fire-breathing birds, albeit very distinct from the local phoenixes. Both seem to allude to mythology: cranes are depicted as "soldier-like" by Pliny the Elder, while in Chinese mythology the Vermilion Bird is a distinct entity from the Fenghuang (Phoenix).

Falcons[ | ]

Mesa Falcons are dangerous birds on Ulgrotha that visit the Serra Aviary. Serra's Falconers can communicate directly with the birds. Mardu Horde falconers train massive falcons – which are also Rocs – as aerial steeds, often decorating them with their wing-like banners, giving them "a fearsome four-winged appearance".

Owls[ | ]

Owls are predatory birds with distinctive flattened faces and, in some cases, paired tufts of feathers on their heads that resemble ears. Owls are sometimes kept as pets and familiars by wizards; some owls are also said to house the souls of deceased archmages.^[6] On Ravnica, some owls are kept as couriers and fiercely protect the mail they carry.^[7] During the War of the Spark, some of these owls joined in the battle against the Dreadhorde.^[8]

Strixes or striges are a type of owl-like bird native to the Alaran shard of Esper.^[9] They resemble ashen-colored screech owls with deep black eyes. Strixes are aggressive predators. The screech of a strix can drain the thoughts and memories of those who hear it, which in turn nourishes the bird — a form of psychic vampirism. They were kept as pets by Esper's scullers, who used them to hunt down unpaying clients.^[10] During the Conflux, strixes found Grixis to be lacking in viable pray and instead migrated to Bant.^[11]

Parea[ | ]

The Parea are large, flightless, carnivorous birds living in the east of Jamuraa. They were mostly wiped out in the civilized areas of the continent but remained a danger in the wastes where they would hunt in packs and prey on travelers. During the Keldon invasion of Jamuraa, they were often found following the Keldon war barges looking for carrion and were therefore used to execute worthless prisoners, cowards, and traitors. The Darba are enormous relatives of the parea that would attack even well-armed Keldon encampments in search of food. They can grow upwards of twenty-five feet and are capable of picking up oxen in their beaks.

Perchers and other phyrexian birds[ | ]

Perchers look nothing like normal birds, but more like flying squid. They were used by the Phyrexians and Rathi to relay messages across long distances, due to their parrot-like ability to memorize and repeat short phrases. Despite their allegiance, they are not typed as Phyrexians; the plane that would become Phyrexia had "strange birds", implying that they might be remnants or corruptions of these lifeforms at the hands of Yawgmoth.^[12]

New Phyrexia makes use of new types of birds, this time true Phyrexians. Most of them are White (Tine Shrike, Shriek Raptor). Some like Tainted Observer barely resemble birds at all, looking like three-tailed snakes with human heads.

Phoenix[ | ]

Phoenixes are half-bird/half-elemental avians (though mechanically they are neither). They are capable of turning their body into fire and flame and rising from their ashes, resurrecting themselves. They are seen on Dominaria in various fire-aligned regions (Shiv, Bogardan), Ravnica, Jund, and used to exist even on Rath. Some phoenixes are called firebirds.

Plovers[ | ]

The kithkin of Lorwyn train and ride large birds called plovers.^[13]^[14]

Primoc[ | ]

Primocs are hybrids between birds and monkey-like beasts which were created by the Riptide Project. They have a natural inclination to serve wizards as familiars.

Ravens[ | ]

The Order of Midnight on Eldraine fly upon giant ravens.^[15]

Ravens are also a manifestation of the mysterious Raven Man.

Roc[ | ]

Boros Styleguide 3 — A Boros Roc rider of Ravnica

Rocs are humongous birds seen on Rabiah, Terisiare, Jamuraa, Ravnica and Tarkir. On Ravnica, they are used as flying mounts for the Boros Legion.

Rukh[ | ]

Rukhs, also called "stonefeathers", are similar to phoenixes, except their base element is stone, not fire. They look like great vulture-like birds with leathery, dragon-like wings. They are native to Rabiah.

Vultures[ | ]

Vultures are a type of bird with dark feathers, long necks, and featherless heads. They feed on carrion and, unlike other birds, are chiefly aligned with Black mana.

Creature Update[ | ]

Creature types changed into Bird[ | ]

Creature types changed into Bird include:

Aesthir (Wild Aesthir)
Albatross (Giant Albatross)
Chicken / Rooster (Zodiac Rooster)^[16]
Egg (Rukh Egg) (later reversed)
Erne (Silver Erne)
Falcon (Windreaper Falcon)
Mana-Bird (Birds of Paradise)
Pigeon (Carrier Pigeons)
Roc (Crimson Roc)
Vulture (Osai Vultures)
Whippoorwill (Whippoorwill)

Other bird species included in the Bird type[ | ]

Some examples of other bird species included in the Bird type:

Notable birds[ | ]

Tokens[ | ]

Tokens marked with are created by Acorn cards.

Token Name	Color	Type Line	P/T	Text Box	Source
Bird	White	Creature — Bird	1/1	Flying	Aether Channeler Akim, the Soaring Wind Battle Screech Call Emeria Angel Eyes in the Skies Falconer Adept Jötun Owl Keeper Knight of Doves Liberated Livestock Love Song of Night and Day Migratory Route Ornitharch Scion of Vitu-Ghazi Scour the Desert Seller of Songbirds Soul of Migration Wingmantle Chaplain
	White	Creature — Bird	3/3	Flying	Roc Egg
	White	Creature — Bird	3/3	Flying Whenever this creature attacks, target attacking creature gains flying until end of turn.	Gwaihir, Greatest of the Eagles
	White	Creature — Bird	3/4	Flying	Wingmate Roc
	Blue	Creature — Bird	1/1	Flying	Alrund's Epiphany A-Alrund's Epiphany Fable of Wolf and Owl Ordered Migration Ravenform The Raven's Warning Riku of Many Paths
	Blue	Creature — Bird	1/1	Flying This creature can block only creatures with flying.	Ominous Roost
	Blue	Creature — Bird	2/2	Flying	Perch Protection Radagast, Wizard of Wilds Song of Eärendil Strix Serenade Swan Song
	Blue	Enchantment Creature — Bird	2/2	Flying	Aerie Worshippers Rise of Eagles
	Black	Creature — Bird	1/1	Flying This creature can't block.	The Raven Man
	Red	Creature — Bird	4/4	Flying	Rukh Egg
	White/Blue	Creature — Bird	1/1	Flying	Dovescape^[19] Pride of the Clouds
Bird Illusion	Blue	Creature — Bird Illusion	1/1	Flying	Murmuring Mystic
Bird Soldier	White	Creature — Bird Soldier	1/1	Flying	Flurry of Wings
Cat Bird	White	Creature — Cat Bird	1/1	Flying	Skycat Sovereign
Elemental Bird	Blue	Creature — Elemental Bird	4/4	Flying	Mu Yanling, Sky Dancer
Giant Bird	Red	Creature — Giant Bird	4/4		Chicken Egg
Aven Initiate	White	Creature — Zombie Bird Warrior	3/2	Flying	Aven Initiate
Aven Wind Guide	White	Creature — Zombie Bird Warrior	2/3	Flying, vigilance Creature tokens you control have flying and vigilance.	Aven Wind Guide
Oketra's Attendant	White	Creature — Zombie Bird Soldier	3/3	Flying	Oketra's Attendant
Storm Crow	Blue	Creature — Bird	1/2	Flying	Attempted Murder Crow Storm Murmuration
Finch Formation	Blue	Creature — Bird Scout	1/1	Flying When this creature enters, target creature you control gains flying until end of turn. (This token's mana cost is .)	Finch Formation

Lords[ | ]

Aven Brigadier (also Soldiers)
Kangee, Aerie Keeper - first Lord to grant something based on the number of counters (feather) on it
Soraya the Falconer - first Lord to grant banding. Originally was a Falcon Lord but became a Bird Lord after the grand creature-type update.

Trivia[ | ]

Azorius Keyrune is a manstone that can become a 2/2 white and blue Bird artifact creature with flying.
Bird Maidens are an all-female tribe of winged humans.
Glint Hawk Idol can become a 2/2 Bird artifact creature with flying.
Scale Birds are a technique artists use to make a central figure look bigger.^[20]
An Aven planeswalker was seen during the War of the Spark.^[21]
Animal Sanctuary is a land that can put +1/+1 counters on birds.
The Priority Avenger test card introduced Aven as its own creature type.^[22] Gatherer shows an image of Priority Avenger with the Bird creature type but the Oracle text still says Aven as it was intended.^[23] In actuality, there seem to be no editions printed with the Aven-type. "Aven" being part of the name doesn't make things clearer.
In an alternate reality, Kamigawa was home to a race of red-aligned mountain-dwelling humanoid birds called tengu.^[24]