Lingua Bird (LEAN-gwa bird)

Lingua birds are one of the most dangerous carnivorous predators that usually become the bane of stock farmers and townspeople alike. They sport natural camouflage plumage that mimics both tree bark and the foliage, that changes with the seasons. In addition to their camouflage, they possess a resonance chamber in their throat that they can manipulate at will, to make sound of pain, distress, or otherwise, to attract live prey. During childhood and adolescence, the Lingua mother will take Lingua chicks to areas to demonstrate hunting and letting them learn sounds of prey, before leaving them on their own.  

Hunting Prey

  The Lingua Bird has a very involved and horrific method of hunting. After finding prey with their heat-vision eye, the bird will find a sturdy branch to perch and remain still, only moving its plumage to simulate breezes and other phenomena that would affect their perch. After getting in place, the Lingua will use their throat resonance chamber to mimic sounds of its prey in distress (anything from livestock sounds to that of a crying child). Upon attracting a live specimen, it falls off the branch, to the ground, further attracting the victim closer. Upon the victim's entrance into striking range, the Lingua quickly jabs the needle like appendage in the victim, injecting them with a fast-acting paralytic agent that renders the victim unable to move nor call for help, while they are being consumed alive.   Because of this, many settlements have either relocated to be further away from forests, or children and livestock are carefully monitored and safeguarded. Special training for guardsmen for noticing Lingua Birds and nesting areas, in addition to safe destruction, has spread throughout the continents of Marpolle and Vyrnet, including the B'ckth Islands.