Moa

Moa are tall, stocky, flightless birds first domesticated thousands of years ago, and now a common sight as a swift and efficient mount. They can comfortably carry 350 lbs. on their backs with a saddle and reigns, and pull two-and-a-half times their weight on a wheeled cart or wagon. Though robust and powerful in build and much taller than even the tallest Loxodon, moa have even temperaments and tend to be gentle giants. It's perfectly safe for the children who live on a moa ranch to be the ones feeding and cleaning the birds.

Moa are sturdy beasts, with thicker bones than most beastly birds and a hefty amount of muscle powering their bodies. Their legs are trunk-like, supporting the large, rounded body, and end in large feet with splayed, blunt claws. They can deliver a mighty kick when threatened - enough to crack the ribs of any large sapient or outright kill a small one. They have long, thick necks that lead to a rather small head adorned with a short beak. On average, males are a good two feet shorter and 70 lbs. lighter than the larger females. Both sexes naturally have a red-brown covering of shaggy, almost hair-like feathers that drape over the body, leaving the blue-grey face and legs exposed. Different breeds can sport different arrays of spots, stripes, or variation in color: from dark greys and black to orangey-yellows or white.

Though the wild moa lived in the forests of Gordunni, the birds are swift runners on open ground, easily able to reach 30 mph and comfortably cover 40 miles of distance on a clear day. This makes them remarkably efficient land transportation, both with a rider or pulling a wagon of goods. Though they can't carry the weight of a Kifaru, they're much easier to feed and house, and a good flock can do the work of one of the leathery beasts. Though unable to soar through the air like a Saqra, moa don't need the rest periods their flying cousins do, able to keep walking at a comfortable rate for ten hours easily, even while pulling a cart.

Moa are herbivores, and can and will eat just about any variety of foliage they encounter. They'll happily eat hay or grain from a trough, find branches or shrubs to snack on when camping, and even pluck chunks of cactus or thorn bush when nothing else is available. The small stones they swallow help break up these plant materials in their stomachs, so don't fret if your moa's droppings have pebbles mixed in.