Blisterbird

Blisterbirds have a nearly round, plum body about a foot in diameter. From their body, a long next raises up, allowing them to see over the reeds while wading. They have two stumpy legs covered in black scales that end in a three-towed foot. Their heads are barely wider than their necks, similar to geese, and have a long, thin bill for digging around in marshes. Their wings are broad have a three-foot span.

The eggs of blisterbirds are their most distinctive feature. The female builds a nest out of reeds at the edge of a marsh. She lays a clutch of 5 - 8 eggs in late winter. Eggs are a deep emerald green, flecked with white, and about the size of a turkey egg. Of these eggs, usually 1 - 3 of them will be fake, and actually contain a mix of chemicals that would seriously injure any predator who tried to eat them.   When cracked open, these fake eggs release a thick, red, sticky liquid that burns the skin. Even short contact with the substance leaves blisters, and serious burns result if it is not washed off within a few minutes. Contact with the eyes can lead to blindness. Adult blisterbirds secrete an oil that they coat their feathers with that repels the acid.

Humans farm firebird eggs for their use in combat. Many Border Ranger Forts have a few breeding pairs to provide them with a steady supply of firebird eggs that are thrown with slings or by hand. When kept in a cool, dry place, the eggs remain explosive for about a year.   Attempts have been made to extract their oil as a defense against enemy firebird eggs, but they don't produce it in enough quantities for this practice to be viable for anyone other than researches.