Cloudfall Starlings

“Within just a few minutes of the murmuration beginning, the clouds begin to gather. A swift flicker of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder, all nearly drowned out by the constant call of the thousands of swarming birds.” 

- Notes to a Winters Traveller, by Leopold Der Vitner.

Overview

Cloudfall Starlings are a magical variant of the common starlings found across much of the continent of Imerathan. They are similar in size to their common variant but lighter in colouration and more commonly found in northern cooler climates. Cloudfall Starlings have the ability to summon intense cloud formation and in small numbers trigger rainshowers. However when gathered in a grand murmuration, where vast numbers of the birds will swarm across the sky, the results can be dangerous storms with gale force winds. 

Anatomy and Reproduction

Cloudfall Starlings are medium-sized with an average wingspan of 15 inches and weighing 80g. Their feathers still have the iridescent sheen common to many types of starlings, but their preference for cooler climates lends them toward lighter tones of blue, white, grey and silver. The males of the species tend to have brighter colourations than the female counterparts, including shades of purple, lilac and teal. 

They have the capability to mimic many of the sounds they hear and in some domesticated cases they are able to mimic humanoid speech, although their actual understanding of the words is limited. Cloudfall Starlings live in large groups, known as Showers, of around 100-150 birds, but will gather into larger groups at times of a murmuration, at which point they can number well into the 1000’s.

They do not mate for life and will find a new partner each mating season, at which point a pair will hatch up to 4 silvery blue eggs to rear. Hatchlings start off pure white with fluffy feathers making them look like tiny cotton balls with eyes and a beak. Only once they begin to fledge at around 3 months old will they gain their characteristic shimmer of adult feathers.

Migration and Diet

These birds have a migratory pattern common across many starlings, however the reach of their southern migrations is not as far as others. They will travel well up into the icy climate of north Calenrin during the summer, but have been seen as far south as the borders of former Montserinis during the winter months. As such they are seen throughout Tordronnen in both autumn and spring as they pass through on their migration. 

The diet of the Cloudfall Starling is mainly a combination of fruits and insects, depending on what is available at a given season. Their use of their innate magic to produce rainstorms is thought to be a method of triggering ground dwelling creatures such as worms and grubs out into the open where they can be easily hunted by the birds.

Uses and Domesticaion

Cloudfall Starlings can be domesticated and are very sociable by nature, liking to be around people much of the time. Their feathers can be used as components in potions and rituals relating to flight, and the shimmering silver-blue of their eggshells produce a uniquely iridescent pigment when used in cosmetics.