Giant Hummingbird

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Giant hummingbird

Pilikua'ihu
Information
Natural Habitat: Great forests in Bahija but exist on entire island chain
Classification: Birds
Average Size: 8' to shoulder, 14' beak to tail, 19' wingspan
Average Weight: 50lbs
Coloring: Varies greatly depending on breeder and current trends
Distinguishing Features: Iridescent feathers, long lance-like beak, flight patterns, vertical takeoff


Bahija is one of several countries that fields an aerial cavalry (others being Griffon's Aerie, Elvendeep, Arangoth, Pentland and Zul Kiras.) Bahijan mounts are giant breeds of hummingbirds that evolved to feed from some of the enormous flowering trees in the Bahijan jungle. These mounts are capable of vertical takeoff and can be trained to charge, inflicting serious damage with their lance-like beaks. They are fed a diet of water infused with nectar or sugarcane. Originally the giant hummingbird was half its current size. Years of dedication and careful breeding grew the bird and granted it the ability to carry both a rider, the gear necessary for it, and small loads.

Description

The giant hummingbird closely resembles its smaller cousins in terms of body shape. There are some changes to make it more robust and able to carry smaller members of the Bahijan cavalry over the distances required. Heavier musculature attaching the wings, carrying around to the breast, a less delicate beak, and legs with stronger bones and longer talons.

Above everything else the most prominent feature is the bird's long beak. It takes up nearly one quarter of the total length at an average of 4-5'. Those bred for fighting and cavalry use have a straight beak while those for pleasure of riding and to give tours may have one that curves downward. From the beak comes out a long tongue used to gather nectar from flowers that have evolved with it that accommodate the birds' requirement for nectar that has a high sugar content. While it is possible for them to eat other things, fruits smashed and mixed with water or water with sugarcane in it, the best diet is pure nectar. It delivers the nutrients and sugar that it requires to sustain high-energy flight.

Coloration varies greatly depending on breeder, use, and environment they're raised in. They tend to blend in with their surroundings rather than stand out. Either they match the foliage of colossal plants they call home and roost in or the flowers that they prefer. An iridescent bird with a green dorsal area and light blue belly might come from the grasslands. One with a red head and green body typically favors a large flower that nearly envelopes the bird's head. More radical colors have been developed by controlled breeding over the course of many generations. This has produced purple varieties with blue wings, a solid emerald iridescence, and even spots and flecks of black over their bodies.

Sharp talons tip every one of the hummingbird's toes. They are long and curved, made to deal damage to even creatures that have a natural or artificial armor. Thick legs, and the hooked claws, allow them to tear at, pick up, and generally mangle a target. It adds a formidable weapon that, in conjunction with the lance-like beak, make this creature worth the upkeep.

There are more feathers on a single hummingbird than there are on three of a counterpart its size of a different variety. Each feather is small in size and fan-shaped. There are few barbs and this make it almost resemble a comb. The soft barbs are considerably shorter and do not taper into the barb.

Habitat

All across the Bahijan island cluster. Smaller wild hummingbirds, roughly half the size of the gargantuan bred varieties, call more of their food sources home than the calvary-sized birds. Kopa'a, and siholia'ha are favored. The much larger kala huna and tui'ila trees are also used. But should an escaped or released calvary bird claim a tree the smaller individuals will be run out. They don't co-habitate very well.

Some attempts to transport specimens to zoos and collectors in other regions of the world failed miserably. They require nectar from their preferred plants, the level of humidity, and several other factors to thrive. As of now it's near impossible for them to travel away from their native habitat.

Breeding Habits

Early in the spring a breeding pair will work on building a nest in the massive kala huna or papa'i'apala trees. They commonly use whole and partial bits of leaves, mud, and the strong webbing of the golden spider to bind everything together. Typically the nests are bowl shaped and have high sides to them. On the small side but made to prevent young chicks from toppling out of the nest too early. Spider silk is a favored binding material thanks to its ability to expand and make more room for growing chicks.

One to three eggs are laid a week or so after mating. They're white in color with some dark brown mottling, helping it blend in, and decrease the probability of being devoured by the many opportunistic predators and scavengers. The few oviparous creatures are used to searching out the giant hummingbird nests for a monumental payout. The 1' in diameter eggs are a boon on anything that can get their hands on them if they can get through the hard 4mm shells.

Eggs begin to crack open roughly four months after being laid. The young hummingbirds break through the shell using an egg tooth. Soon after hatching the mother feeds them insects and nectar until they're large enough to start venturing out of the nest and explore the length of branch they call home.

Other Characteristics

It's hard to believe that the giant hummingbird suffers from predation but there are a number of creatures that devour them. Wild specimens have more of a problem with survival in the difficult Bahijan landscape than farmed ones. In the wild forests there's no breeder or wood and metal coop to keep them safe. Young are subject to great horned boas raiding their nest. Eggs and newly hatched chicks are helpless when a colony of arrow ants and silver mites

Gallery

<gallery> Purple hummingbird.jpg|Purple headed Grey flecked hummingbird.jpg|Grey black flecked Rubythroathummer65.jpg|Male ruby throat phase Redthroat.jpg|Female ruby throat Feedinghummingbird.jpg|Green charger feeding on a kopa'a Purple bluewinged hummingbird.jpg|Blue-winged purple feeding on kukuihana flowers </gallery