Birds of Nordhurlant

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The Great auk is a species of bird found only in Nordhurlant.

While not being a large country, Nordhurlant has an amazing diversity of species and number of total birds, mostly due to the lack of a substantial economy under the recently overthrown monarchy, which left the environment of Nordhurlant almost untouched. In total, Nordhurlant counts 386 distinct species, four of which are found nowhere else in Aeia. Twelve species of Nordhurlandic birds have been introduced from Asura, as they were not previously found in Nordhurlat, however they have found a niche and thrive in the country's forests.

Nordhurlandic birds most closely resemble those of western Asura, which was connected to the Vestrim as part of a supercontinent until around 60 million years ago. Many families which reside in Nordhurlant are also found throughout the Northern Hemisphere or worldwide. However, some families are unique to the Vestrim and Nordhurlant; those represented in this list are the hummingbirds, the New World vultures, the New World quail, the tyrant flycatchers, the mimids, the wood-warblers, the cardinals, and the icterids. Three species on the list (Robjerns's goose, the Patāqmetasok duck and Jean's sparrow) breed only in Nordhurlant.

The birds in this article are organized by type of species as mandated by the newly formed Nordhurlandic-Elnumikmakian Ornithological Society. Of the five ecozones in Nordhurlant, the Patāqmetasok ecozone counts the most species of birds, owing to the porous chalk cliffs and coastal nature that provide the perfect habitat for seabirds. The coastal ecozone is also home to seabirds, however the inland parts of this ecozone are also host to many songbirds and game birds. The interior valley, comprising the Siputaqaméten-Kespekméten valley is home to vultures and other birds of prey, while the marsh ecozone is home to woodpeckers and warblers. The fifth ecozone, the inland forest ecozone, is home to many species of birds in the songbird, sparrow and loon families.

Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in Nordhurlant as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate special status for species:

  • (A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Nordhurlant
  • (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Nordhurlant as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
  • (E) Extinct - a recent species which no longer exists
  • (Ex) Extirpated - a species which no longer occurs in Nordhurlant but exists elsewhere

Bird culture

Birds are an important cultural figure in Nordhurlant, considering that a raven (or great auk, depending on who you ask) features prominently in the Tapetihan creation story. The raven, along with the fire-mother created the earth, life and the two moons, but the raven soon became unhappy with the way the fire-mother was creating things, and left, never to be seen again. The Tapetihans worship the raven in hopes of bringing him back and relieving the fire-mother of her duty to balance the worlds, so that they can do it together. Tapetihans are forbidden from hunting, killing and consuming ravens for cultural reasons. In the north, the great auk is used in place of the raven, though it is known unto the Tapetihans by the same name. They do not hunt, kill nor eat the great auk. Nordhics and other colonial peoples started to hunt and kill birds in large numbers when they first arrived in Nordhurlant, though this mostly stopped when the Tapetihans became angry about the destruction of their land, and the colonial peoples converted to using fish and grain crops for food. As such, modern-day Nordhurlant's bird populations are largely intact. Little habitat has been lost due to the lack of development in the country and few birds are being killed out of respect for the environment. It is well known that the current Prime Minister of Nordhurlant-Elnumikmaki, Jīklew Kāqujkaj, in addition to the former prince, Grimmr Stefanson I Gryf were avid bird watchers.

Conservation projects

File:NordhurlantParksSanctuaries.png
Green = National Parks
Brown-green = Bird Sanctuaries

As the former prince was a bird watcher, and he respected birds in the environment, many bird sanctuaries and national parks were established to protect them, the largest of which is in Robjerns Fylk, now in Samqwam province. It has proven to be important to protect birds in Nordhurlant, as some species exist nowhwere else in Aeia. In the modernization planned by the new democratic government, it is possible that habitat loss could become a real problem, however the government has decided to not only keep the protected areas, but expand them. Without these protected areas, many species in Nordhurlant could be wiped out and become extinct, like the great auk and padamadasoe duck, who only exist in Nordhurlant. There are currently 13 protected areas for wildlife in Nordhurlant, and the government, in cooperation with the Nordurlandic-Elnumikmakian Ornithological Society and other environmental groups, plan to expand that number to 17 by the year 2022. In Nordhurlant, people are not forbidden from living in National Parks or Sanctuaries, but they are strictly forbidden to hunt and there are strict building regulations in place to curb habitat loss.

  • Elepaqtes province:

Patāqmetasok National Park, Talipkejiksipu National Park

  • Mitīs province:

Kīkmetén National Park

  • Samqwam province:

Saqpéq National Park (extends into Lèkwḗtuk province)

  • Lèkwḗtuk province:

Saqpéq National Park (extends into Samqwam province), Naskoqwatoq National Park

  • Ātoq province:

Kespekpatāq National Seabird Sanctuary, Kespekmatkwa National Seabird Sanctuary, Muapajuat National Seabird Sanctuary

  • Siputaqan province:

None

  • Pewaqstéket province:

Jakalesipusipu National Park

  • Tiām province:

Alatoqmespoq National Park, Tiāmsipu-Kulkwissipu National Park

  • Kulkwis province:

Patāqelukwa National Park, Espukwikuntwelukwa National Park

Several special conservation projects are dedicated to species that are vulnerable to extinction in Aeia or ones that are threatened in Nordhurlant but exist elsewhere. The Nordhurlant-Elnumikmakian Ornithological Society has announced plans for the expansion of these programs. One of the main goals of the Nordhurlandic-Elnumikmakian Ornithological Society is for Nordhurlant to stay an environmental haven for threatened species, not only birds, in the face of renewed development and exploitation of the country's national resources by the new government. Ongoing species protection programs include special status for the passenger pidgeon, the padamadasoe duck, the great auk and the greater prairie-chicken, among others.

Ducks, geese and swans

Trumpeter swan
Wood duck pair
Common eider
Chipcheech goose
Blue-winged teal
Vestric widgeon
Redhead
Harlequin duck
Red-breasted merganser
Ring-necked duck
King eider
Surf scoter
Long-tailed duck
Common goldeneye
Ruddy duck

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. These birds reside most commonly in the interior valley, interior marshes and interior forest ecozones of Nordhurlant.

The black-bellied whistling-duck is a moderately sized waterfowl species with a long red bill, a pale grey head and grey-brown plumage, though the belly and tail are black. The black-bellied whistling-duck inhabits the area of Vestrim north of the Columbian Sea, far south from Nordhurlant, though the occasional bird is spotted in southern Nordhurlant.

The fulvous whistling duck is a moderate-to-large sized bird species with a long grey bill, long legs, reddish-brown plumage and a distinctive white band across its black tail. THe fulvous whistling-duck's range includes many islands in the northern parts of the Columbian Sea, and there are therefore only rare sightings of this bird in Nordhurlant.

The snow goose is a large waterfowl species with tow colour morphs, stark white and grey-blue. White morph birds are all white except for black wing tips, and blue-morph birds have a white head with body plumage ranging from navy blue to dark grey. The snow goose breeds in the northern parts of Vestrim, farther North than Nordhurlant, as well as Sturhlund, in Glanodel. In the summer months, the snow goose migrates southwards, where it becomes acommon sight in the northern areas of Nordhurlant.

Robjern's goose is a small-to-moderately sized waterfowl species with fully white body plumage save for black wing tips, which makes it look very similar to the white-morph snow goose, except for the fact that Robjern's goose is around half the size of a snow goose. Robjern's goose inhabits and breeds in Nordhurlant's northern interior forests year-round, and disperse throughout the rest of the country during summer migration.

The greater white-fronted goose is a large bird species with grey, mouse coloured body plumage, a white face, red bill, and bright orange legs. It is closely related to the lesser white-fronted goose, which does not inhabit Nordhurlant, instead inhabiting northern Catai. The greater white-fronted goose inhabits Nordhurlant's northern regions, then dispersing during the summer. It is not a common bird, though its populations are stable.

The pink-footed goose is a moderately sized waterfowl species with a bright pink bill, brown body plumage, a grey tail with a white tip, and pink feet. It is native to Sturhlund, from where it migrates in the south to various areas in Nordhurlant.

The barnacle goose is a medium sized waterfowl species with a black back and head, a white face and belly, and silver wings. It too is native to Sturhlund, and migrates the same as the pink-footed goose to Nordhurlant in the summer. It is, however, far less common than the pink-footed goose.

The cackling goose is a medium sized bird species with a black back, head and face, white belly and brown wings, being very similar in appearance to the barnacle goose. The white chinstrap is virtually the only way to distinguish the cackling goose from the barnacle goose. The cackling goose is even more similar to the chipcheech goose, however the chipcheech goose is far larger. The cackling goose inhabits virtually all of Nordhurlant, though it is more common in the west.

The chipcheech goose is a large waterfowl species with a black head and neck, a white chinstrap and a brown body. It is similar in appearance to both the barnacle goose and cackling goose, though it is larger in size than both. The chipcheech goose is Nordhurlant's most common bird, with large populations across all of the country, though the main breeding colonies appear in the interior forest ecozone.

The mute swan is a very large bird species with a fully white body and a bright orange bill. It is native to Asura and eastern Catai, though it had been introduced to Nordhurlant during the colonial era, and stable populations now inhabit the south and east of the country.

The trumpeter swan is the largest swan native to Nordhurlant with completely white body plumage and a black bill, which helps distinguish it from the whooper swan and mute swan. The trumpeter swan is native to the north of Nordhurlant, in the Patāqmetasok ecozone, residing inland.

The whooper swan is a bird species comparable in size to the mute swan, with fully white body plumage and an orange and black bill. It is native to most of Asura, northern Catai, and the Sturhlund archipelago, being closely related to the trumpeter swan. It migrates south in the summer, and populations can be seen across northern Nordhurlant.

The wood duck is a moderately sized species of dabbling duck. The males have bright, iridescent plumage and red eyes, while the females have white eye rings and brown bodies. It is native to the southern and western interiors of Nordhurlant, being one of the most common birds of the interior forest ecozone.

The blue-winged teal is a small-to-moderate bird species with a grey-blue head, a white facial crescent, a light brown body and a black tail. The wings are between navy blue and sky-blue, hence the name of the bird species. The blue-winged teal is native to the southern and western interiors of Nordhurlant, covering about the same area as the wood duck.

The cinnamon teal is a small waterfowl species with reddish-brown plumage, black wing tips and a black bill. It is most closely related to the blue-winged teal and the northern shoveler. It is native to the interior and west of Vestrim, with only occasional sightings in Nordhurlant.

The northern shoveler is a small-to-moderately sized waterfowl species closely related to the cinnamon and blue-winged teals. Males have iridescent green heads, brown bodies and iridescent blue wings, while females are a dull brown. This species is easily distinguished by its long, flat bill. It is native to areas west of Nordhurlant, though there are some small populations around Poqpemkek, in the southwest of the country.

The gadwall is a moderatley sized species of dabbling duck, with grey body plumage, orange legs and black tail plumage. It is native to a small portion in the west of Nordhurlant, making its home in the marshes ecozone. It is also native to a wide range in the interior of Vestrim, as well as Catai and western Asura.

The Asuran widgeon is a small species of dabbling duck with a brown head, light brown body and grey wings. It is closely related to the gadwall and Vestric widgeon. The Asuran dabbling duck is native to much of Asura, western Catai, and the Sturhlund archipelago, as well as several pockets in Vestrim. In Nordhurlant, this bird is most commonly found in the southeast of the country, in the interior forests ecozone.

The Vestric widgeon is a small species of dabbling duck related to the Asuran widgeon. Males have brown bodies with black tails and iridescent green heads, while females have brown bodies and dark brown or grey heads. The Vestric widgeon is native to a large part of Vestrim, including most of Nordhurlant except the extreme north of the country.

The mallard is a medium-sized waterfowl species related to wood ducks. Males have brown bodies, white bellies, orange feet and iridescent green heads. Females have light brown plumage with a black stripe across the face. The mallard is native to all of Vestrim, Asura and northern Catai. The mallard is most commonly seen in the marshes ecozone in Norshurlant.

The Vestric black duck is a moderately sized waterfowl species that most commonly resembles the female mallard. Males have yellow bills, grey and brown body plumage, orange feet and iridescent purple speculum feathers. Females have dull green bills, grey body plumage, orange feet and iridescent purple speculum feathers. It is native to almost all of Vestrim except the northern extremes of the continent, in addition to Asura and western Catai.

The northern pintail is a large species of duck in Nordhurlant. Males have a dark brown head, a white belly and neck, a light brown body and brown-grey wings. Females are brown and grey speckled all over. The northern pintail is native to all of Vestrim except the northern parts of the continent, Asura and western Catai, sharing its range with the Vestric black duck.

The green-winged teal is a small dabbling duck related to other teals. Males have a dark brown face with an iridescent green head, a light brown body with a white belly and a black tail. Female green-winged teals are almost identical in plumage to a female mallard, though they can be distinguished by their size. The green-winged teal is native to areas in the centre-east of Vestrim, with most of the population in Nordhurlant being confined to the extreme west of the country.

The canvasback is a moderately sized species of duck related to redheads and scaups. The male has a dark brown head, white back and brown belly, with grey and black wings. The female is a speckled light brown colour all over. The canvasback is native to the centre and east of Vestrim, with the population of these birds in Nordhurlant existing in the west of the country, much like the green-winged teal.

The redhead is a moderately sized diving duck. Males have a red or copper head, black bellies and white back and wings. Females have brown and olive green heads, and light brown body plumage. The legs on redheads are further back than on dabbling ducks, a characteristic of diving ducks that helps them dive. Redheads, while not common in Vestrim, have a wide range, stretching from the north all the way to the Columbian Sea. In Nordhurlant, they are mostly found in the western and southern regions.

The ring-necked duck is a moderately sized diving duck distantly related to the redhead. It has a black body with white or off-white wings and a band of cinnamon around its neck, giving it its name. Females have darker, more greyish colouration on their wings. The ring-necked duck is native to the north and east of Vestrim, their habitat covering the entirety of Nordhurlant.

The greater scaup is a moderately sized diving duck. Males have iridescent greenish heads with a black breast, black and white back, a white underside, a black tail, a blue bill and yellow eyes. Females have yellow eyes, a blue bill, a dark brown head and a light brown body, speckled with white. The greater scaup is closely related to the lesser scaup, the only difference being that the lesser scaup is smaller. The greater scaup is native to The eastern portion of Vestrim as well as western Asura.

The lesser scaup is a small diving duck closly related to the greater scaup, though the greater scaup is far larger. Males have iridescent brown heads tinted with green, a black breast, black and white striped back, a black tail, a blue bill and yellow eyes. Females have yellow eyes, a grey bill, light brown head and a speckled light brown body. The lesser scaup is native to the eastern portions of Vestrim, including the entirety of Nordhurlant.

The king eider is a large species of sea duck. The male is unmistakable with its mostly black body, buff-tinged white breast and multicoloured head. The head, nape and neck are a pale bluish grey. The cheek is pale green, while the bill is red with a white nail and a large yellow knob. The female is a warm brown colour overall, slightly paler on the head and neck. The feathers on her upper parts, flanks, neck and head are striped black. The king eider is native to the northernmost portion of Vestrim and Asura, in addition to Sturhlund. In summer, they migrate southwards in search of food, leading to sightings along the coast in Nordhurlant.

The common eider is a large species of sea duck and is the largest of all eiders. The male is unmistakable, with its black and white plumage and green nape. The female is, however, hard to distinguish from other eiders as they are all light brown and have the same body shape. The common eider is native to the coasts of northeastern Vestrim and northern Asura.

The harlequin duck is a small sea duck. Males have dark blue heads and necks, white and grey bodies, brown bellies and black tails. Females are entirely light brown except for a white stripe across the face and a white bill. The harlequin duck is native to northwestern and northeastern coastal Vestrim, with significant populations in Nordhurlant.

The padamadasoe duck is a small species of sea duck found only in Nordhurlant. Males are striped black and white with white wings, and females are grey or brown. The only breeding location for these birds in all of Aeia is in the northern Patāqmetasok cliffs, from which the name is derived. The native range of the padamadasoe duck is only the northeastern part of Nordhurlant, but populations remain intact and strong.

The surf scoter is a large species of sea duck related to other scoters. Males are almost entirely black, with a few white blotches on the head and nape as well as an orange bill. Females are speckled light brown, with an orange bill. The surf scoter is native to northern Vestrim, their range extending from the Jade Ocean in the west to the Opal Ocean in the east.

The white-winged scoter is a large sea duck related to the black scoter and the surf scoter. Males are entirely black except for some white around the eye and an orange or yellow bill, with white wing tips. Females are entirely brown except for an orange or yellow bill and white wing tips. The native range of the white-winged scoter extends from eastern Vestrim into the interior, not quite reaching the Jade Ocean.

The black scoter is a large sea duck related to other scoters. The male is all black with a yellow, bulbous bill. The female has brown plumage with paler cheeks, very similar to female common scoter. This species can be distinguished from other scoters by the lack of white anywhere on the male, and the more extensive pale areas on the female. The native range of the black scoter is the smallest out of any scoter, extending from small areas in eastern Vestrim, including Nordhurlant, some areas in western Vestrim and the easternmost parts of Catai.

The long-tailed duck is a medium sized species of sea duck. The male has a long pointed tail, hence the name, and a dark grey bill with a pink band. The male has a dark cheek patch on a mainly white head and neck, a dark breast and mostly white body in the winter. In summer, the male's head neck and back are darker, with an additional white cheek patch. The female has a brown back and a relatively short pointed tail, compared to the male. In winter, the female's head and neck are white with a dark crown. In summer, the head is darker. The native range of the long-tailed duck includes most of northern Vestrim, including the northern half of Nordhurlant, mostly residing near the coasts.

The bufflehead is a small species of sea duck. Males are black and white, with iridescent green and purple heads and a large white patch near the eye. Females are grey with a smaller white patch near the eye and a light belly. The bufflehead inhabits the south-central portions of Vestrim, including some parts of extreme southwestern Nordhurlant, near Ektansakek.

The common goldeneye is a moderately sized species of sea duck, one of two types of goldeneyes found in Nordhurlant. Males have a dark, glossy green head and a white patch below the eye, a dark back and a white neck and belly. Females have a brown head and a mostly grey body, with orange yellow legs and feet. The common goldeneye is native to the interior and east of Vestrim, where it has stable populations in Nordhurlant.

Brendt's goldeneye is a medium sized sea duck, the less common species of goldeneye in Nordhurlant. Males have a purplish, glossy head and a white crescent on the face. Females are mostly brown and have a mostly yellow bill. Brendt's goldeneye has two main native populations, one in Sturhlund and one in western Vestrim. The population in Sturhlund is the one seen in Nordhurlant when they migrate south in the summer.

The hooded merganser is a species of small duck. It is one of three types of merganser found in Nordhurlant, though it bears no genetic resemblance to the other mergansers. Males have a black head, neck and breast with white markings; there are large white patches on either side of the male's large crest. The males' sides are a rich reddish-brown or chestnut in colour, and the breast and undersides are more or less white, extending into white stripes across the crop. The female has a greyish-brown body, with a narrow white patch over the lower breast and belly. She has a light reddish-brown crest extending from the back of the head. The hooded merganser is found in the south and east of Nordhurlant, but it is far more common in other areas of Vestrim.

The common merganser is a species of large river duck. It is closely related to another species of merganser found in Nordhurlant, the red-breasted merganser. Males have a white body with a variable salmon-pink tinge, the head is black with an iridescent green gloss, the rump and tail are grey, and the wings are white and black. Females are largely grey, with a reddish-brown head, white chin, and a grey wing. The native range of the common merganser extends throughout most of northern Vestrim, most of northern Catai and almost all of Asura.

The red-breasted merganser is a large species of duck related to the common merganser. The male has a dark head with a green sheen, a white neck with a rust-coloured breast, a black back, and a white belly. Females have a rusty head and a greyish body with a red-orange bill. The red-breasted merganser's native range extends for all of northern Vestrim, northern Catai and northern Asura.

The ruddy duck is a small species of stiff-tailed duck. Male ruddy ducks have blackish caps and bright white cheeks. In summer, they have chestnut-coloured bodies with bright blue bills. In winter, they are grey-brown with dull grey bills. Females are brownish with a blurry stripe across the pale cheek patch. The native range of the ruddy duck includes southern interior Vestrim and some islands in the Columbian Sea, far south from Nordhurlant. Only the occasional ruddy duck is spotted as far north as Nordhurlant.

New World quail

Northern bobwhite

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but are named as such for their similar appearance and habits.

The northern bobwhite is a moderately sized New World quail. Males have a white throat and brow stripe. Their plumage has grey mottling on the wings, white stripes on the flanks, and black marks on the whitish underparts. The tail is grey. Females are similar but are duller overall and have a buff throat and brow. Both sexes have pale legs and feet. The native range of the northern bobwhite ends slightly south of Nordhurlant, residing mainly in Hardenburgh and Ovandera. However, the occasional northern bobwhite is still spotted in Nordhurlant.

Pheasants, grouse and allies

Wild turkey
Rock ptarmigan
Sharp-tailed grouse
Greater prairie-chicken

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants, the grouse, and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

The chukar is a rotund, long partridge, with a light brown back, grey breast, and buff belly. It has rust-coloured streaks along its flanks, red legs and coral red bill. Its face is white with a black throat. The chukar is native to southern Asura, Majula and southern Catai, but they were introduced into Nordhurlant by colonial peoples, where they now exist in the interior valley ecozone.

The grey partridge is a rotund partridge with a brown back, and grey flanks and chest. The belly is white and usually marked with a large chestnut-brown horseshoe. The grey partridge is native to Asura and western Catai, but was introduced to Vestrim in the colonial era. The grey pheasant inhabits the interior valley ecozone in Nordhurlant.

The common, or ring-necked pheasant is a large gamebird. The body plumage of males is gold or copper-coloured and chestnut-brown, both with an iridescent sheen of green and purple. Rump uniform is sometimes blue. The wing plumage is white. The tail may be white or striped with black. The head is a duller green with a small crest and red wattle. The females are much less showy, with a duller mottled brown plumage all over. The ring-necked pheasant is native to western Catai, but has since spread throughout Asura and was introduced across Vestrim, including Nordhurlant, during the colonial era as a gamebird.

The ruffed grouse is a chunky, medium sized bird unrelated to other grouses, despite its name. Ruffed grouse have two distinct morphs, grey-morph and brown-morph. Grey-morph ruffed grouse have a grey-brown head, neck and back, and the breast is light brown. There is more white on the belly and flanks. The tail is essentially the same brown-grey as the body, with regular barring. Brown-morph birds have tails of the same colour and pattern, but the rest of the plumage is much more brown, giving the appearance of a more uniform bird with less light plumage below. The ruffed grouse is native to the interior of Vestrim, and populations in Nordhurlant are concentrated in the western parts of the interior forest ecozone.

The spruce grouse is a medium sized grouse, the only true grouse whose native range includes Nordhurlant. Males have mainly grey backs and black bellies, spotted white along the side, and a red patch of bare skin over the eye. Females are red-brown, in the red morph, or grey, in the grey morph, with their bellies striped black and white. The spruce grouse is native to the northern section of Vestrim, from the Opal Ocean to the Jade Ocean. The spruce grouse is therefore native to all of Nordhurlant.

The willow ptarmigan is a large ground-dwelling bird related to other ptarmigans and grouse. In the summer, the male's body plumage is brown, with a red hue to the neck and breast, a black tail and white wings and belly. It has two red wattles above the eyes. The female is similar in appearance to the male but lacks the wattles and has brown feathers scattered among the white feathers on the belly. During winter, the plumage of both sexes becomes completely white, bar some black feathers in the tail. The willow ptarmigan is native to northern Vestrim, Catai and Asura, existing only in the northernmost extremes of Nordhurlant.

The rock ptarmigan is a medium-sized bird related to other ptarmigans and grouse. The rock ptarmigan is seasonally camouflaged. Both sexes' feathers moult from white in winter to brown in spring or summer. The rock ptarmigan is native to the north of Vestrim, Catai and Asura. Like the willow ptarmigan, these birds are only seen in the northernmost extremes of Nordhurlant.

The sharp-tailed grouse is a medium sized prairie grouse. The plumage of the sharp-tailed grouse is a mix of dark and light browns against a white background. The browns are lighter on the breast and the belly is white with v-shaped patterns. Males have a yellow comb over their eyes and a violet patch on their neck. The sharp-tailed grouse is native to the interior plains of Vestrim, the native range not quite reaching the western border of Nordhurlant, though the occasional one is still spotted.

The greater prairie-chicken is a large, stalky bird in the grouse family. Both sexes have short tails which are typically rounded and blue in colour. Males have orange feathers over their eyes and dark, elongated head feathers that can be raised or lain along the neck. They also possess a circular, un-feathered neck patch which can be inflated while displaying. This patch, like their comb feathers, is also orange. Females have shorter head feathers and also lack the male's orange comb and neck patch. The greater prairie-chicken is native to some parts along the coast of eastern Vestrim and some parts of the interior. Further south along the coast, the grater prairie-chicken has been hunted out of its native range, leaving Nordhurlant the only place where it exists along the coast. It is a prairie bird, and therefore occupies the interior valley ecozone.

The wild turkey is the largest gamebird in Vestrim. It is distantly related to other gamebirds like pheasants, grouse and ptarmigans. Wild turkeys have long light orange to grey-green legs. The body feathers are generally dark, sometimes grey brown overall with a coppery sheen in males. Males have a large, featherless, red head, red throat, and red wattles on the throat and neck. The head has fleshy growths called caruncles. Females have feathers that are more dull, in shades of brown and grey. It is native to the northeastern coasts of Vestrim and a little bit inland. The native range of wild turkeys extends only into the southern half of Nordhurlant.

Grebes

Red-necked grebe

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them, like diving ducks, walk rather ungainly on land.

The pied-billed grebe is a small water bird. They are mainly brown, with a darker back. Their undertail is white and they have a short bill that is a light grey colour, which in summer is encircled by a broad black band, hence the name. In the summer, its throat is black. The pied-billed grebe inhabits the coasts and interior of Vestrim, though not the northern areas. All of Nordhurlant is within the pied-billed grebe's native range.

The horned grebe is a small water bird in the grebe family. They have alternating read and black plumage with sets of yellowish feathers behind the eyes, giving the appearance of horns. The horned grebe is native to most of northern Vestrim, northern Catai and Asura. The horned grebe is common in all of Nordhurlant.

The red-necked grebe is a medium sized water bird in the grebe family. They have a black cap that extends below the eye, pale grey cheeks and throat, a rusty red neck, dark grey back and flanks, and a white belly. The eyes are dark brown and the long, pointed bill is black with a yellow base. They are native to the interior of Vestrim and Catai, though they migrate outwards, normally southwards in the summer. The red-necked grebe can be found in the interior marshes ecozone in the summer.

Pigeons and doves

Mourning dove

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills. The head normally 'bobs' back and forth while walking on land.

The rock pigeon is a small-to-medium sized bird related to other pigeons and doves. It is the most common type of pigeon in Aeia. They have dark blue-grey head plumage, neck plumage, and chest plumage with glossy yellow, green, and red-violet iridescence along their neck and wing feathers. The iris of the rock pigeon is orange, red, or golden with a paler inner ring, and the bare skin around the eye is blue-grey. The bill is grey or black, and the feet are purplish-red. The rock pigeon is native to Asura and western Catai, and was introduced into Nordhurlant in the colonial era. It is very common across Nordhurlant, especially in urban areas and along cliffs.

The passenger pigeon is a species of pigeon that only exists in Nordhurlant. It was once common across all of Vestrim, however hunting dramatically reduced populations until only a small one in Nordhurlant remained. It has a blue-grey head and neck. On the sides of the neck and the upper mantle were iridescent display feathers that vary between bright bronze, violet or gold-green. The upper back and wings are a pale grey tinged with olive green. The lower back and rump were a dark blue-grey that became grey-brown on the upper tail feathers. The passenger pigeon was once native to most of Vestrim, but its range has now been reduced to the interior forest, coastal and interior valley ecozones of Nordhurlant.

The mourning dove is a pigeon-like bird with a distinctive sad-sounding call, hence the name. The plumage of the mourning dove is generally grey-brown and a pink colour below. The wings are spotted black, and the outer tail feathers are white, contrasting with the black inner tail feathers. Below the eye is a distinctive crescent-shaped area of dark feathers. Its native range encompasses almost all of Vestrim, including all of Nordhurlant. The mourning dove is one of Vestrim's most common birds.

Cuckoos and anis

Yellow-billed cuckoo

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

Cuckoos, roadrunners and anis are birds of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.

The yellow-billed cuckoo is a small-to-medium sized species of cuckoo. They have long tails that are brown above and striped black and white below, with a black curved bill coloured yellow on the lower mandible. The head and back are brown and the belly is white. There is a yellow ring around the eye. They are native to eastern inland Vestrim, and make their home in Nordhurlant's interior forest ecozone.

The black-billed cuckoo is a small species of cuckoo related to the yellow-billed cuckoo. They have long brown tails and a black, slightly curved bill. The head and back are brown and the belly is white. The eyes are a deep red. The black-billed cuckoo overlaps in range with the yellow-billed cuckoo, covering almost all of eastern Vestrim. They reside mainly in the interior forests ecozone of Nordhurlant.

Nightjars and allies

Common nighthawk

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium or small sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, which makes it difficult to walk, and long pointed wings. Their plumage is coloured to resemble bark or leaves.

The common nighthawk is a medium sized nocturnal bird in the nightjar family. It has long, pointed wings with white patches, a short black bill and varied body plumage that resembles bark, so as to camouflage. It is native to almost all of northern Vestrim, and its native range includes all of Nordhurlant.

The chuck-will's-widow is a small or medium sized nocturnal nightjar. It has the long tail and pointed wings typical of the nightjar family, as well as a short black bill. It has nearly the same varied plumage as the common nighthawk, though some elements of olive green are present to blend in with leaves. It is native to central and eastern Vestrim, just slightly south of Nordhurlant. The occasional chuck-will's-widow is spotted in Nordhurlant.

The eastern whip-poor-will is a medium-sized nocturnal nightjar. Adults have mottled plumage to camouflage with their surroundings. The back and wings are grey, black and brown, while the belly and breast are grey and black. They have a very short, black bill and a black throat. It is native to a large portion of eastern Vestrim, including the southern half of Nordhurlant.

Swifts

Chimney swift

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and almost never land on flat ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

The chimney swift is a small flight bird in the swift family. The plumage of the chimney swift is a dark sooty olive at the top of the back and grey brown in the lower part of the back, with a slightly paler rump and a significantly paler throat. Its beak, feet and legs are black. The chimney swift is native to northeastern Vestrim, though it migrates south in the winter. In some areas of Vestrim, the chimney swift is considered a vulnerable species, however in Nordhurlant its population continues to grow.

Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings, in addition to being the only birds able to fly backwards. They are distantly related to the swifts.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a small species of hummingbird. It is the most common hummingbird in north Vestrim. The males have a throat of iridescent ruby red, hence the name. The females have a tail with outer feathers banded in green, black, and white and a white throat. The ruby-throated hummingbird is native to a large portion of north and east Vestrim, including most of Nordhurlant. In the winter, they migrate south, sometimes as far as Rennekka.

Rails, gallinules, and coots

King rail with juvenile
Common gallinule
Vestric coot

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

The rails, gallinules and coots are small to medium-sized birds which also includes the crakes. Typically, they occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, and rivers. In general they are secretive birds, making observing them difficult. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to the soft uneven surfaces in their habitats. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak flyers compared to other small birds.

The yellow rail is a small, secretive marsh bird related to coots, crakes and gallinules. They have brown backs and necks streaked with black, a yellow-brown breast, and a cream-coloured belly. The short thick grey-brown bill turns yellow in males during the breeding season, giving the species its name. There is a yellow-brown band over the eye and the legs are a yellow-green colour. They inhabit the interior marshes of Vestrim, including the marshes in Samqwam province.

The clapper rail is a small bird in the rail family, although it is unsure exactly where it fits taxonomically. It is a grey brown colour with a pale brown breast and a noticeable white blotch under the tail. Its bill curves slightly downwards. It inhabits the marshes of the eastern coasts of Vestrim, with a small population in the south of Nordhurlant.

The king rail is a small-to-medium sized water bird in the rail family. It is the largest of all Vestric rails. They typically have a long bill with a slight downward curve, with brown backs and rust-coloured faces and breasts with a dark brown head cap. They also have a white throat and a white or cream-coloured belly. They are native to most of eastern Vestrim, as well as some parts of the interior. It inhabits the Samqwam marshes and some parts of the south.

The Motsvara rail is a small waterbird in the rail family. They are brown, dark brown on the back and back of the head, with orange-brown legs. Their tails are short and they have a long, slim red bill. Their cheeks are grey, with a light stripe over the eye and a white or cream throat. They are native to the east, interior and west of Vestrim, with significant populations in the Samqwam marshes and northwards.

  • Sora, Porzana terrapiscensis

The sora is a small waterbird related to crakes and, more distantly, rails. They have brown backs and hind necks speckles with black, a blue-grey face, neck and belly, and black and white flanks. They have a short yellow bill, with black markings on the face at the base of the bill and on the throat. They are native to almost all of Vestrim except the extreme north. In Nordhurlant, they are common throughout the country, although they are rarely ever observed due to their secretive nature. They have been known to be seen in the less densely vegetated marshes of Nordhurlant.

The common gallinule is a medium-sized waterbird in the gallinule family. The common gallinule has dark blue or green plumage apart from white underneath the tail, yellow legs and a red face around the bill. The common gallinule is native to a majority of eastern Vestrim, thriving in marshes like the ones found in western Nordhurlant.

The Vestric coot is a medium-sized waterbird related to other coots and rails. It is commonly mistaken for a duck when it is in water. The Vestric coot has either iridescent blue-green or grey body plumage. They have a short, white bill and white shield around the bill, which usually has a red or brown spot near the top of the bill, between the eyes. The Vestric coot is native to most of the continent, bar the most northern regions. They inhabit all of Nordhurlant, and are a common target for birdwatchers in the marshes of Nordhurlant.

Oystercatchers

American oystercatcher

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large and noisy birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs.

The Transopalic oystercatcher is a medium sized seabird. They have black and white body plumage and a long orange beak. The head and breast are black and the back, wings and tail grey or black. The belly is white. The irises are yellow and the eyes have orange rings around them. The legs are pink. It is native to the coasts of eastern and western Vestrim, and the coasts of Rennekka, as well as various islands in the Columbian Sea. It was once native to the northern coast of Frigidarum, as evidenced by fossils, though they no longer appear there. Its native range is slightly south of Nordhurlant, though the occasional one is spotted along the coast in the summer.

Lapwings and plovers

Killdeer
Cataisuran golden-plover
Semipalmated plover

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

This family includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium sized birds with stout bodies, short necks, and long, pointed wings. They are found in open country almost worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

The northern lapwing is a small migratory bird in the lapwing family. It has rounded wings, unlike most of the plover-like birds. It is also the shortest-legged of the lapwings. It is mainly black and white, but the back has a greenish tinge. The male has a long crest and a black crown, throat and breast contrasting with the otherwise white face. Females have shorter crests, and have less strongly marked heads, but their plumages are otherwise quite similar. It is native for the most part to northern Asura, but there is a small population in the north of Nordhurlant.

The black-bellied plover is a medium sized migratory bird in the plover family. Their face and neck are black with a white border, and they have a black breast and belly with a white rump. The tail is white with black stripes. The bill and legs are black. It is native to the northern regions of Aeia, specifically northern Catai, Asura and Vestrim. There is a small population in the extreme north of Nordhurlant.

The Cataisuran golden-plover is a large migratory plover bird. Its belly is black, its flanks are white, and its back is gold or brown striped or speckled with black. The bill and legs are black. The most distinctive feature of the Cataisuran golden-plover is the white colouration on its flanks, which follows an S-pattern from the forehead all the way to the rump. It is native to northern Asura and Catai, as well as Sturhlund. It is not native to Nordhurlant, though it is sometimes seem while migrating or accidentally.

The Vestric golden-plover is a medium sized migratory plover, closely related to the Cataisuran golden-plover. Its belly is black, its flanks are white and its back is an olive brown or dull gold colour, sometimes speckled with black. Its white flanks can be contrasted with the Cataisuran golden-plover in that they do not continue all the way to the rump on the Vestric golden-plover. It is native to the northern parts of Vestrim, migrating far south in the winter, to Rennekka. Nordhurlant is host to both winter and summer populations of Vestric golden-plovers.

The common ringed plover is a small species of migratory bird in the plover family. They have a grey brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with a black band through the white neck. They have a brown head cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange bill with a black tip. The legs are also orange. It is native to the north of Catai and Vestrim, migrating southwards in the winter. Sightings in Nordhurlant only occur in the migrating season, in the spring and summer.

The semipalmated plover is a small migrating plover. They have a grey brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with a black band through the white neck. They have a brown head cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange and black bill. It is almost identical to the common ringed plover, except that the semipalmated plover is smaller. The semipalmated plover is native to a large portion of northern Vestrim, including portions of northern Nordhurlant. It migrates into the Columbian Sea in the winter, sometimes as far south as northern Rennekka.

The piping plover is a small migrating shorebird in the plover family. They are sand-coloured or a dull khaki. They have yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck. They are native to the east coast of Vestrim, and a small portion of the interior. The population in Nordhurlant is divided into two areas, along the eastern coast and in the western marshes and forests. There is some debate whether these two groups are, in fact, separate subspecies.

The killdeer is a medium-sized bird, large for a plover. It is the most widespread of the plovers in the New World. Its back and hind neck are mostly brown with rusty fringes, its cap, back, and wings being also rust-coloured. It has a white forehead and a white stripe behind the eye, but the rest of the head is black. The killdeer also has a white collar with a black border. The rest of the face is brown or black. The breast and belly are white, with the exception of two black bands across the breast. It is native to most of Vestrim except the far north, its range stretching from the Jade Ocean to the Opal Ocean. It migrates south in the winter, to southern Vestrim and sometimes Rennekka. The killdeer is the most commonly seen plover in Nordhurlant, where the country is entirely within the range of the killdeer.

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