Marshpies (Marsh-pies)

Marshpies are large flightless, insect eating birds living in the big deserts to the south on the eastern continent. They reach around 3 meters tall in a relaxed state with a withers height of around 2 meters, up to 4-5 meters when reaching upwards.
As their name suggests these birds were once found in large marshes and wetlands. These lands dried out and became the largest desert on Domu. Some of the insects and reptiles the Marshpies fed on adapted to their new environment and so did the birds.
Their large feet are webbed with three flat wide toes and rounded, nail like claws. Adapted to walking on the soft ground in wetlands and marshes they also work excellent on sand.
The birds are curious and not particularly afraid of people. They enjoy imitating new sounds and are known to steal colorful and shiny items.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Domesticated they are raised for meat, feathers and leather but most commonly only used as mounts. As they are intelligent creatures some see the slaughtering for meat and byproducts as unethical.
Domestically they are only fed farmed insects.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

They can only be found in the large desert

Average Intelligence

These large birds are fairly intelligent. They have very good problem solving skills and can use simple tools to find/reach their food. Some of the tools they use include sticks for poking and and stones for crushing.
They are also excellent at imitating sounds and often mess with travelers and hunters that cross their paths. When they come across unattended camps they like to steal things and eat any available food. The things they steal are often colorful and/or shiny.

Lifespan

10-15 years, 30 years in captivity

Average Height

1,5 - 2 meter withers height

Average Weight

200 - 250 kg

Average Length

3 - 4 meters (tail to head)

Average Physique

These birds are strong. They have strong legs to hold their heavy bodies and their muscular necks hold up their fairly big heads

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The feet have a black color that fades to a lighter brown further up the legs.

Their bellies are of-white.

They have a white band on their tail feathers.

They have a blackish brown color on their necks and back.

Pale/light beak full of pointy teeth and a small yellow beak/throat-sack.

Semi-long decorative feathers on their head.

White tips on the wing feathers