Förns

Förns¹ are the world's largest carnivorous birds and top predators on the Plain of Spirits, Plain of Kings and Þrihakía in northern Dragonía. Their size, cunning and sheer ferocity has given them fearful respect by the people who inhabit the region, the ancient Móerkels and their descendants the Mörkels and Þrihaks, and the Knárs, who call the birds köjakn or neck-brakers.
The latter are rarely attacked by förns due to their own size and strength and generally avoid avoid them, while Mörkel nobles sometimes hunt the birds that threaten their subjects and livestock (and to gain honour and prestige as well). Such hunts are always conducted in groups of at least three, with the hunters taking turns distracting the beast while one of them attacks from behind, but there's always a high risk of injury and even death.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Förns have tall, strong legs, long neck and a large, powerful beak which serves as their main weapon. The legs and beak are grey, while the rest of the body is covered in brown plumage with irregular black spots. The males sport a crest on the back of their head.

Genetics and Reproduction

Förns mate for life, the female lay only one egg at a time in a simple nest on the ground, a shallow pit filled with plant matter and feathers. The pair takes turns protecting the nest and hunting.

Ecology and Habitats

Förns are adapted for living on the great plains of northern Dragonía and rarely venture into the woods on the northern and southwestern borders, as their size and reliance on sprinting makes it difficult to hunt there without injuring themselves.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Rekan Birds are the most common prey, although förns are not averse to snatching smaller prey such as Erlen Lizards and rodents, and occasionally they'll attack some of the large herbivores of the plains such as Hyrnings and Gírks, provided they are old, sick or unattended calves.
The preferred way of hunting is to chase the prey down and grab its leg to make it tumble, then using the beak to break its neck.