Aarakocra

Typical physical characteristics
Aarakocra resemble humanoid birds. The average specimen stands about five feet tall and has a wingspan of twenty feet. Halfway along the edge of each wing is a hand with three human-sized fingers and an opposable thumb. An elongated fourth finger extends the length of the wing and locks in place during flight. The hands cannot grasp while flying, but are nearly as useful as human hands when an aarakocra is perched and its wings folded back. Their powerful legs end in four sharp talons that can unlock and fold back to reveal another pair of functional hands. These humanoids have hollow, fragile bones. Their faces combine the features of both parrots and eagles. They have gray-black beaks and black eyes. Plumage color varies, but males generally have red ,orange, and yellow coloration, while females tend towards brown and gray.

Environment
Aarakocra inhabit high mountains.

Society
Aarakocra live among the highest mountain peaks in small tribes which control hunting territories and share a communal nest. The eldest male serves as leader, the second oldest as shaman.

Known Aarakocra Settlements
They are thought to be an immigrant race to Faerûn from Maztica.
 * The Star Mounts in the High Forest. This tribe was almost totally slain by the green dragon Elaacrimalicros.
 * The Storm Horns in Cormyr
 * The Cloven Mountains in the Vilhon Reach
 * The Mistcliffs in Chult.

Creative origins
Aarakocra first appeared in the Fiend Folio (1981) and were credited to Lawrence Schick.