The Beastiary
Winged Beasts
Finch
Small songbird of the rainforests.
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English finc; akin to Old High German fincho finch and perhaps to Greek spiza chaffinch; Date: before 12th century:
"Any of numerous songbirds (especially families Fringillidae, Estrildidae, and Emberizidae) having a short stout usually conical bill adapted for crushing seeds."
Also: Zebra Finch: Date: 1889;
"A small largely gray-and-white Australian waxbill (Poephila guttata) that has black bars on the tail coverts and is often kept as a cage bird"
Also: House Finch: Date: 1869;
"A small finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) that has a male with a red head, breast, and rump and that is native to Mexico and the western U.S. and has been introduced in the eastern U.S." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006Any of several hundred species of small, conical-billed, seed-eating songbirds belonging to several families in the order Passeriformes. These families are the Fringillidae, Emberizidae, Estrildidae, Carduelidae, and Ploceidae, although authorities disagree as to which finchlike birds should be classified in each family. The Grass Finch is any of several small finchlike birds of Australasia that constitute the tribe Erythrurini of the songbird family Estrildidae. Their tails are long and pointed, their bills stoutly conical. Grass finches live chiefly in hot open country near rivers. Several grass finches are well-known cage birds." — Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, Warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Fisher
Two types of this wading bird are mentioned. One is the Tufted Fisher which is a water bird of the rainforests. Most probably this bird is related to the flamingo of Earth. The other type mentioned is the Ushindi Fisher, a long-legged white wading bird, similar to that of a crane of Earth.
"Along the river, of course, many other species of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked and yellow-legged waders." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"His head was surmounted by an elaborate headdress, formed largely from the long, white, curling feathers of the Ushindi fisher, a long-legged, wading bird." — Explorers of Gor, page 236.
Fleer
A large, hook-billed bird which hunts at night. The Prairie Fleer is a yellow bird with long wings and a sharp bill; sometimes called the "maize bird" or "corn bird" from the belief that it is usually the first bird to find food.
"In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"From through the trees, on the other side of the camp, came what I took to be the sound of a bird, the hook-billed, night-crying fleer, which preys on nocturnal forest urts." — Siave Girl of Gor, page 117.
The fleer is a large, yellow, long-billed, gregarious, voracious bird of the Barrens. It is sometimes also called the Corn Bird or the Maize Bird." — Savages of Gor, page 246.
Forest Hurlit
Bird of the Gorean forests.
"The migrations of the forest hurlit… do not take place until later in the spring." — Nomads of Gor, page 138.
Fruit Tindel
A bird which inhabits the rainforests of the Schendi area.
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, Warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"Behind and about him had swirled a gigantic cloak of yellow and red feathers, from the crested lit and the fruit tindel, brightly plumaged birds of the rain forest." — Explorers of Gor, page 237.
Gant
There are three varieties of this bird which sounds suspiciously like an Earth duck or goose. The Jungle Gant is a bird, which inhabits the rainforests inland of Schendi; the Marsh Gant is a long-legged marsh bird with a piping cry, similar to an Earth curlew (sandpiper). The marsh gant is often domesticated by the Rencers, used for their meat and eggs. The Arctic Gant lives in the northern tundras, providing food for the Innuit; the eggs frozen eaten like apples.
"I heard a bird some forth or fifty yards to my right; it sounded like a marsh gant, a small, horned, web-footed aquatic fowl, broad-billed and broad-winged. Marsh girls, the daughters of rence growers, sometimes hunt them with throwing sticks." — Raiders of Gor, page 4.
"The calls of marsh gants, a kind of piping whistle, seemed more frequent now, and somewhat closer." — Raiders of Gor, page 8.
"I heard some domestic marsh gants making their piping call. The wandered freely on the island, leaving it to feed, then returning later. Wild marsh gants, captured, even as young as gantlings, cannot be domesticated; on the other had, eggs, at the hatching point, gathered from floating gant nests, are sometimes brought to the island; the hatchlings, interestingly, if not permitted to see an adult gant for the first week of their life, then adopt the rence island as their home, and show no fear of human beings; they will come and go in the wild as they please, feeding and flying, but will always, and frequently, return to the rence island, their hatching place; if the rence island, however, should be destroyed, they revert entirely to the wild; in the domesticated state, it will invariably permit themselves to be picked up and handled." — Raiders of Gor, pages 16-17.
"Two wild gants alighted on the island, away from the men and their prisoners, and began pecking about the ruins of one of the rence huts, probably after seeds or bits of rence cake." — Raiders of Gor, pages 60-61.
"Along the river, of course, many other species of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked and yellow-legged waders." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"I stepped aside to let a young girl pass, who carried two baskets of eggs, those of the migratory arctic gant. They nest in the mountains of the Hrimgar and in steep, rocky outcroppings, called bird cliffs, found here and there jutting out of the tundra. The bird cliffs doubtless bear some geological relation to the Hrimgar chains. When such eggs are frozen they are eaten like apples." — Beasts of Gor, page 196.
Gim
There are three varieties of this owl-like bird. The Horned Gim is a small owl-like bird, approximately 4 ounces in weight, which inhabits the forests of northern Gor, known for its loud, throaty warble. The Lang Gim is an unflighted, insectivorous bird which inhabits the rainforests inland of Schendi. Lastly, the Yellow Gim is a colored variety of the bird, which inhabits the rainforests inland of Schendi.
"I heard a bird twittering. It was a small bird, about the size of a sparrow, but it looked a bit like a tiny owl, with tufts over its eyes. It was purplish. It looked at me quizzically." — Captive of Gor, page 39.
"… the call of a tiny horned gim, the tiny purplish owl." — Captive of Gor, page 97.
"…a horned gim, a small, owllike bird, some four ounces in weight, common in the northern latitudes…" — Siave Girl of Gor, page 293.
"The migrations of the … horned gim do not take place until later in the spring." — Nomads of Gor, page 138.
"I heard the throaty warbling, so loud for such a small bird, of the tiny horned gim." — Hunters of Gor, page 106.
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Gorean Kite
The Gorean version of the earth kite; of the hawk family; predatory, probably feeds on brush urts and known for its shrill cry, found in meadowlands.
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English cyta; akin to Middle High German kuze owl; Date: before 12th century:
"Any of various usually small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail" — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006Any of numerous birds of prey belonging to one of three subfamilies (Milvinae, Elaninae, Perninae) of the family Accipitridae. Typically, a kite is lightly built, with a small head, partly bare face, short beak, and long narrow wings and tail. Kites occur worldwide in warm regions. Some kites live on insects; others are primarily scavengers but also eat rodents and reptiles." —Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"Any of various predatory birds of the hawk family Accipitridae having a long, often forked tail and long pointed wings." — American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"Overhead a wild Gorean kite, shrilling, beat its lonely way from this place, seemingly no different from a thousand other places on these broad grasslands of the south." — Nomads of Gor, page 4.
"The first southern migrations of meadow kites," he said, "have already taken place." — Nomads of Gor, page 138.
Gort
The hook-billed, carnivorous hunting bird of the rainforests inland of Schendi; preys on ground urts.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Grub Borer
This is an unflighted, insectivorous bird which inhabits the rainforests inland of Schendi.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Gulls
Gulls are a long-winged, web-footed aquatic bird. In the books, three types of gulls are mentioned; the Vosk Gull, the Schendi Gull and the Black Tipped Coasting Gull, broad-winged 
and found in the northern lands of Torvaldsland, similar to the Vosk Gull.
Etymology: Middle English, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh gwylan gull; Date: 15th century:
"Any of numerous long-winged web-footed aquatic birds (subfamily Larinae of the family Laridae); especially: a usually gray and white bird (as of the genus Larus) differing from a tern in usually larger size, stouter build, thicker somewhat hooked bill, less pointed wings, and short unforked tail" — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006"Any of more than 40 species of heavily built, web-footed seabirds of the subfamily Larinae, family Laridae. Gulls are most abundant as breeders in the Northern Hemisphere, which has about 30 species in temperate to arctic regions. Those nesting inland usually go to coasts in winter." —Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
Those are Vosk gulls,"
said Kamchak, "In the spring, when the ice breaks in the Vosk, they fly north." — Nomads of Gor, page 137.
"Those are Schendi gulls," said Ulafi, pointing to birds which circled about the mainmast. "They nest on land at night." — Explorers of Gor, page 99.
"From among the weapons at the foot of the couch, from one of the cylindrical quivers, still of the sort carried in Torvaldsland, I drew forth a long, dark arrow. It was more than a yard long. Its shaft was almost an inch thick with iron, barbed. Its feathers were five inches long, set in the shaft on three sides, feathers of the black-tipped coasting gull, a broad-winged bird, with black tips on its wings and tail feathers, similar to the Vosk gull." — Marauders of Gor, pages 234-235.
"Thurnock, though in Port Kar, had found a piece of Ka-la-na stock, and had been carving a great bow, the long bow. I knew he had also found some bits of bosk horn, and some leather, and some hemp and silk. In two or three days, I expected, he, too, would have a bow. Piles he had already commissioned from a smith; and Thura, on his command, this afternoon, with a bit of stick, had struck down a Vosk gull, that the shafts he fashioned, whether from Ka-la-na or tem-wood, would be well fletched." — Raiders of Gor, page 112.
Herlit
The Gorean eagle; an adult herlit is generally four feet (4') in height with a wingspan of seven to eight feet (7'-8'). The herlit is carnivorous. A valuable bird amongst the tribes of the Barrens, especially for its tail feathers, which are some fourteen to fifteen inches (14"-15") in height and are yellow in color with black tips. The herlit is also called "Sun-Striker" or "out-of-the-sun-it-strikes," from its habit of striking with the sun above and behind it; inhabits the Barrens.
"It was of peeled Ka-la-na wood and, from its top, there dangled two long, narrow, yellow, black-tipped feathers, from the tail of the taloned Herlit, a large, broad winged, carnivorous bird, sometimes in Gorean called the Sun Striker, or, more literally, though in clumsier English, Out-of-the-sun-it-strikes, presumably from its habit of making its descent and. strike on prey, like the tarn, with the sun above and behind it." — Savages of Gor, page 315.
"Light filtered into the pit. Similar pits, though much smaller, are used for the capture of the taloned Herlit. In the case of the Herlit it is dragged bodily into the pit. There it may be dealt with in various ways. It may be strangled; it may be crushed beneath the knees, with the hunter's weight; or it may be put on its belly, its back to be broken by a swift blow of the foot. In the latter two fashions, the wings are put to the side. This avoids damage to the feathers. It is not easy to kill such a bird with the bare hands, but that is the prescribed methodology. It is regarded as bad form, if not bad medicine, to use a weapon for such a purpose. An adult Herlit is often four feet in height and has a wingspan of some seven to eight feet. The hunter must beware of being blinded or having an artery slashed in the struggle. The fifteen tail feathers are perhaps most highly prized. They are some fourteen to fifteen inches in height, and yellow with black tips. They are particularly significant in the marking of coups. The wing, or pinion, feathers, are used for various ceremonial and religious purposes. The breath feathers, light and delicate, from the base of the bird's tail, are used, with the tail feathers, in the fashioning of bonnets or complex headdresses. They, like the wing feathers, may also be used for a variety of ceremonial or religious purposes. The slightest breeze causes them to move, causing the headdress to seem almost alive. It is probably from this feature that they are called "breath feathers." Each feather, of course, and its arrangement, in such a headdress, can have its individual meaning. Feathers from the right wing or right side of the tail, for example, are used on the right side of the headdress, and feathers from the left wing or left side of the tail are used on the left side of the headdress. In the regalia of the red savages there is little that is meaningless or arbitrary. To make a headdress often requires several birds. To give you an idea of the value of Herlits, in some places two may be exchanged for a kaiila; in other places, it takes three to five to purchase a kaiila." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 315.
Hermit Bird
Yellow-breasted woodpecker of the northern forests that burrow in the tall Tur trees.
"Somewhere, far off, but carrying through the forest, was the rapid, staccato slap of the sharp beak of the yellow-breasted hermit bird, pounding into the reddish bark of the tur tree, hunting for larvae." — Hunters of Gor, page 106.
Jard
A small, yellow-winged scavenger bird of the rainforest inland of Schendi, as well as in other parts of Gor. The bird flies in flocks, and in their feastings, can strip meat from a large, dead animal, within a few minutes.
"Within the next Ahn we passed more than sixty bodies, dangling at the side of the river. None was that of Shaba. About some of these bodies there circled scavenging birds. On the shoulders of some perched small, yellow-winged jards." — Explorers of Gor, page 415.
"The jard is a small scavenger. It flies in large flocks. A flock, like flies, can strip the meat from a tabuk in minutes." — Beasts of Gor, page 149.
"Fluttering jards, covering many of the carcasses like gigantic flies, stirred, swarming upward as Imnak passed them, and then returned to their feasting." — Beasts of Gor, page 170.
"The jard is a small scavenging bird. It commonly moves in flocks." — Magicians of Gor, page 400.
Kite
See: "Gorean Kite.
Lit
This is a bird found in the rainforests of the Schendi area.
"In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Mindar
A short-winged, yellow and red bird of the rainforests inland of Schendi; with its sharp bill, it digs in the bark of flower trees for larvae and bugs. The Gorean hummingbird.
"We looked up and saw a brightly plumaged, short-winged, sharp-billed bird. It was yellow and red… The mindar is adapted for short, rapid flights, almost spurts, its wings beating in sudden flurries; hurrying it from branch to branch, for camouflage in flower trees, and for drilling the bark of such trees for larvae and grubs." — Explorers of Gor, page 282.
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Parrot
Brightly colored, hook-billed bird, which can be taught to imitate speech. Well, an Earth parrot can. Nothing is mentioned in the books of Gorean parrots talking. 
There are several species of this colorful bird.
Etymology: probably irregular from Middle French perroquet; Date: circa 1525:
"Any of numerous widely distributed tropical zygodactyl birds (order Psittaciformes and especially family Psittacidae) that have a distinctive stout curved hooked bill, are often crested and brightly variegated, and include some excellent mimics." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"On the other hand, should a bird, such as a mindar or parrot…" — Explorers of Gor, page 294.
"In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, Warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Tanager
Brightly colored bird of the rainforests; probably much like their
Earthen cousin.
Etymology: New Latin tanagra, from Portuguese tangará, from Tupi; Date: 1688:
"Any of numerous chiefly tropical American oscine birds (family Thraupidae) that are often brightly colored and usually unmusical and inhabit mostly woodlands."
Also: Scarlet Tanager: Date: 1810:
"A common American tanager (Piranga olivacea) with the male having scarlet plumage and black wings during the breeding season and the female having chiefly olive plumage." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
Any of numerous songbirds of New World forests and gardens, chiefly in the tropics, constituting most of the subfamily Thraupinae (formerly Tanagrinae), of the family Emberizidae. The subfamily includes 200 to 220 species, confined to the Americas. Most tanagers are 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) long and have short necks, with bills of varying shape, slightly toothed. The structural color of the Superb Tanager (Tangara fastuosa) is tyndall blue. Swallow-Tanagers (Tersina viridis), a bird of northern South America, is the sole member of the subfamily Tersininae, family Emberizidae; some authors give it family rank (Tersinidae). About 15 cm (6 inches) long, it resembles a tanager with long wings and a swallowlike bill. The male is light blue, with black markings; the female is mostly green. Tanager eat insects." —Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Tarn
A large, crested, sable-colored bird, similar-looking to that of an Earth hawk; these birds are raised and trained to be ridden; used in battle and in racing. The war tarn is the largest of the tarns, and are shod in metal. The racing tarns are smaller to enable them to fly at great speeds and maneuverability. Please refer to the Tarn page for complete information.
"The plumage of tarns is various, and they are bred for their colors as well as their strength and intelligence. Black tarns are used for night raids, white tarns in winter campaigns, and multi-colored, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however, is the greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird, which the tarn most closely resembles is the hawk, with the exception that it has a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay's." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 48-51.
Tibit
A small, thin-legged bird which lives on tiny mollusks found on the shores of Thassa; similar to Earth cranes.
"I heard the cry of sea birds, broad-winged gulls and the small, stick-legged tibits, pecking in the sand for tiny mollusks." — Hunters of Gor, page 247.
Tumit
A large flightless bird, having an 18" long hooked beak; very carnivorous. This game bird is a delight to the palates of the Wagon Peoples. Probably similar to the Cassowary of the Australo-Papuan region; also carnivorous but their prey is small animals, though they have been known to kill humans when cornered.
"… beyond them I saw one of the tumits, a large, flightless bird whose hooked beak, as long as my forearm, attested only too clearly to its gustatory habits; I lifted my shield and grasped the long spear, but it did not turn in my direction; it passed, unaware." — Nomads of Gor, page 2.
"… the tumit, a huge, flightless carnivorous bird of the plains…" — Nomads of Gor, page 24.
"… it is nearly the best time for hunting tumits with the bola… The tumits run best this time of year rather toward the Cartius," observed Kamchak. — Nomads of Gor, pages 327-328.
Umbrella Bird
A variety of bird found in the rainforests of the Ushindi.
"In the lower portion of the canopies, too, can be found heavier birds, such as the ivory-billed woodpecker and the umbrella bird." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Vulo
The Gorean pigeon, often raised for their eggs and meat; 
kept in coops.
"She had been carrying a wicker basket containing vulos, domesticated pigeons raised for eggs and meat." — Nomads of Gor, page 1.
"I passed fields that were burning, and burning huts of peasants, the smoking shells of Sa-Tarna granaries, the shattered, slatted coops for vulos…" — Nomads of Gor, page 10.
"It is the spiced brain of the Turian vulo," Saphrar was explaining. — Nomads of Gor, page 83.
"I shot the spiced vulo brain into my mouth on the tip of a golden eating prong, a utensil, as far as I knew, unique to Turia." — Nomads of Gor, page 83.
"… carried a large wooden cage, made of sticks lashed together, which contained perhaps a dozen white vulos, domesticated pigeons." — Nomads of Gor, page 172.
"Among the animals I saw many verrs; some domestic tarsks, their tusks sheathed;
cages of flapping vulos, some sleen, some kaiila, even some bosk…" — Nomads of Gor, page 171.
Yesterday we had finished the food. Yet did we have water. Hassan saw five birds overhead in flight. "Fall to your hands and knees," he said. "Put your bead down." He did so, and I followed his example. To my surprise the five birds began to circle. I looked up. They were wild vulos, tawny and broad-winged. In a short time they alighted, several yards from us. They watched us, their heads turned to one side. Hassan began to kiss rhythmically at the back of his band, his head down, but moving so as to see the birds. The sound he made was not unlike that of an animal lapping water. There was a squawk as he seized one of the birds which, curious, ventured too near. The other vulos took flight. Hassan broke the bird's neck between his fingers and began to pull out the feathers. We fed on meat. — Tribesmen of Gor, pages 269-270.
Wader
There are two varieties of this waterbird which inhabits the rivers of the rainforests inland of Schendi. These are the ring-necked and the yellow-legged. Possibly similar to Earth cranes and flamingos.
Date: circa 1843:
"Any of an order (Ciconiiformes) of long-legged birds (as herons, bitterns, storks, and flamingos) that wade in water in search of food" — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006"Any member of the suborder Charadrii (order Charadriiformes) that is commonly found on sea beaches or inland mudflats; in Britain they are called waders, or wading birds. Shorebirds include the avocet, courser, lapwing, oystercatcher, phalarope, plover, pratincole, sandpiper, and snipe." —Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"Along the river, of course, many other species of birds may be found, such as jungle gants, tufted fishers and ring-necked and yellow-legged waders." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Warbler
One of the 
many small, brightly colored songbirds of the rainforests.
Date: 1611:
"Any of numerous small Old World oscine birds (family Sylviidae) many of which are noted songsters and are closely related to the thrushes b : any of numerous small brightly colored American oscine birds (family Parulidae) with a usually weak and unmusical song —called also wood warbler."
— Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006"Any of various species of small songbirds belonging to either the family Sylviidae> (sometimes considered a subfamily, Sylviinae,> of the family Muscicapidae) or the family Parulidae, with both belonging to the order Passeriformes. Warblers are small, active insect eaters found in gardens, woodlands, and marshes. The Stout Cisticola (Cisticola robusta), also called Fantail Warbler, is any of about 75 species of the genus Cisticola, belonging to the Old World warbler family, Sylviidae. They occur in grasslands, thorny scrub, and marshes, most numerously in Africa but also across southern Eurasia to Australia. Some are called cloud-scrapers, from the male's towering courtship flight. Cisticolas are notoriously difficult to identify. The Wren Warbler, is any of a number of Old World warblers, family Sylviidae (order Passeriformes), that are
wrenlike in carrying their tails cocked up. The name also denotes certain birds of the family Maluridae that are found in Australia and New Zealand. Among the sylviid wren-warblers are those of the African genus Calamonastes (sometimes included in Camaroptera). The Fairy Wren, also called Blue Wren, or Superb Warbler, any of the 14 species of the Australian genus Malurus of the songbird family Maluridae (sometimes placed in the warbler family Sylviidae). These common names, and bluecap, are given particularly to M. cyaneus, a great favorite in gardens and orchards of eastern Australia.
The male has blue foreparts with black markings." —Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"In the second level, that of the canopies, is found an incredible variety of birds, warblers, finches, mindars, the crested lit and the common lit, the fruit tindel, the yellow gim, tanagers, some varieties of parrot, and many more." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Woodpecker
Woody 
of the rainforests.
Date: circa 1530:
"any of numerous birds (family Picidae) with zygodactyl feet, stiff spiny tail feathers used in climbing or resting on tree trunks, a usually extensile tongue, a very hard bill used to drill the bark or wood of trees for insect food or to excavate nesting cavities, and generally showy parti-colored plumage"
Also: Downy Woodpecker: Date: 1808:
"A small black-and-white woodpecker (Dendrocopos pubescens) of No. America that
has a white back and is smaller than the hairy woodpecker"
Also: Hairy Woodpecker: Date: circa 1728:
"A common No. American woodpecker (Picoides villosus) closely resembling the downy woodpecker but larger with a longer bill"
Also: Ivory-Billed Woodpecker: Date: 1811:
"A very large black-and-white woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) of the southeastern U.S. and Cuba that has a showy red crest in the male and is presumed extinct in the U.S."Also: pileated woodpecker: Date: 1782:
"A large red-crested No. American woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) that is black with white on the face, neck, and undersides of the wings." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006"Any of about 180 species of birds that constitute the subfamily Picinae (true woodpeckers) of the family Picidae (order Piciformes), noted for probing for insects in tree bark and for chiseling nest holes in dead wood. Woodpeckers occur nearly worldwide, except in the region of Australia and New Guinea, but are most abundant in South America and Southeast Asia. The ivory-billed woodpecker (Campephilus principalis), a 45-cm (18-inch) black-and-white bird with a flaring crest (red in the male) and a long whitish bill. It belongs to the family Picidae (order Piciformes). The species is thought to be extinct, though there were unconfirmed sightings of the bird in the southern United States in the late 1990s; a small population in Cuba was last seen in the late 1980s." — Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"In the lower portion of the canopies, too, can be found heavier birds, such as the ivory-billed woodpecker and the umbrella bird." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Zad
A large, broad-winged, black-and-white bird with a long, narrow, yellowish, hooked beak; they scavenge on carrion. The Jungle Zad is the somewhat less-aggressive cousin of the Desert Zad and found in the rainforest inland of Schendi. Both species has the ugly habit of tearing out the eyes of weakened victims. This guarantees that the victim will die.
"Within the next Ahn we passed more than sixty bodies, dangling at the side of the river. None was that of Shaba… One was attacked even by zads, clinging to it and tearing at it with their long, yellowish, slightly curved beaks. These were jungle zads. They are less to be feared than desert zads, I believe, being less aggressive. They do, however, share one ugly habit with the desert zad, that of tearing out the eyes of weakened victims. That serves as a practical guarantee that the victim, usually an animal, will die. Portions of flesh the zad will swallow and carry back to its nest, where it will disgorge the flesh into the beaks of its fledglings. The zad is, in its way, a dutiful parent." — Explorers of Gor, page 415.
"I heard, a short time later, wings, the alighting of one or more large birds. Such birds, broad-winged, black and white, from afar, follow the marches to Klima; their beaks, yellowish, narrow, are long and slightly hooked at the end, useful for probing and tearing. The birds scattered, squawking, as a Kaiila sped past. The birds are called zads." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 232.
Zadit
A small, tawny-feathered, sharp-billed bird of the Tahari; insectivorous, feeding on sand flies and other similar insects; they often land on kaiila and spend long periods hunting the sand flies that infest the host animals.
"Following such rains great clouds of sand flies appear wakened from dormancy. These feast on kaiila and men. Normally, flying insects are found only in the vicinity of the oases. Crawling insects of various sorts, and predator insects, however, are found in many areas, even far from water. The zadit is a small, tawny-feathered, sharp-billed bird. It feeds on insects. When sand files and other insects, emergent after rains, infest kaiila, they frequently alight on the animals, and remain on them for some hours, hunting insects. This relieves the kaiila of the insects but leaves it with numerous small wounds, which are unpleasant and irritating, where the bird has dug insects out of it's hide. These tiny wounds, if they become infected, turn into sores; these sores are treated by the drovers with poultices of kaiila dung." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 152.
Special Note
Because of the differences in publishing the books, depending upon whether published in the U.S. or Europe, depending upon whether a first publishing or a Masquerade Books release, page numbers will often vary. All of my quotes are from original, first-printing U.S. publications (see The Books page for a listing of publishers and dates) with the exception of the following books:
- Tarnsman of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
- Outlaw of Gor (11th Printing, Balantine)
- Priest-Kings of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
- Assassin of Gor (10th Printing, Balantine)
- Raiders of Gor (15th Printing, Balantine)
- Captive of Gor (3rd Printing, Balantine)
Disclaimer
These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books. Many sites have added information, assuming the existences of certain products and practices, such as willowbark and agrimony for healing, and travel to earth and back for the collection of goods. I've explored the books, the flora, the fauna, and the beasts, and have compiled from those mentioned, the probabilities of certain practices, and what vegetation mentioned in the books is suitable for healing purposes, as well as given practicalities to other sorts of roleplaying assumptions.