Finch | "...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 land gim. 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 Songbirds are mentioned in Explorers of Gor as found in the Schendi jungle. Although it is likely that many varieties of finch can be found all over Gor, one variety is specified by name among those of Schendi, that of the whistling finch. |
Fisher | "...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 Waterside birds mentioned in Explorers of Gor, the 'tufted' variety, as well as the white, wading 'Ushindi' variety are said to live by the waters of lakes in the Jungle areas of Schendi. The Ushendi fisher has long, white, curling feathers as well as long legs to wade in the waters. |
Fleer | "...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 A long billed night hunting bird which is found in at least three varieties. The first mentioned is simply refered to as 'fleer' and found in the Northern forests. The jungles of Schendi and the Barren lands would be home to two more of the Fleer family, respectively, the long billed variety and the yellow prairie fleer, also called the Maize Bird. |
Gant | "I heard a bird some forty 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 gant is a ducklike bird which is present in various climates, usually found near water. The Marsh gant is native to the Marsh areas on the Delta of the Vosk. Other varieties found throughout Gor include the jungle gant, said to be found on the riversides of the Schendi Jungle area, and the artic variety, which nests on the Northern cliffs. The eggs of the artic gant are eaten frozen. |
Gim | "...I heard the throaty warbling, so loud for such a small bird, of the tiny horned gim...." -- Hunters of Gor, page 106 "...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 land gim. 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 "...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 A tiny owl-like bird that is seen in different varieties, the most common being the purplish Horned Gim of the northern forests. Other varieties such as the land Gim (said to be flightless) and the yellow Gim can be found in the regions of Schendi. |
Gort | "...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 land gim. 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 A hooked billed variety which feeds on rodents is said to inhabit the jungles of Schendi. |
Grub borer | "...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 land gim...." -- Explorers of Gor, page 311 A flightless bird which inhabits the ground levels of the Rainforests of Schendi. |
Gull | "It was plied 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, page 234-235 "We then waited about a minute, and I saw several birds--river gulls--flying north. 'Those are Vosk gulls,' said Kamchak. 'In the spring, when the ice breaks in the Vosk, they fly north.'" -- Nomads of Gor, page 137 Shore birds found along various coastlines. The Vosk Gull is said to migrate north in the spring. The more northern Torvalsdland Gull, possibly also called Coast Gull, is said to have 'black tipped' feathers on its wings and tail. The Schendi Gull, which nests inland at night, can be found, as its name implies, on the coasts of Schendi. |
Hermit | "...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 A woodpecker-type, yellow-breasted bird of the Northern forest which bores the bark of Tur trees for larvae. |
Herlit | "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 called in Gorean 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 143 "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 the most highly prized. They are some fourteen to fifteen inches in height, and yellow with black tips." -- Blood Brothers of Gor, page 315 Large, broad winged, carnivorous bird of the Barrens sometimes called also Sun Striker, whose feathers are prized by Red Savages who use them in the making of ceremonial head dresses. |
Hurlit | "The first southern migrations of meadow kites," he said, "have already taken place. The migrations of the forest hurlit and the horned gim do not take place until later in the spring. This is the time that the Vosk gulls fly." -- Nomads of Gor, page 137 More specifically refered to as 'Forest Hurlit', this bird is briefly mentioned in Nomads of Gor as 'migrating'. There is no description found. |
Jard | "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 Small, scavenger bird possibly reminiscent of Earth's vultures, mentioned in various areas as feading on carcasses. They commonly move in flocks. The Schendi variety is described as yellow-winged. |
Kite | "The first southern migrations of meadow kites," he said, "have already taken place. The migrations of the forest hurlit and the horned gim do not take place until later in the spring. This is the time that the Vosk gulls fly." -- Nomads of Gor, page 137 A 'meadow' variety of this bird is briefly mentioned in Nomads of Gor as 'migrating'. No description found. The kites of Earth are small hawks (family Accipitridae) with long narrow wings and often a notched or forked tail. |
Lit | "...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 236 The common, crested and needle tail varieties of this brightly plumaged bird inhabit the rainforest inlands of Schendi. |
Mindar | In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits. Monkeys and tree urts, and snakes and insects, however, can also be found in this highest level. 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 A yellow and red short-winged bird of the Schendi regions that feeds from the insects and larvae it finds by digging into flowertree bark with its long sharp bill. |
Parrots | "...The canopy, or zone of the canopies, ranges from about sixty to one hundred and twenty-five feet high, Gorean measure. The first zone extends from the ground to the beginning of the canopies above, some sixty feet in height, Gorean measure. We may perhaps, somewhat loosely, speak of this first zone as the "floor," or, better, "ground zone," of the rain forest. 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 Colorful birds of the jungles of Schendi. |
Tanagers | "...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 A variety of birds said to be found in at least the Schendi regions of Gor. |
Tarn, common | "...Though the tarn, like most birds, is surprisingly light for its size, this primarily having to do with the comparative hollowness of the bones, it is an extremely powerful bird, powerful even beyond what one would expect from such a monster. 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 multicolored, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however, is greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird which the tarn most closely resembles is the hawk, with the exception that it bas a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay's. Tarns, who are vicious things, are seldom more than half tamed and, like their diminutive earthly counterparts, the hawks, are carnivorous. It is not unknown for a tarn to attack and devour his own rider. They fear nothing but the tarn-goad. They are trained by men of the Caste of Tarn Keepers to respond to it while still young, when they can be fastened by wires to the training perches..." -- Tarnsman of Gor, pages 51-53 Some tarns are bred primarily for strength and are used in transporting wares by carrying basket. Usually these birds fly more slowly and are less vicious than the war tarns or racing tarns. -- Assassin of Gor, page 143 Gigantic, hawklike saddle-birds. |
Tarn, racing | "The tarns were, of course, racing tarns, a bird in many ways quite different from the common tarns of Gor, or the war tarns. The differences among these tarns are not simply in the training, which does differ, but in the size, strength, build, and tendencies of the bird.... The racing tarns, interestingly, is an extremely light bird; two men can lift one; even its beak is narrower and lighter than the beak of a common tarn or a war tarn; its wings are commonly broader and shorter than those of the other tarns, permitting a swifter take off and providing a capacity for extremely abrupt turns and shifts in flight; they cannot carry a great deal of weight and the riders, as might be expected, are small men, usually of low caste, pugnacious and aggressive. --Assassin of Gor, pages 143-144 Gigantic, fierce, hawk-like, crested draft and/or saddlebird of Gor. |
Tarn, war | "The war tarns, of course, are bred for both strength and speed, but also for agility, swiftness of reflex, and combative instincts. War tarns, whose talons are shod with steel, tend to be extremely dangerous birds, even more so than other tarns, none of whom could be regarded as fully domesticated." -- Assassin of Gor, page 143 |
Tibit | "There were no signs of sails on the breadth of gleaming Thassa. The great circle of the horizon was empty. There were swift, white clouds in the sky. I heard the cry of sea birds, broad-winged gulls and the small, stick-legged tibits, pecking in the sand for tiny mollusks. There was a salt smell in the air, swift and bright in the wind. Thassa was beautiful." -- Hunters of Gor, page 247 A small bird found on the shores of Thassa, described as 'stick-legged', it feeds on small mollusks it pecks from the sand. The tibit woud probably be somewhat similar to a sandpiper or a plover, commonly found on the beaches that line the shores of Earth oceans. |
Tindel | "...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 236 Brightly plumaged bird of the rain forests of the Schendi area. |
Tumit | "...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 Large flightless bird of the prairy lands. It is said the Wagon People's much used bola was invented initially as a weapon for hunting this bird. This particularity would make the tumit sound much like the Rhea, a large flightless bird of the South American plains of Earth, which was hunted in the same fashion, by natives of these lands. |
Umbrella bird | "...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 Bird of the rain forests of the Schendi area. |
Veminium bird | "Perhaps in one of these times, due to no fault of Mistress he was charmed by her voice, as by the songs of the veminium bird, or again, by her grace and manner...." -- Magicians of Gor, page 363 Songbird mentioned in Magicians of Gor; it is likely that the name would indicate this bird to be found in veminium fields. The only comment made on it is in reference to its charming song. |
Vulo | She was a peasant, barefoot, her garment little more than coarse sacking. She had been carrying a wicker basket containing vulos, domesticated pigeons raised for eggs and meat. -- Nomads of Gor, page 1 A domesticated pigeon-like bird, raised for its eggs and meat. |
Wader | ...In the ground zone, an 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 land gim. 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 Both the ring-necked and the yellow legged variety of this waterbird inhabit the rainforest areas of Schendi. The term wader, to Earth bird lovers, refers to many species of limicoline or grallatorial long-legged birds more commonly called 'wading birds', that wade in the water in search of food. |
Warbler | "...Monkeys and tree urts, and snakes and insects, however, can also be found in this highest level. 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 Songbirds mentioned in Explorers of Gor as part of the Schendi jungle fauna. |
Woodpecker | "...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 At least one variety of woodpeckers is noted, the ivory billed variety which is spoken of in Explorers of Gor as one of the Schendi Jungle inhabitants. |
Zad | "...About some of these bodies there circled scavenging birds. On the shoulders of some perched small, yellow-winged jards. 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 A scavenging bird found in at least two varieties, the Tahari species being described as large, black and white, the jungle variety, said to be less agressive. Both do however share the rather gruesome custom of tearing out the eyes of weakened victims. |
Zadit | "...The zadit is a small, tawny-feathered, sharp-billed bird. It feeds on insects. When sand flies and other insects, emergent after rains, infest kaiila, they frequently light on the animals, and remain 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 had dug insects out of its hide...." -- Tribesmen of Gor, page 152 A bird of the Tahari that feeds on desert insects. |