Minglefowl

The minglefowl is a quail-size bird native to Idiri. It is especially widespread in the south of the continent, where it can be found wild in its native savannah environment, but it is also a common domestic fowl in much of the Sirdabi Caliphate.

The minglefowl has muted but attractive plumage that is the same for both males and females. It is largely a sandy-brown color, but has pearly spots scattered across its breast and rusty streaks across the neck and wing coverts. Despite its superficial similarity to a quail or francolin, the minglefowl has slightly longer legs, a long rudder-like tail, and a medium length decurved bill. It is a very fast runner and prefers to remain on the ground, but it is not a poor flyer and can be found perched in trees and large shrubs, where it also builds its nests.

The minglefowl is named for its odd predilection for joining flocks of other, nonspecific birds, typically ground-dwellers such as francolins, chukar, and cloudhens. Here they typically feed on larger insects disturbed by the other birds' foraging, as well as on lizards, centipedes, milipedes, and scorpions. Although their diets may sometimes overlap, the minglefowl are tolerated by the others due to the useful role they play in protecting their adopted flock. Not only do they have a loud alarm cry, which they raise readily on sighting a threat, but they are pugnacious birds that will willingly charge and peck even much larger animals attempting to prey on the flock. Thanks to this "guardian" behavior, minglefowl have been tamed by humans and added to their own flocks of domestic birds, including chickens, ducks, and domestic cloudhens.

Minglefowl are also known for their great capacity to mimic the calls and songs of other birds, besides being beautiful singers in their own right. People who are gifted singers and players of musicial instruments are often said to be "musical as a minglefowl." These birds are, however, able to mimic non-musical sounds as well, including the sound of burbling water.

Minglefowl are occasionally considered a nuisance in southern Idiri when they interfere with wildfowl hunting, but they are well loved throughout the Sirdabi Caliphate. They are valued for their useful role in protecting domestic stock, but besides this they are lauded as animal exemplars of the Azadi practice of "seeking the Song" -- they seek out and mingle with those who are different from them, learning their songs and fashioning them into beautiful new melodies.