Scavenger. The bone vulture has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on sight or smell.
Strong Stomach. The bone vulture is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition. It can consume rotten or poisonous food without adverse effects.
Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage and 2 (1d4) piercing damage.
Description
The bone vulture is a stubby black bird with a large off-white beak and a large wingspan compared to its body. While its body length, including the beak, is around 5-6 feet, its total wingspan is around 20 feet. The bird is a gliding scavenger, looking for carcasses that are already reduced to bones. It then uses its large, powerful beak to break the bones and swallow it all. Its digestive system is capable of extracting almost all the nutrients from both the marrow and the bones themselves. If food is scarce, it can even consume limestone and other minerals of biological origin to keep itself sustained. In some cultures, it is seen both as a bad omen and a sign of better things to come. This is because it is among the last scavengers to appear after a big battle or other destructive event. As such, its devouring of the last remnant of destruction signifies the new beginning. Some cultures even build temples devoted to them and use them as part of a burial ritual where bodies are fed to them in order for them to become part of the natural cycle again.
Though not much of a threat to any living being, if threatened it will defend itself to great effect with its mighty beak.
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