Homebrew Flamingo Species Details

Haunting swampy regions, flamingos, sometimes called birdfolk, evoke fear and wonder. 

Beak and Feather

From below, flamingos look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, flamingos might reach around 4 1/2 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to webbed claws.

Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage typically denotes membership in a tribe. Males are brightly colored, with feathers of pink, white, and red. Females have more subdued colors.

Avian Mannerisms

The resemblance of flamingos to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Flamingos display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary birds. They are fastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they might have picked up. When they descend from the sky, they often do so near pools where they can catch shrimp and bathe themselves.

Many flamingos punctuate their speech with chirps, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. A flamingo might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; an flamingos’s threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.

The idea of ownership baffles most flamingo. After all, who owns the swamp? Even when explained to them, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, flamingos who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. A flamingo who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

Confinement terrifies the flamingo. To be restrained, trapped underground, or imprisoned is a torment few flamingos can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their swampy homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.

Flamingo Traits

As an flamingo, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly and swim at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing an aarakocra requires special consideration by your DM.

Wading

Flamingos' webbed feet make it very easy to swim. You have a swimming speed of 30 ft. when you're not wearing medium or heavy armor, and swampy, marshy terrain doesn't slow your movement.

Flock Safety

When an ally is within 10 ft. of you and isn't incapacitated, you get a +1 to your AC.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength or Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence or Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Flamingos reach maturity by age 40. Compared to humans, flamingos usually live around 400 to 600 years.

Alignment

Most flamingos are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Tribal leaders and warriors might be lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.

Size

Flamingos range from 3.5 to 4.75 feet tall. They have thin, extremely lightweight bodies that weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 40 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Beak

Your beak is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Auran.