Shrieker
CAW CAW CAW!
Shriekers are medium-sized corvids recognizable by their harsh, drawn-out calls - easily mistaken for a predator's scream or a bushtail in heat. These intelligent birds are as bold as they are noisy, often seen perching near Faunid settlements, watching with bright eyes and waiting for an opportunity to scream about something. Their natural curiosity and memory make them excellent at tracking movement and alerting others to threats, whether real or imagined.
Highly social within their own kind, shriekers also form interspecies bonds (particularly with Faunids) with whom they’ve learned to manipulate with well-timed warnings and demands for food or trinkets. In the wild, they form sprawling flocks with a loose hierarchy built on shared calls and territory awareness.
Notably, shriekers are not natural mimics like some corvids, but they are known to develop unique “names” or identifying shrieks for individuals they interact with regularly. These bonds often last a lifetime, especially if a Faunid keeps up their end of the shiny-and-snack bargain.
While shriekers are among the more willing wild creatures to form bonds with Faunids, they require a balance of respect, routine, and reward. They are highly motivated by food and attention, expecting offerings in return for their services of being cute. Scraps, insects, fingers, and gleaming objects are all welcomed currency.
Shriekers are not easily confined and should never be caged. Instead, those who bond with one will often find themselves regularly visited or followed. A mutual roosting site - such as a perch above a home or shared outdoor space - is the most ethical approach. Clipping wings or denying them access to their flock is seen as a grave disrespect.
When kept in companionship, shriekers will often develop an identifying cry for their Faun, alerting others to their presence or danger nearby. They thrive in lively environments, and many choose to return to wild flocks during certain seasons; only to reappear when the time is right, bearing gifts or demands in their sharp little talons.
