Hummingbirds were a type of small,[1] swift-moving bird found in the Realms,[2] named for the humming sound that they produced.[3]
Description
Hummingbirds were counted among the smallest of mundane birds.[1] Their delicate bodies[4] had needle-like beaks[5] and swift, light-weight wings that moved so fast they seemed nearly invisible to the naked eye.[6] Their swiftness in flight was so remarkable that they were often cited as examples of creatures skilled at flight,[2][7][8] capable of precise aerial maneuvers,[2] and darting from point to point.[9]
History
These birds were known to at least some of the people of Cormanthyr.[10]
Ecology
Diet
These birds fed upon the nectar found within flowers.[11]
Habitats
In the Savage Frontier, hummingbirds could be found in the gardens of Ivy Mansion in Longsaddle.[3]
Outside of Faerûn, hummingbirds could be found living in the jungles of east Zakhara,[12] in Tabot in the Valley of Lo Chi,[13] across the ocean on the continent of Maztica,[14][15] and on the island of Evermeet. On Evermeet, they were most notably found within the garden of the Moonstone Palace.[11]
Beyond the Prime Material, hummingbirds could be found in the realm of Faerie.[16]
Usages
- The feathers of hummingbirds were among the most favored for feathermagic and thus they were often trapped by plumaweavers for their plumage.[14][15]
- A hummingbird feather acted as a material component for the spells foresight[17] and mass.[18][19]
- The tongue of a hummingbird could be used as an ingredient in a potion of animal friendship.[20]
Relationships
Like many mundane birds, these creatures were often on good terms with the forest gnomes that shared their habitats.[21]
Trivia
- It was an often-told saying regarding genies and their relations with Zakhara's giants that the two would never cooperate until a hummingbird hatched the egg of a roc.[22]
- The feathermagic spell bird charm I could summon up to three hummingbirds.[14]
- Some halcyons, specialty priests of Aerdrie Faenya, had the power to wild shape like a druid into a hummingbird.[1]
- Hummingbirds were among the favored animals of the Maztican goddess Nula.[23]
Appendix
Appearances
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Darkwalker on Moonshae • Black Wizards • Viperhand • Feathered Dragon • The Druid Queen • Elfsong • Daughter of the Drow • Realms of the Underdark: "Rite of Blood" • Sword Play • Silver Shadows • Dangerous Games • The Council of Blades • The Jewel of Turmish • Realms of Shadow: "Too Long in the Dark" • The Magehound • The Black Bouquet • Realms of the Dragons II: "Faerie Ire" • Realms of the Elves: "Traitors" • Blackstaff • Storm of the Dead • The Sword Never Sleeps • Unholy • Whisper of Venom • The Herald
Gamebooks
Knight of the Living Dead
Video Games
Baldur's Gate III
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
Gallery
External Links
-
Hummingbird article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Erin Tettensor (May 2005). “Faerie Ire”. In Philip Athans ed. Realms of the Dragons II (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 978-0-7869-3808-7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 R.A. Salvatore (October 2017). Hero (MMP). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 28, p. ?. ISBN 9780786966158.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfsong. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 0-7869-1661-3.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (May 2006). The Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 278. ISBN 0-7869-4003-4.
- ↑ Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 322. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- ↑ Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel (July 2006). Monster Manual IV. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 214. ISBN 0-7869-3920-6.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (September 2007). Storm of the Dead. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 157. ISBN 978-0-7869-4701-0.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (February 2009). Unholy. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 16, p. 312. ISBN 978-0-7869-5021-8.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Elaine Cunningham (October 1991). Elfshadow. (TSR, Inc.), chap. Prologue, p. 4. ISBN 1-56076-117-2.
- ↑ Steve Kurtz (1994). Al-Qadim: Ruined Kingdoms: Campaign Guide. (TSR, Inc), p. 20. ISBN 1-56076-815-0.
- ↑ Jay Batista (November/December 1987). “The Flowers of Flame”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dungeon #8 (TSR, Inc.) (8)., p. 55.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 74. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Dale Henson (February 1993). The Magic Encyclopedia, Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 108. ISBN ISBN 978-156076563.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (February 1989). Darkwell. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 14, p. 236. ISBN 0-88038-717-3.
- ↑ David "Zeb" Cook (August 1989). Player's Handbook (2nd edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 195. ISBN 0-88038-716-5.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 88. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Mark Middleton et al (January 1998). Wizard's Spell Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc), p. 546. ISBN 978-0786906642.
- ↑ Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 187. ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 978-0786966240.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore. (TSR, Inc.), p. 44. ISBN 978-1560766476.
- ↑ Douglas Niles (August 1991). “Gods & Battles”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 32. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.