Bird Familiars and Animal Companions in TTRPG

Double Proficiency
1 day ago
5 min read

Not enough feathers in your D&D campaign?

The PCs feeling way too cocky on the solid ground?

Everybody wants to befriend a crow?

From poultry to cagebirds to falconry and postal pigeons, humans have always found ways of keeping birds around. There is literally no reason for your player characters and NPCs to miss out on the fun. Set your TTRPG campaign aflutter with these quick ideas on how to add more birds to your games!

Bird Familiars for Wizards

Magic users (wizards, witches, warlocks, etc.) often keep a small critter who aids in their studies. These familiars are usually (but not always) magical. Cats, ravens, owls, foxes, and toads are common choices, as are small dragons, imps, and fey creatures. For a magic user, the most suitable birds are the ones connected in folklore and occult tradition with secrets, study, intelligence, and magic. Some archetypes carry more sinister connotations—a warlock (at least in Dungeons & Dragons 5e) might keep a familiar that is a direct link to their patron; a similar theme is explored in Pathfinder's witch class.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird familiars for a wizard, witch, sorcerer & warlock:

crow, raven, magpie, and other corvids (intelligent, observant, magic-related, love shiny trinkets)
owl (associated with wisdom and advice from other worlds)
chicken and rooster (often used in divination, and a great choice for a cottage-style witch)
duck (for a mage in search of immortality; put your soul in a duck egg)
goose (your personal alarm system; no more getting surprised on long rests! Plus, endless quills)

Bird Companions for Rangers

Rangers and hunters often come with animal companions. This bond can also be of a magical nature, but tends to explore themes of friendship and mutual support rather than advice and servitude. Here, it feels natural to embrace falconry as an art of hunting together with the birds, not a hobby of the wealthy.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird companions for a ranger and hunter:

eagle, falcon, buzzard, hawk, caracara (birds of prey used in falconry)
owl (nocturnal, silent predator)
shrike (tiny bird with feistiest of attitudes and macabre food storage)
cassowary (an imposing herbivore with deadly claws; suitable for a mount for smaller ancestries)
cormorant, heron (best suited for riversides and other coastal adventures)
vulture (carcass disposal)

Bird Forms for Druids

Shapeshifting into birds is a common choice for druids. The ability to fly is certainly a huge asset in scouting, hunting, and long travels, and can be invaluable in combat. However, not all birds make for a good choice; we're sure it must be fun to be an oriole for a weekend, but for practical purposes, other birds might be more useful.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird forms for druids and other shapeshifters:

falcon (can't get any faster than a peregrine falcon)
albatross (large, can soar for months without landing, perfect for overland and oversea travel)
emu (the fastest running bird)
pelican (amazing storage options, can carry all the gear in its beak)
quetzal (for the times you really need to make an impression)

Bird Partners in Crime for Rogues

For those who value stealth and ill-gotten gains, birds can become true accomplices. In folklore and magical tradition, many are capable of trickery and deception. Some can even open locks, find secret passages, or lead their followers to buried treasures.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird accomplices for rogues and infiltrators:

drongo (amazing at mimicry, can produce calls of raptors as a distraction)
honeyguide (an indicator bird, guiding humans to honey and other treasures)
pigeon (animal messenger, will blend in perfectly in urban settings)
bee-eater (known for opening locks and secret passages)
frogmouth (masters of camouflage, have friends among nocturnal spirits)
starling (an accomplished thief, can assemble a whole murmuration to distract your opposition)

Bird Pets for Bards

Render your standard performance unforgettable by sharing a stage with a bird friend! Stage presence, wonderful singing voice, and certain je ne sais quoi of a magnificent bird is not going to take anything away from your glory. There is a risk that you'll be remembered as "the one with the bird," but it's always good to have a niche.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird friends for bards and entertainers:

canary, blackbird, finch, nightingale, song thrush (beautiful songs, can learn new tunes)
bird-of-paradise, lyrebird (for the wow factor)
flamingo (the flamboyance alone!)
peacock (undeniable stage presence, plus free feathers for your cap)
cockatoo, macaw, and other parrots (can learn speech, love puzzles and tricks, good dancers)
kookaburra, laughing gull (will heckle your competition mercilessly, plus provides an extra laugh track when you're the one telling the jokes)

Bird Battle Companions for Fighters

For some, combat is the way of life, and it's always good to have a buddy when you're fighting for your life. Choosing a battle brother with sharp senses, sharper claws, and zero fear can make a massive difference on the battlefield. Birds of prey are an obvious choice, but do not discount smaller feathered warriors: many of them are territorial, aggressive, and never-ever give up.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird-at-arms for fighters and warriors:

hummingbird (will fight everyone at any opportunity)
cassowary (instant positive modifier to intimidation checks)
blue jay (aggressive, territorial, never surrenders)
eagle, hawk, buzzard (best for flanking, will harass your enemies; harpy eagle is a full fighter on its own merit)
crane (patient, efficient hunters with graceful fencing style; best for noble knights)

Bird Assistants for Artificers

Every inventor needs an assistant: someone to hand you tools, remind you to turn off the burner, alert you about incoming distractions, suspicious sounds, and less-than-healthy smells. Many birds are masters at weaving, woodworking, tailoring—their nests are the best portfolio! Except pigeons, of course.

🐦‍⬛ Recommended bird assistant for artificers and inventors:

bowerbird (ingenious constructors with a good design sense)
crow (really good with tools and loves solving puzzles)
goose (nobody will ever sneak up on you, even when your head is in the blueprints)
buzzard (a supernatural teacher, brings inspiration)
woodpecker (no better choice for a woodworking assistant)

Add Even More Birds to Your TTRPG Campaign with Zoologist's Primer: Birds!

This illustrated system-agnostic supplement comes with 100 real-world magical birds. Enjoy 360 pages full of folklore, magic, bird divination, quest ideas, random bird generation tables, easy to use birds-by-location guide, and endless inspiration for your worldbuilding!

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