Blesil

"They taste worse than they sound. I didn't think it was possible, but they do."

- Unknown

History
Blesils are darkly coloured, stunted scavenger birds. They possess a distinctive call, ranging from shrill high squarks to deep throaty sounds, not unlike burping. They are generally considered to be pests but are themselves indifferent to humans, only becoming hostile if threatened. At this point the Blesils will swarm the target and peck at them until scared off or it dies.

It is a widespread belief that being pecked by a Blesil causes disease and the arrival of a flock of them is considered a bad omen. Accordingly while they are not poisonous it is bad luck to eat them and an insult to serve them to a guest. Despite this they are common near larger settlements or bodies of water so many poorer (or braver) frontiers folk eat them anyway.

Blesils feed mostly on loose scraps, carrion and insects, or some cases small rodents.