Description[]
Arndt are a common species of Trochilidae (humming bird) bird species native to the many temperate forests strung about planet Haven. They have a global population of around five hundred and fifty million individual birds, giving them a massive population count, as well as making them a fundamental pillar of many ecosystems across Haven. They are most famous for the unique way they gain sustenance, as they require the water within the trees they perch upon.
As they are fairly common around Haven, many of the planet's populace leave out specific feeders for the Arndt bird, filled with liquid gathered from various trees. This practice is so common, that a great number of the Arndt bird almost entirely rely on the generosity of that of Haven's intelligent populace, and it has been theorized that if all people stopped putting out feeders, then the Arndt would see a significant population decrease, so the practice is greatly encouraged
Physical[]
The Arndt shares many physical traits with that of many Trochilidae (hummingbird) species across Haven, though there are a few physically unique features of the Arndt bird. They are typically fairly large compared to many other hummingbird species, standing at a height and length of around seven inches. Despite their larger size, however, they still retain the lightweight nature most hummingbird species do. They also share the unique way most Trochilidae fly, as they flap their wings forwards and backward to create small currents of air, allowing the Arndt to fly very fast for its size, clocking at speeds up to thirty kilometers an hour.
They have two small, pinhole-like eyes on the sides of their head, these eyes are very small, so much so that it's often hard for one to see them at first glance. The Arndt bird evolved these eyes as such to be able to see how much water is located within a respective tree, as they only receive sustenance from said water. These eyes are so piercing, that they can see microscopic, minute detail in the wood of a respective tree, though these have the disadvantage of making them piratically blind when it comes to anything on a larger scale coming towards them, making the Arndt bird easy prey for many predators.
As previously mentioned, the Arndt live off of the water within the barks of trees such as Oak and Pine trees. This is because the water stored within these respective tree species is rich with a specific type of glucose that the Arndt bird has specifically evolved to consume. The amount of caloric energy this special glucose gives them is astonishing, but due to the massive amount of energy required to propel their fairly large body they require a vast amount of liquid each day.
They have specially developed beaks designed to be able to pierce the wood of these specific types of trees, with thousands of small, finely tuned bristles located all across their beak, which allow them to separate the bark with ease. Once an Arndt bird's beak enters within a tree's structure, its long tongue will begin to lap up the liquid within. This beak is so specifically designed, that they are unable to be used in any other practical way, but as they only require the liquid within Oaks and Pines, they do not need it for any other purpose.
They are covered in numerous fur-like feathers, giving the Arndt bird a somewhat fluffy-looking appearance. These feathers can display a wide variety of colors, though most commonly, they will appear with a light-blue coloring, often sharing in the same hue the skies above they inhabit. These feathers are greatly insulated as well, giving an individual Arndt bird a great amount of warmth, which is especially useful during the migratory season during Haven's autumn months.
Behavior[]
The Arndt will spend the majority of their day lapping up the large amounts of liquid they need, and during the night, they will return to a specifically designed nest it creates at the beginning of the spring months in their respective areas. These nets are typically created from small twigs, branches, and leaves and have an average diameter of around fifteen inches, giving them a fair amount of room. They are also typically located on tall branches and areas in which the nest is obscured so that they are not spotted or attacked while the Arndt bird is asleep.
A rather unique trait of the Ardnt compared to most bird species across Haven is that both their migratory, and mating seasons occur at the same time. As they migrate, they will constantly and repeatedly emit a loud sound from their beaks in order to attract a mate, and once a mate is found at the end of the mass migration, the female will create her own respective nest for her clutch of eggs in the south, while the male will go off to forage in the newer area.