Kookaburra

This squat bird has a large beak and small talons. Its call sounds like human laughter.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

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Kookaburras are carnivores, preying mostly on lizards, snakes, insects, mice and raw meat. They are territorial, with families singing as a chorus to mark their territory.

Kookaburras live in loose family groups, with the young from a previous generation helping to raise the next generation.

A kookaburra is 1-1/2 feet long and weighs about 1 pound. Body coloration ranges from white to cream-colored, while wings range from blue to brown with similar coloration on the tail. Some specimens have dark stripes around their eyes, and some have spots on their wings.

A kookaburra familiar grants its master a +3 bonus on Bluff checks.

Kookaburra
Tiny animal
Hit Dice	1/2d8 (2 hp)
Initiative	+4
Speed	5 ft, Fly 120 ft. (24 squares) (good), Swim 10 ft.
Armor Class	16 (+2 size, +4 Dexterity), touch 16, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple	+0/-12
Attack	Bite +6 melee (1d3-4)
Full Attack	Bite +6 melee (1d3-4)
Space/Reach	2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks	–
Special Qualities	Laughter imitation, Low-Light Vision
Saves	Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities	Strength 3, Dexterity 18, Constitution 10, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 14, Charisma 7
Skills	Hide +12, Spot +6, Swim +4
Feats	Flyby Attack, Weapon Finesse (B)
Environment	Temperate forests and marshes
Organization	Solitary or family (2-12)
Challenge Rating	1/4
Treasure	None
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	None
Level Adjustment	–

COMBAT

A kookaburra perches on a branch and waits patiently for prey to come near, then swoops down upon it.

Laughter Imitation (Ex): A kookaburra’s call sounds like humanoid laughter. Listeners must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom check to detect the ruse. A kookaburra does not intentionally use this ability to confuse humanoids, unless it has been taken as a familiar. The check DC is Constitution-based.

Skills: A kookaburra has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #186 (1992).