Shrike dragons are sentient, and some flocks may possess stone age tools (spears, axes, ect). Shrikes are incredibly social creatures, and live in large colonies. They live preferably in cold, mountainous environments, making their homes in cliffs, ravines, large caves, and mountain peaks. They have a complex social structure, including lookouts (which are composed of males and unfertile females), nurses (females whom can bare children and lactate), hunters (generally males, but sometimes unfertile females), and a flock leader (usually the largest male, but can be a particularly large female. Males are just more likely to be larger.) Shrike dragons are similar to platypus and echidnas in the fact that they lay eggs, but lactate. However this evolved seperately than monotremes.

Chicks are around 5 inches tall when they hatch, and adults are around 5 feet tall at the shoulders, but can rear up to stand about 10 feet at the shoulders. With their necks, they easily tower over humans. Senior shrikes can be much, much larger. Shrike dragons are referred to as Shrike Dragons due to their tendency to pick up animals and combatants, to then drop from extreme heights or impale them on sharp objects, similarly to shrike birds whom impale their prey on spikes. Shrikes in combat often grapple eachother in air, tucking their wings to cause them to fall, creating a sort of game of 'chicken', hoping not to be the one to hit the ground. You may want to watch your head in Shrike territory, as bored shrikes may drop stones to entertain themselves. Shrikes tend to avoid attacking humans if they aren't close to their territory, but can certainly kill if provoked.

No particular patterns that they can and can't have, just realistic patterns, flocks will likely almost all have the same patterns. Shrikes have communal nurseries, all nursing females will guard these chicks and eggs and watch over them. Shrikes all have a special smell, which is similar to close family member's smells, and avoids inbreeding. Similar to lion prides, males who are healthy will leave their flocks when they become adults, joining another flock. Disimilarly, flocks can have multiple males, and females are not all paired with the lead shrike. Instead, flocks are made up of many monogamous pairs, which usually mate for life.

Ufile: https://ufile.io/prh1kudd Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DeK0sqOlnV2WG72GJ5wxglpzCJ7V15XW/view?usp=sharing

Do not: Delete my signature (you may move it, but do not move it from view) Discredit me as the creator of this species Sexualize a feral posed version (idc if you sexualize an anthro version) Sexualize shrike dragon chicks (anthro or otherwise. No "Oh they're a 1000 old vampire!!!" Bs. It's a loli.)

I'd prefer if you didn't: Compare these to Trico from TLG (they take inspiration but these are NOT trico ripoffs. The similarities of the female shrike and trico is not intentional. I do not intend to copyright these, so do not hound me for similarities.) Change the white patch on their faces (you can change the shade and shape a bit, but it's part of their design) Give them unrealistic colors (they only have natural hair colors, like white, grey, brown, red, orange, yellow, black) (eye colors can be anything)

You may: Make anthro bases of this species (might make one at some point) Make adopts, sell, and trade designs made using this base or the species itself Use this base for ocs that aren't shrike dragons Make ocs of this species not using the base

You *can* use unrealistic colors but I'd prefer realistic ones

Shrikes DO use paint on their white foreheads to denote a leader, a leader's mate may also have it. These paints would be made of natural materials, so nothing too bright.

FORGOT TO MENTION THIS. Shrike dragons DO have language, and can learn human languages! A couple known shile words are "Eichlyeh" (Ech-el-yeh), and is a term used to describe armored combatants. Ones particularly immune to attack, and is often said in frustration. And "Leichil" (Lee-i-chill), meaning something akin to "witchcraft" and is accusatory. Witches don't exist in shrike culture, but it holds the same disgust abd terror, and is often used against things they don't understand, like technology and archae's Arcane.

Shrike words*

Also! Theory snouts are soft, feeling like a horses lips, it's a false beak

Their*

Realistic ones do, but I don't mind if you make unrealistic ones. Realistic colors are in the "I'd prefer if you didn't" section