The Injóh Bird

The Injóh is one of the smaller birds of Sarvonia, found in different forests on the continent, depending entirely on the season of the year. The Injóh is often captured and sold as a pet bird, this mostly because of its beautiful singing and colorful feathers but also because it is believed that this little bird attracts love.

Appearance. The Injóh is indeed a small bird, the complete length of it is barely one palmspan and the wingspan barely 5 nailsbreadth and ½ grain. The name of the bird comes from the bright yellow plumage that covers its underside completely. The long wing feathers are black with white stripes crossing them and the back is a bright green color. The male Injóh has around the eye a ring of red and black feathers while the female has a black ring over her breast feathers, almost looking like a collar. The plumage on the top of the head at both, the male and female Injóh, is bright orange bordered with yellow.

The Injóh is of a rather plump form, its ribcage is rounded and it has a short neck. The beak is short as well and pointy and of a soft gray color. The legs and feet are thin, of a orange color, with three fingers facing forwards and one facing backwards.

Special Abilities. The Injóh, despite its small size has a beautiful song that can be heard in the forests when the spring arrives, the singing sounding like “Sirreri-sirreri-sirreri sti-sikot-sikot-sikot”, this is repeated many times.

During winter these small birds organize themselves in large droves that migrate from the forests of Hovel Frond, crossing long distances until they reach the warmer forests of the Zeiphyr and the Auturian Woods. These migrating droves sometimes are so large that they cover the light from the sun, sometimes even for hours as they pass over the land.

Territory. The Injóh can be found in the Hovel Frond forest during the summer but in winter it migrates towards the Auturian Woods and the Zeiphyrian Forests, seeking food and warmth and escaping from the cold winter.

Habitat/Behaviour. The Injóh is a social bird. The birds are usually seen two and two together hunting for insects that are their main source of food. They spend most of their time around the twigs in the trees and are seldom seen on the ground.

Injóh are greatly appreciated by farmers as they rid the cattle of the blood sucking parasites that sometimes infest their animals. It is not strange to see a cow covered with small Injóhs that are ridding it of fleas and ticks while it pastures.

Diet. The Injóh is a insectivore by excellence, it feeds on almost any kind of insects, from the common fleas and tick to the glowing quillý’efér or the beautiful white spiral butterfly.

Mating. The Injóh pairs for life and stays together until one of them dies, when this happens the other stops eating and dies too. The way the Injóh chooses its mate in the wild is unknown, but it is suspected that it has something to do with their bright colors and singing. In captivity the Injóh settles with the first male/female Injóh that is introduced into the same cage. The nesting season is between the months of alé'veván and dál'injerá.

In the wild the Injóh has a quite characteristic nest that it hangs in the highest trees. It is made out of grass and clay, making a almost perfect ball with a opening on the underside to keep the rain out. This nest is covered with moss and lichen to make it soft for the chicks. The female lays from 8 to 12 eggs, these are a soft cream color with small red speckles. The eggs are barely 2 grains wide and hatch after 16 to 18 days of incubation. The chicks leave the nest after 18 to 20 days after hatching.

Myth/Lore. The Injóh is a bird that has been called the bird of love since they pair for life, and many a girl sings songs to the Injóh asking when they will wed and about how their love will be.
The following song was heard in the lands of the elven Quaelhoirhim tribe:

Injóh, Injóh Sing me a tune Sirreri, sirreri Will I find a loved one soon? Sit, sikot sikot sikot Injóh, Injóh Sing me a song Sirreri, sirreri Will I have to wait for long? Sit, sikot sikot sikot Injóh, Injóh Sing to the moon Sirreri, sirreri Will he come from wood or from dune? Sit, sikot sikot sikot	IInjóh, Injóh Wings take to air Sirreri, sirreri Will he be dark or will he be fair? Sit, sikot sikot sikot Injóh, Injóh Give me your word Sirreri, sirreri Let this little prayer be heard. Sit, sikot sikot sikot