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Description
Bufugo are a bird-like creatures that are somehow both beautiful and painful to look at. They are found in sunnier, tropical climates, mainly showing up where their favorite food grows. Bufugo are about the size of a turkey and, despite their fancy feathers, have about the same flying grace as they do. Despite their winged appearance, Bufugo don't really fly. The best they do is jump really high or glide. Instead of flying, they prefer both a terrestrial and arboreal lifestyle. Their clawed arms are good for climbing trees, and their little legs certainly give them a lot of speed! They are very high energy creatures, always running around, chasing things and making a whole lot of racket. If you think of song birds as elegant stage singers, these are the rowdy drunks with a washboard who keep storming the stage.

All their running about and screeching is actually them searching for food and claiming territory. They like to locate promising sources of food and then try to keep others from stealing it. Their cackles and shrieks are them warning others and telling them to scram, which is kind of strange because I am pretty sure no Bufugo actually listens to such a demand. There always seems to be a couple of them trying to sneak in to nab a morsel, or one who decided a outright charge (complete with fanfare) is the best strategy to scare off the keeper of this fruitful patch. What usually results is a whole lot of screaming and running around, as the one protecting its claim tries to scare off the intruders, while the offender tries to loop around to snag a snack for the road. While it would be easy to say that the biggest and toughest Bufugo gets the best territories, that really isn't true. While these creatures are not big fans of sharing, they hate the puffed-up head roosters who hog all the goods even more. This means that a group of smaller, wilier Bufugo will team up and launch an attack against the claim holder. This all-out assault is often more than any big Bufugo can handle, and they are forced to retreat. The team will then celebrate with a meal, which then will devolve in a screaming brawl as they fight over who gets what. At the end of the day, I think you can just call these fellows "active foragers," because these territories and claims don't really exist for longer than five minutes. So what is all this fuss about? What is it that the Bufugo fight over so crazily? Why, it is their favorite food: Peppers!

Though Bufugo are omnivorous creatures, the main staple of their diet is peppers. Sure, they can eat bugs, worms, fruits and small critters, but the real meal they want is that spicy goodness! A fruitful pepper patch is what they desire the most, so that is what they fight over most often. They love nothing more than snapping a fresh pepper off the vine and chowing down! Such a pick, however, isn't just about flavor and nutrition! Bufugo like peppers for one very important reason, and that is defense! As everyone should know (and if you don't, you really need to expand your palate), peppers are fruit that have quite a kick in them (they are fruit, right? I believe they are a berry, but people use them like vegetables...cripes, I am a dryad and I don't even know)! A chemical that is found in them gives a burning sensation to many species who try to eat them. Some can be pretty mild, while others darn well nearly set your mouth on fire! However, not all species are affected by this chemical. Birds are immune to such burning, as they are the ones who help spread the seeds! Bufugo are another species that does not feel the pepper's heat when they take a bite. Despite this, the Bufugo tend to flock towards the peppers with the strongest burn, and why do think that is? It is because they use this burning chemical as a weapon!

Similar to a cockatrice, the Bufugo will chow down on a pepper and store the most potent parts in a specialized crop. In there, they will mix and mash it with their saliva, creating a potent stew. When threatened by a predator or intruder, they will take aim with their narrow beak and fire a fine stream of spit. This attack is always aimed at the face, hoping to splash into the eyes and mouth. Non-avian species who get a dousing of this will suddenly feel like their face is aflame! It is a full dose of pepper heat right in your eyes! While it is not as deadly or infectious as a cockatrice's spit, those who feel it will tell you it isn't a pleasant experience! Such burning can last for hours and, depending on the type of peppers used to make it, it can leave you temporarily blind. Such an attack easily drives off predators, or can distract them long enough for the Bufugo to escape. While it is a potent weapon, it is one that they seem to have way too much fun with. Some species with such an ability save it for just the right moment, fearful of wasting it and getting caught in a jam. Bufugo, on the other hand, like to spit this stuff at anyone who even looks at them funny. This makes them quite notorious with the locals, and especially with foolish tourists. You get some fool sneaking up for a closer look at this gorgeous bird, only to get a fiery stream right to the face! And don't forget when these rambunctious creatures get into your garden or on your farm! Best wear eye protection before driving them off, or else you'll be suffering!

Due to its burning spit and mischievous nature, the Bufugo has gained some fame in the local cultures. The most obvious thing that people have latched onto is their spicy saliva. Quite a few potent seasonings and hot sauces bear mention of the Bufugo, either in name or as a mascot. Their spit is also valued as an ingredient itself, said to be even hotter and more flavorful than the peppers they dine on. Some folk raise Bufugo like chickens, selling their feathers, eggs, spit as well as their pre-seasoned meat! Some chefs and cooks value the ingredients these Bufugo farms provide, while others curse their existence. Bufugo are not tame creatures, even when raised on a farm. They tend to escape the coop from time to time, and they never fail to find the fanciest garden in town to feast on. One chef's prized ingredients can wind up devouring the ingredients of another local cook! The Bufugo also tend to show up around fiery festivals and celebrations. Lots of costumes bear the feathers of these birds, especially for performers who specialize in fire breathing! It is no surprise they show up on so many garbs and paintings! They are quite gorgeous, but do be careful when you go for a peek!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------

Birds don't feel capsicum, you say? Ho boy, lets make a bird! I hate making birds! Freaking feathers! And yes, I do realize the hands are wrong for such a creature. Got screwed up when I outlined it and just had to make do. (And now that I think of it, this is really isn't a bird is it? Boy this is so confusing).

Description
Bufugo are a bird-like creatures that are somehow both beautiful and painful to look at. They are found in sunnier, tropical climates, mainly showing up where their favorite food grows. Bufugo are about the size of a turkey and, despite their fancy feathers, have about the same flying grace as they do. Despite their winged appearance, Bufugo don't really fly. The best they do is jump really high or glide. Instead of flying, they prefer both a terrestrial and arboreal lifestyle. Their clawed arms are good for climbing trees, and their little legs certainly give them a lot of speed! They are very high energy creatures, always running around, chasing things and making a whole lot of racket. If you think of song birds as elegant stage singers, these are the rowdy drunks with a washboard who keep storming the stage.

All their running about and screeching is actually them searching for food and claiming territory. They like to locate promising sources of food and then try to keep others from stealing it. Their cackles and shrieks are them warning others and telling them to scram, which is kind of strange because I am pretty sure no Bufugo actually listens to such a demand. There always seems to be a couple of them trying to sneak in to nab a morsel, or one who decided a outright charge (complete with fanfare) is the best strategy to scare off the keeper of this fruitful patch. What usually results is a whole lot of screaming and running around, as the one protecting its claim tries to scare off the intruders, while the offender tries to loop around to snag a snack for the road. While it would be easy to say that the biggest and toughest Bufugo gets the best territories, that really isn't true. While these creatures are not big fans of sharing, they hate the puffed-up head roosters who hog all the goods even more. This means that a group of smaller, wilier Bufugo will team up and launch an attack against the claim holder. This all-out assault is often more than any big Bufugo can handle, and they are forced to retreat. The team will then celebrate with a meal, which then will devolve in a screaming brawl as they fight over who gets what. At the end of the day, I think you can just call these fellows "active foragers," because these territories and claims don't really exist for longer than five minutes. So what is all this fuss about? What is it that the Bufugo fight over so crazily? Why, it is their favorite food: Peppers!

Though Bufugo are omnivorous creatures, the main staple of their diet is peppers. Sure, they can eat bugs, worms, fruits and small critters, but the real meal they want is that spicy goodness! A fruitful pepper patch is what they desire the most, so that is what they fight over most often. They love nothing more than snapping a fresh pepper off the vine and chowing down! Such a pick, however, isn't just about flavor and nutrition! Bufugo like peppers for one very important reason, and that is defense! As everyone should know (and if you don't, you really need to expand your palate), peppers are fruit that have quite a kick in them (they are fruit, right? I believe they are a berry, but people use them like vegetables...cripes, I am a dryad and I don't even know)! A chemical that is found in them gives a burning sensation to many species who try to eat them. Some can be pretty mild, while others darn well nearly set your mouth on fire! However, not all species are affected by this chemical. Birds are immune to such burning, as they are the ones who help spread the seeds! Bufugo are another species that does not feel the pepper's heat when they take a bite. Despite this, the Bufugo tend to flock towards the peppers with the strongest burn, and why do think that is? It is because they use this burning chemical as a weapon!

Similar to a cockatrice, the Bufugo will chow down on a pepper and store the most potent parts in a specialized crop. In there, they will mix and mash it with their saliva, creating a potent stew. When threatened by a predator or intruder, they will take aim with their narrow beak and fire a fine stream of spit. This attack is always aimed at the face, hoping to splash into the eyes and mouth. Non-avian species who get a dousing of this will suddenly feel like their face is aflame! It is a full dose of pepper heat right in your eyes! While it is not as deadly or infectious as a cockatrice's spit, those who feel it will tell you it isn't a pleasant experience! Such burning can last for hours and, depending on the type of peppers used to make it, it can leave you temporarily blind. Such an attack easily drives off predators, or can distract them long enough for the Bufugo to escape. While it is a potent weapon, it is one that they seem to have way too much fun with. Some species with such an ability save it for just the right moment, fearful of wasting it and getting caught in a jam. Bufugo, on the other hand, like to spit this stuff at anyone who even looks at them funny. This makes them quite notorious with the locals, and especially with foolish tourists. You get some fool sneaking up for a closer look at this gorgeous bird, only to get a fiery stream right to the face! And don't forget when these rambunctious creatures get into your garden or on your farm! Best wear eye protection before driving them off, or else you'll be suffering!

Due to its burning spit and mischievous nature, the Bufugo has gained some fame in the local cultures. The most obvious thing that people have latched onto is their spicy saliva. Quite a few potent seasonings and hot sauces bear mention of the Bufugo, either in name or as a mascot. Their spit is also valued as an ingredient itself, said to be even hotter and more flavorful than the peppers they dine on. Some folk raise Bufugo like chickens, selling their feathers, eggs, spit as well as their pre-seasoned meat! Some chefs and cooks value the ingredients these Bufugo farms provide, while others curse their existence. Bufugo are not tame creatures, even when raised on a farm. They tend to escape the coop from time to time, and they never fail to find the fanciest garden in town to feast on. One chef's prized ingredients can wind up devouring the ingredients of another local cook! The Bufugo also tend to show up around fiery festivals and celebrations. Lots of costumes bear the feathers of these birds, especially for performers who specialize in fire breathing! It is no surprise they show up on so many garbs and paintings! They are quite gorgeous, but do be careful when you go for a peek!

Chlora Myron

Dryad Natural Historian

-----------------------------------------------------

Birds don't feel capsicum, you say? Ho boy, lets make a bird! I hate making birds! Freaking feathers! And yes, I do realize the hands are wrong for such a creature. Got screwed up when I outlined it and just had to make do. (And now that I think of it, this is really isn't a bird is it? Boy this is so confusing).