Ok, we covered reptiles, lets see how birds work. Everything from what we think of such as fowl, parrots, corvids (Ravens, Crows, Magpies etc), Rattite (Emu, Ostridge) Birds of Pray.
But lets also look at some, say some dinosaurs like Raptors.
I'll let you decide if the more human ones like some depictions of Harpies or Marvel's Shi'ar (Professor Xavior had one as a girlfriend when the Pheonix was introduced).
On the top of my head, good examples include the Chozo who raised Samus in the Metroid series; Arakockra from Dungeons and Dragons; Kenku D&D and Pathfinder; Tengu in Japanese myth; Jackles in Halo; and believe it or not, Turians from Mass effect are descended from birds. And for fun, that chicken layer from Futurama.
So, what will separate them from their more bird like ancestors, what do you think it will take for them to evolve this direction, and what they will have problems or perks with.
One I would have to wonder is how would they eat in space. Birds for the most part largely use gravity to swallow. They have some muscles, but not like say humans.
I would also wonder how hollow bones would work. They are not technically hollow but have a lattice work inside. Its not necessarily there for flight, as that evolved later, but helps with getting air in their system. This reduces weight and allows them to actually This latticework keeps them from being brittle. After all a number of dinosaurs had it, and lets face it some birds needed it. Albatross are super comfortable in the air to the point they can sleep while on the wing. Landing on the other hand are not graceful experiences but more of less a crash. And then you have the fact Cassowaries have a powerful kick has have at least sparta kicked one guy off a cliff, and the rest of the time have a, quoting Moar Parz here, combat knife on their feet that can hit you with a Mortal Kombat finisher. And the fact Emus can apparently tank machinegun fire (they did win a war against Austrailians).
This is assuming they have it. Flightless ones like Emus have fewer hollow spaces, and diving birds often have more solid bones for buoyancy. SO I can see this being an option if they are more Jackal build.
Feathers: Feathers is a unique feature for birds, and its made from Keratin like our hair and fingernails, some reptilian scales, and rhino horns. different feathers have different purposes as body feathers can keep them warm by trapping air around the body, while wing and tail feathers can help with movement wither in flight, or in the case of some ground ones, a spoiler on a car. There is also waterproofing, camouflage and for many species, communication. For the latter, alot of the time its to get a mate. You'll notice alot of birds have a flamboyantly plumaged male, and a rather plain female. This is so the female is not as noticeable by predators while on the nest, and because of Sexual selection: She likes it when the males look pretty. This is combined with song and dance.
Even ones that largely look the same like Parakeets and Cockatiels have this and male keets have blue around their now area, and cockatiel males have more yellow. But they also have more color in certain light spectrums, namely the ultra violet as birds can see that. I wonder how many things this allows them to see of it they can paint hidden messages only they can see.
what are your thoughts
Lets Create a Space-Faring Species: Avian
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Re: Lets Create a Space-Faring Species: Avian
The biggest issue with avian is tool use. Tool using avian use their mouths and that doesn't have the flexibility required to have intelligent. They would need better Appendages
Re: Lets Create a Space-Faring Species: Avian
Maybe if the avians had dexterous feet like apes or monkeys with opposable digits to enable tool grabbing. Granted their mobility might be hindered, but doesnt that seem feasible?