Quick Reference: Bird Postures

One of the primary differences between beasts and birds is that the latter are commonly linked quite closely with a specific posture in period armory. Thus, in period armory, almost all displayed birds are eagles, only storks have the posture 'in their vigilance', only peacocks are 'in their pride' and only pelicans are 'in their piety'. The present Laurel thought on this is that birds who are represented in their period posture, displaying defining characteristics (more on this later) and were considered different in period will generally be considered different.

An eagle	A falcon	An owl

The first group is that of the raptors: Chief among them is the Eagle, being the king of the air, much like the lion is the king of beasts. The eagle is normally seen displayed. Next is the falcon, which is seen as both rising and close in period armory. Finally, there is the owl which is always seen in period in the close guardant posture.

The next group is the general 'bird' group. The default posture for these is close and include birds such as the crow, duck and dove.

The final category is reserved for special birds who have postures which make them unique enough to render them different from other birds. These include the crane, peacock and the pelican.

Avian Postures

Posture	Defining traits	stylised drawing	Example
Displayed	Wings and legs splayed
Close	Wings close against the body and feet on ground
Volant	Feet invisible, wings outstretched. Wings can be displayed or not.
Rising	Feet on ground, wings default to elevated and addorsed but may also be displayed.
Close guardant	Normally only for owls - this is their default posture
Pride	seen only with Peacocks. Close affronty with tailfeathers displayed
Vigilance	seen only with Cranes. Close with one leg raised, stone in claw
Vulning or Piety	seen only with Pelicans..normally with nest and chicks

Wing postures

Like the beasts and their head postures, birds have wing position variants as well that are worth blazoning but not worth difference. However, we no longer blazon the position of the wingtips, inverted or not. These include the following:

Posture	Defining traits	stylised drawing	Example
Addorsed	Both wings on same side of body
Displayed	Wings on either side of body
Elevated	Wingtips away from body
Inverted	Wingtips tucked back towards body

Often, the two wing position variants will be used together, thus:

Addorsed and elevated	Addorsed and inverted	Displayed and elevated	Displayed and inverted