Kenku ( winged ) Kenku were a race of winged avian humanoid s . Description . The kenku had a human - like frame , standing 5 – 7 feet ( 1 . 5 – 2 . 1 meters ) tall on bird - like legs , with arms ending in claws and bearing the head of a hawk with bright yellow eyes . They were covered all over with brown feathers , with white underfeathers and facial markings . They had a pair of wings , which , when folded over their backs , might be mistaken for a backpack or bundle . They wore local human attire . Powers . In addition to being natural thieves and warriors , kenku were masters of disguise . Even with their hawk - like heads , they could pass among humans half the time , albeit with unusually large noses . Elder and experienced kenku acquired increasing arcane powers . First , they learned one basic spell , often " magic missile " , and once a month they could " shape change " and keep a shape for up to seven days . Later , they mastered another basic spell , typically " shocking grasp " , and could turn invisible at will for as long as they wished . Finally , the most experienced kenku , leaders among their kind , learned a somewhat greater spell like " mirror image " and " web " , and could cast " call lightning " . Still more powerful kenku were rumored to exist . Personality . The kenku were secretive by nature , and though not evil or good , they preferred to annoy , hinder , and inconvenience both the human and demihuman races . They were of average human intellect . Combat . In battle , kenku favored the quarterstaff and the scimitar , but could fight with their beak and claws if unarmed . On foot , they used their hand claws ; on the wing , they used their foot claws . They do not usually kill their enemy , unless essential to preserve their own lives . Society . Kenku would not speak of their society , but nor did they appear to lie about it . Their society thus remained a mystery to outsiders . It appeared to be organized into clans , led by elder and more experienced kenku , those with greater innate magical powers . They reproduced as large birds did , with the females laying clutches of two to four eggs that hatched after a period of two months . Hatchlings were helpless and featherless , but grew rapidly , reaching young adulthood and a full coat of feathers in six to eight months . At this point , they began to learn their disguise , thieving , and battle skills . Kenku had had an omnivorous diet and could be active day and night . Notably , kenku did not speak , and what squawks they made with simply gibberish . Instead , they communicated with each other through telepathy , and were talented at the use of sign language , symbols , and miming to communicate with other species . Seemingly , kenku used their powers and skills to just be nuisances to both the human and demihuman races . When encountered , they at first appeared amiable , helpful , and generous , but this soon turned out to be anything but . If they offered advice ( through signals and such ) , then it was misleading or false , and could even lead the unwitting victim into difficulty or danger . What gifts or treasure they gave freely proved to be forgeries that disintegrated in less than a day . Kenku had a little more than one in twenty likelihood of ever actually being helpful . Kenku engaged in more elaborated scams than this , however . The young were reckless and outrageous in their schemes , such as posing as gods to steal the offerings of worshipers . Older kenku had more cunning and restraint , usually engaging in kidnapping the rich for ransom . In turn , wealthy beings prized kenku as servants for some reason , but preferred to raise them from the egg to ensure obedience . A kenku egg sold for around 250 gold piece s and hatchlings for 300 to 500 gold pieces . This was slavery , however , and free kenku would work in secret to liberate their captive kin , and in turn kidnap the slave trader or owner . Any kenku slain in the process would be avenged . Quorlinn was worshiped by the kenku as a patron and creator deity . His priests and shamans were the most deceitful of kenku kind ; they worked as spies , masterminded kidnapping operations , and set up traps and ambushes , but also worked to rescue kenku slaves . History . A number of obscure myths told of the minor god Quorlinn , the result of a failed experiment in creation by a potent sky god . Through deceit and theft , Quorlinn proved his worth to his creator , who rewarded him with a race created in his own image , the kenku . Unfortunately , Quorlinn didn ' t want the responsibility , and taught the kenku the arts of disguise , theft , and magic , so they could look after themselves . A number of flying kenkus , alongside gargoyle s , were attendants to the one who waits in the Nine Hells . In the Year of the Prince , 1357 DR , when the Great Door appeared in the Hells , the gargoyles and kenkus flew through ahead of their master . The kenkus emerged first in a pit outside Waterdeep , and attacked Kyriani Agrivar , Onyx the Invincible , Parwyyd Hanifar , and Dunstanny ; Onyx kept them occupied while the other dealt with the Door . One hurled a lightning spell at him . While Kyriani was separated into Cybriana and Kilili , Kilili flew amongst the kenkus . The exit of the Door was then redirected to the skies over Waterdeep , and the kenkus and gargoyles were met in battle by Vajra Valmeyjar and Timoth Eyesbright , before the City Guard and Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun arrived to defend the city . Later , when the exit of the " gate " was restored to its original location , the same flying creatures assaulted Cybriana , Onyx , Parwyyd Hanifar , and Dunstanny again , before they ended the threat of the Great Door and the one who waits . Kenku lands . Kenku could be found in any land , though such was their secrecy , they could live among human - and demihuman - kind without them ever knowing they were there . The few kenku lairs that had been discovered were mostly small , subterranean chambers or cave complexes . Larger caverns with large kenku communities were theorized . Notable kenku . The old kenku Vonar was a friend of Drizzt Do ' Urden who hunted drow in Menzoberranzan . Appendix . Background . The kenku appears to be loosely based on the of Japanese legend . That is , " Oriental Adventures ( 3rd edition ) " states that the tengu is also known as a " kenku " . Two different versions of the kenku have been presented throughout the history of " Dungeons & Dragons " . A wingless kenku appeared in " Monster Manual III " ( 3 . 5 edition ) and " Monster Manual 2 " ( 4th edition ) . However , this is a very different creature from the winged kenku originally presented in " Fiend Folio " ( 1st edition ) and " Monstrous Compendium Volume Two " ( 2nd edition ) . It is therefore assumed that these are two distinct types of creature . This article presents the winged kenku of earlier editions . " Monster Manual III " page 87 and " Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide " page 96 state that the wingless kenkus hailed from Kara - Tur , where the tengu was originally presented and culturally fitting , suggesting that the kenku descended from the tengu .