Kenku Kenkus were a race of flightless avian humanoid s . They tended to be selfish and secretive in nature and were often engaged in plots to acquire wealth and power . They operated in small gangs and often lived in large human cities , especially in southern Faerûn , where they worked as spies , assassins , or thieves . Description . Although they evolved from avians , kenkus had no wings or capacity for flight . Instead , they had arms in place of wings and bird - like talons for hands and feet . They retained bird - like features , however , with black and beady eyes and a long dark - hued beak . Head and torso were covered with soft feathers , a dark russet - brown color , while their scrawny limbs were bare and scaled like a bird ' s . They most resembled raven s . Kenkus tended to be slightly smaller than the average human , standing at around 5 feet ( 1 . 5 meters ) . Because they had partially hollow bones , they were lighter than most creatures their height , averaging only 75 pounds ( 34 kilograms ) . They were therefore not as strong , but they were more agile and dexterous . They typically wore nondescript brown robes , under which they concealed tools and weaponry . Combat . A kenku fought well alongside allies , and not just with others of its kind . They were most dangerous when aided or when flanking a foe with an ally . Kenku sneaks and assassins backstabbed their victims this way . Kenkus could be vicious in a fight but were cowardly by nature . They would usually flee the moment a battle turned in their opponent ' s favor , and even surrender if it meant staying alive . Kenkus often used sap s , short sword s , or shortbow s in combat , others wielded club s , dagger s , sling s , and even spiked chain s . But even when disarmed , they would also slash opponents with their claws . Kenkus typically wore leather armor , though a warrior might choose a chain shirt or buckler . Skills . A kenku could accurately mimic all kinds of noises , voices , and accents . A gifted kenku mimic could fool a foe into believing they had heard a voice they were well familiar with . Kenkus had an innate skill in the arts of stealth . Personality . Kenkus were by habit secretive , self - seeking , and cunning creatures . They tended to adopt neutral or unaligned views and behaviors ; the majority were evil , but true neutral and good kenkus could be found among them . They were opportunistic and unscrupulous , not stopping at illegal or immoral acts . Although they were selfish , kenkus actually operated surprisingly well together and with allies . A kenku was most effective when aided or aiding an ally . Society . Kenkus lived in close - knit gangs , family groups , or clans , commonly called " flocks " . These flocks were distrusting of outsiders , even of other kenkus . They established aeries or nests , usually hidden and often near large cities or at least in civilized lands . Kenkus had their own language , but typically spoke Common . After hatching from their eggs , kenkus remained in their home - nests with their families . Once they reached adulthood at age nine , they left their nests forever . Unwilling to travel alone , most soon banded together with other young adult kenkus of similar habits for mutual protection and profit , forming new flocks . A few made their way on their own or formed partnerships with other creatures who needed their services . These kenku gangs made their homes in the cities , where they loitered in dark alleys or roamed the streets together . Thanks to their skills and habits and lack of scruples , they flourished in the criminal underbelly , hatching schemes to get rich and strong . They could operate all kinds of illicit enterprises , but preferred confidence tricks and scheming . Violence was rarely their first choice . They hoarded their stolen , shiny gold . Kenkus , in gangs or alone , were usually hired as thieves or thugs , even as assassins and spies . Typical kenku ruffians were unsophisticated warrior who depended on numbers to overwhelm a foe . A true kenku warrior cultivated a martial art in which they flitted here and there , apparently at random , but striking quickly as they did . They also made brutal attacks against those they had the advantage over . Serving as assassins and spies , kenku sneaks were often rogue s who especially depended on stealth and cooperation , and on acting first . Some could disappear amongst their fellows , before they would resurface and strike again . Some dedicated themselves to the path of assassin . Leading them on heists and raids , the ringleader of a kenku gang was a capable brawler who could urge his kind to press an attack , to move and scatter , or flee when a fight went against them . Kenku had a magic al tradition employing air magic and glowing feathers of force to hinder and harm . Unlike other kenkus , they could even fly for short time , with their arts . They preferred the safety of height . It was rare to spot a kenku cleric , but the few among them usually follows gods of secrecy . Some kenkus dedicated themselves to the path of assassin . The kenku assassin combined the warrior ' s martial art and the wing mage ' s feathers , together with a poisoned blade . History . Kenkus evolved originally from avians , though they lost their wings and with it their ability to fly . Kenkus who traced their ancestry back to Kara - Tur settled in southeast Faerûn , in Estagund and the monster - overrun Beastlands of Veldorn , by the 14th century DR . With the devastation and chaos wrought by the Spellplague after 1385 DR , the Beastlands spread further across the southeast . The kenkus took advantage , gaining notoriety and integrating themselves in every monster - ruled city in the Beastlands , as well as in Estagund and Durpar , by the late 15th century . Kenku lands . In the 14th century DR , kenkus could be found lurking in cities throughout southern Faerûn . A large but loosely connected guild of kenku thieves and assassins was based in Zazesspur , Tethyr , and was called the Daggertalons . Kenkus also inhabited Estagund and Veldorn in the Shining Lands of the southeast . By 1479 DR , kenkus were well - established and populous in the southeast . They were particularly prominent in the cities of the Beastlands , and Estagund . In Tirumala , both kenku slaves and a kenku spy network served the rakshasa rulers . In neighboring Durpar , they could be found in Assur , Vaelan , and other locales still held by human s , and made up a significant proportion of the population . Kenku and halfling gangs fought for control of the streets of Vaelan . The kenkus even established their own domain in the so - called Blackfeather Barrens , the badlands between the monster - ruled realms of the Beastlands . From their hidden rookery , Blackfeather , it was rumored they commanded a secret organization of kenkus loyal solely to their own kind , not to the array of different causes kenkus served in the surrounding cities . More obviously , those of Blackfeather attacked all trespassers without mercy , making it a place to be feared by all . 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 winged kenku appeared in " Fiend Folio " ( 1st edition ) and " Monstrous Compendium Volume Two " ( 2nd edition ) . However , this is a very different creature from the kenku presented in " Monster Manual III " ( 3 . 5 edition ) " and " Monster Manual 2 " ( 4th edition ) " . It is therefore assumed that these are two distinct types of creature . This article presents the wingless kenku of later 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 .