Forest Banshee

The forest banshee is a bird-like, aerial creature native to Pandora. It is the smaller cousin of the mountain banshee. Its natural habitat is the upper and lower canopies of the rainforest, as well as rookeries that are located on cliffs and mesas of the mountainous regions of Pandora. The forest banshee has obsidian-like teeth, a total of four wings (two aft), and bones comprised of biologically produced carbon fiber composite. The forest banshee is an aerial carnivorous predator, usually feeding on smaller rainforest creatures such as the stingbat and the prolemuris.
The forest banshee, although smaller than the mountain banshee and lacking the size required to support a Na'vi rider, is still a feared predator.
Forest banshees usually hunt alone, but can migrate in large flocks spread out in a wide, loose pattern. Reasoning for this behavior is not readily understood. Like a Terran reef shark, the forest banshee may size up potential large prey, but will seldom attack anything close to its size, as it prefers smaller forest animals. A banshee will make an exception in order to defend itself, or when it finds large prey in distress. Furthermore, like Terran reef sharks, forest banshees will congregate to feed and, if necessary, will fight one another for their portion of food. The creature shares the same basic anatomical advantages as the mountain banshee: strong carbon fiber bones, specialized flight muscles and a stiff torso to support its wings. It can also make subtle adjustments to its flight altitude and speed with an articulated tail tip that can flare or remain tucked to decrease aerodynamic resistance.James Cameron's Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide - Page 68
==Trivia==
* Bioluminescent markings are easily spotted by RDA Scorpions during night patrols.
* The forest banshee is the favorite food source for the great leonopteryx.
* A forest banshee was shot down by Quaritch in the original script.Avatar Script, page 21
* A group of forest banshees seem to appear in Flight of Passage; they can be seen flying around as the rider soars through the rainforest.
==References==
de:Forest Banshee
pl:Zmora leśna
ru:Лесной банши
Category:Creatures
Category:Flying creatures
Category:Carnivore