Firefoot Broadwing

Breed name: Firefoot Broadwing

Bird inspiration: Ferruginous Hawk

Class: Broadwing

Subclass: Standard

Overview
Robust and hardy, firefoots are named for their red, feathered feet. Despite their proportionately large wings, they are nimble in the air, energetic and daring. These broadwings are perfect for gutsy pilots and dangerous jobs, and are often found in dueling rings and as whistlers for lightning fish hunts. There is some argument that they should be classified as longhaul broadwings, as they have both the speed and the endurance for long trips, but as their temperament is excitable and competitive, they are rarely suited to longhaul jobs.

Most commonly found wild around areas with rocky spires, cliffs, or dramatic plateaus, firefoot fledglings have been observed throwing themselves from high places for their first "real" flight, usually guided by one or both parents. These pegasi have also been known to dig up ant hills and termite nests to supplement their diet of grasses and seeds.

Coloration and Conformation
Firefoots have a reddish coat on their back and wings, usually marked by some darker dapples or spots. The chest and belly are often buff or cream, again with the darker markings. The feathers on their hocks for which they are named are unusual for a broadwing breed, being more common among shortwings.

There are two well-established breeders that train and sell firefoots, but their pegs are almost exclusively flown in the Glass Lake races, so are little known outside the racing circuits.