This hideous avian creature has the body of an emaciated rooster, the wings of a bat, and a long, scaly tail.

Not only does the cockatrice possess a foul, aggressive behavior, it also has a sharp, petrifying beak. While not especially dangerous, it is exceptionally resilient, remarkably persistent, and it can fairly easily catch up with a humanoid through flight. Whoever is unlucky enough to disturb it but unable to slay it should prepare for a humiliating, though not permanent, petrification.

Scholars believe the cockatrice originates from the same world as the basilisk, since both creatures can turn flesh to stone. However, they differ in their preferred homes, with the cockatrice favoring the temperate undergrowth, where it primarily feeds on insects and worms. The surroundings of the Free City are known to be infested with cockatrice nests, and it even happens that some specimens venture close to the walls, or go as far as to sneak into the town, taking advantage of the chaos of market days or massive arrivals.

The cockatrice looks like a hideous hybrid of lizard, bird, and bat, and it is infamous for its ability to turn flesh to stone. These omnivores have a diet that consists of berries, nuts, flowers, and small animals such as insects, mice, and frogs-things they can swallow whole. They would be no threat to anything else if not for their fierce and frenzied response to even a hint of danger. A cockatrice flies into the face of any threat, squawking and madly beating its wings as its head darts out to peck. The smallest scratch from a cockatrice's beak can spell doom as its victim slowly turns to stone from the injury.

Cockatrices often try to claim eye-catching structures—such as ruins and secluded farms—as roosts.

A strange creature appearing to be a chicken with a long serpentine neck and tail

A cockatrice is a strange creature, appearing to be a chicken (hen or rooster) with a long serpentine neck and tail; the neck is topped by a more or less normal looking chicken head. A male cockatrice has wattles and a comb, just like a rooster. Females, much rarer than males, differ only in that they have no wattles or comb. A cockatrice weighs about 25 pounds. A cockatrice is no more intelligent than any animal, but they are bad-tempered and prone to attack if disturbed.

Small, magical, bird / reptile hybrids with long serpent tails and the head, legs, and wings of a cockerel. Live in all environments.

A strange creature appearing to be a chicken with a long serpentine neck and tail

A cockatrice possesses the physical attributes of both a serpent and a cock. These creatures will have the head, legs and wings of a cock, while the body will be of a serpent. Its wings are functional and allow it to fly. The creature is believed to be from a cock's egg hatched by a serpent. Although the beast is capable of inflicting light wounds with its beak and talons, the mere touch of the cockatrice is capable of turning any creature to stone. The touched creature must roll a successful saving throw vs petrifaction or be instantly turned to stone. The power of this touch is capable of affecting astral and æthereal beings.