Miros Bird

Miros Birds (also known as Scissor Birds) are fast, dangerous creatures found throughout Memory Crypts and in some longer rooms of Subterranean.

Appearance
Miros Birds have large, ovular bodies, with a long neck, circular head and two round eyes. They run using a pair of partially mechanical legs, which create loud clanking sounds and often emit sparks while in use. The front of their head also features a sharp scissor-like beak, which produces distinct metallic snipping sounds as it opens and closes.

Combat
While Miros Birds can be killed, their high health and bite lethality make attempts at normal combat risky. Miros Birds are quick to bite anything that gets too close, which makes engaging at close quarters challenging without first stunning, blinding or distracting them. Miros Birds can be reliably killed with a single. The simplest way of killing a Miros Bird, when an explosive spear is not available, is to isolate one from the group, blind it with a and then spear it to death. This still requires caution as Miros Birds may bite even when blinded. can also be used to temporarily incapacitate them while doing damage.

Stealth
Tunnels and other tight spaces make for good hiding spots as Miros Birds are often too large to enter. Staying hidden while a group runs by is a great way to stay safe. Miros Birds are capable of sticking their beaks into tunnels to catch prey they see entering, or spot inside as they pass by. They typically lose interest and move on from tunnel entrances quickly.

Evasion
Miros Birds are faster than Slugcat and tricky to outrun, especially on the uneven terrain of Memory Crypts. Their arrival is usually forecast by various metallic sounds from offscreen. Carrying flashbangs is a useful strategy, as throwing one can also buy the player enough time to find shelter.

Flashbangs
Throwing a directly at a Miros Bird blinds it for 10 seconds. This duration decreases linearly with distance, from 10s at 3 tiles or less to 0.5s at a distance of 30 tiles, up to 80 tiles if seen. Blindness does not stack; for new flashbang detonations the longest duration between the current and new blind is used. Miros Birds' eyes flash in rainbow colors when blinded.

Abilities & Behavior
Miros Birds are found in long, horizontal rooms, where they run from side to side, attacking any prey they come across. They are most often found in groups of 3-5, mainly due to their spawning from the same off-screen dens. Miros Birds antagonize other Miros Birds; they can often be seen aggressively snapping at each other.



Senses
Miros Birds cannot hear but have excellent sight that allows them to spot creatures from over a screen away. This trait also makes them vulnerable to Flashbangs, which temporarily blind them when thrown. Blinded Miros Birds stay stationary, and only frantically snap their beak around in an attempt to bite nearby creatures.

Variants & Attributes
Miros Birds' eyes vary in size and color, ranging from yellow to orange. Their beaks, and the organic parts of their legs vary in thickness. The backs of their long necks may feature various amounts of differently shaped frills. A tail of varying lengths may also hang from between their legs.

Trivia

 * Miros Birds will occasionally become stuck on geometry, making it difficult for the player to progress. The birds will use increasingly long running starts to attempt to get unstuck.
 * Miros Birds' eyes flash in rainbow colors even when blinded by a instead of a Flashbang.
 * Miros Birds run away from & . They may attempt to bite it when cornered, temporarily disabling the creature while it's in their beak.
 * Miros Birds are inspired by the paintings of Joan Miró, hence the name.
 * Miros Birds are incapable of carrying captured prey offscreen in walled environments, choosing to stay stationary upon catching something in their beaks instead. This means that spawning one in an enclosed Arena, and giving it a piece of food, effectively renders it immobile and safe to approach.