Hawkstrider

The hawkstrider is a large flightless bird that is the blood elves' racial mount. As their name implies, hawkstriders resemble the tallstrider family, though their plumage is both larger and more vibrant. They come in a variety of bright colors and have a thin, curved beak and burning orange eyes. Epic versions include decorative armor on the chest and head. The hawkstrider's movements exhibit the same rhythmic, back-and-forth motion which characterizes the other two-legged mounts. They use a heavily modified tallstrider model, but they possess a wildly different looking exterior and a unique standing-jump and running animation.

When Kael'thas led his followers to the ruined world of Outland, the vibrant hawkstriders that were brought with them proved to be welcome reminders of the blood elves’ beauteous home in Quel'Thalas. Valued for their trustworthiness and speed, these colorful avian creatures embody the inherent splendor of the forests within the blood elven kingdom. While tragedy has befallen Quel’Thalas in recent years, the hawkstriders remain an integral part of the elves’ day-to-day lives.

The shadow-infused striders embody the void elves' commitment to harness the power of the Void in the name of the Alliance.

• s are currently the only hawkstriders that can be fought. They are used by the Eclipsion Bloodwarders and Eclipsion Cavaliers.

Hawkstriders are sold by Winaestra located at the exterior stables south of Silvermoon City in the Eastern Kingdoms. Trellis Morningsun the Silvermoon Quartermaster in Icecrown also sells two unique hawkstriders. Vasarin Redmorn the Sunreavers Quartmaster also sells a hawkstrider.

Egbert's Egg is a possible reward from Back to the Orphanage.

• "So I says I feel like chicken tonight. Next thing, I am flat out and that thing is trying to see what my eyes taste like." -Bozzle Blastbolt
• "Their plumage is more beautiful than any other. Subtlety is for the birds! I mean... other birds." -Viera Sunwhisper
• "You watch what happens when their master is attacked and you will see those birds in a whole new light." - Raider Bork
• "I demand speed, grace, and discipline on the battlefield.. this one will serve nicely." -Eressea Dawnsinger
• "What do you mean is it dyed? Oh, the bird. We did touch up the red a little." -Trellis Morningsun

• During The Burning Crusade beta, they were called cockatrices. The name was changed prior to release.
• The Swift White Hawkstrider, Ivory Hawkstrider, and Starcursed Voidstrider are the only hawkstrider mounts available to members of the Alliance.
• Before patch 3.0.8, the Swift White Hawkstrider was the only hawkstrider usable by tauren players.
• Hawkstriders are sometimes called "chocobos" by players due to their resemblance to the aforementioned Final Fantasy creature.
• Hawkstriders may have been conceptually split from dragonhawks, the aerial mounts of the blood elves in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos.
• The deceased Kael'thas Sunstrider rides a (currently unattainable) ghostly hawkstrider while in Revendreth.