Lore:Hawk

A hawk

Hawks are birds found throughout Skyrim. They are hunted for their beaks, feathers and eggs, which can be used as alchemy ingredients. They are territorial animals who rarely venture far from their nests. Though predatory, they only hunt smaller birds and vermin. Trained hawks have been used to convey orders during battle. Nighthawks are a species of hawk that can be trained to deliver written messages.

The ancient Atmorans worshiped the hawk, alongside several other animal totems. Nords often associate the goddess Kyne with the hawk, and are known to use stylized motifs of the bird in their architecture, crafts, and clothing. Similarly, the Khajiiti goddess Khenarthi is sometimes represented as a great hawk. The city of Whiterun was founded on the site of the Skyforge, an ancient forge with a stone hawk edifice which predated the arrival of the Nords and elves.

During the Chimeri exodus to Morrowind, Saint Veloth was supposedly guided by a great hawk in the sky. The redtail hawk is considered sacred to Tava, as is the goshawk. The hawk's keen sight, accuracy, and rending claws inspired the sword-songs of the Ra Gada, and they were known to engrave their blades with the wings of the hawk. In the late Third Era, there was a city-state called Snowhawk in northwestern Skyrim and it drew inspiration from the animal. Around the same time, the county of Santaki was home to the Knights of the Hawk.

Gallery

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  A Hawk's Nest

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  Hawk Totem

Notes

• Skeletal undead hawks are known as Bone Hawks.