| Hit Dice: | 5d8+10 (32 hp) |
| Initiative: | +6 |
| Speed: | 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 80 ft. (average) |
| Armor Class: | 19 (+6 Dex, +3 natural), touch 16, flat-footed 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +3/+4 |
| Attack: | Talon +9 melee (1d4+1) |
| Full Attack: | 2 talons +9 melee (1d4+1) and bite +4 melee (1d6) |
| Space/Reach: | 5 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | — |
| Special Qualities: | Low-light vision |
| Saves: | Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +6 |
| Abilities: | Str 12, Dex 22, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 11 |
| Skills: | Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Spot +10; racial bonuses |
| Feats: | Alertness, Weapon Finesse |
| Environment: | Temperate forests |
| Organization: | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating: | 2 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 6-8 HD (Medium); 9-12 HD (Large) |
| Level Adjustment: | — |
This powerful-looking bird of prey bears a bony protrusion on the upper part of its beak. Several long feathers trail gracefully from its lower body and tail.
A dire hawk is capable of taking down pigs, sheep, and even the occasional small horse. This bird of prey prefers high, remote nesting spots.
A typical dire hawk is about 5 feet long and has a wingspan of about 11 feet.
Skills: A dire hawk receives a +8 racial bonus on Spot checks in daylight.
A raptoran who has the animal companion class feature can choose a dire hawk as an alternate animal companion when his effective level for the animal companion class feature is 4th or higher. The raptoran’s effective druid level for determining the dire hawk’s abilities is reduced by three.
A nonraptoran also can have a dire hawk companion, but her effective level for the animal companion class feature must be 7th or higher, and the character’s effective level for determining the dire hawk’s abilities is reduced by six. For example, if a 7th-level halfling druid has a dire hawk companion, the dire hawk has only 1st-level companion abilities.
Source: Races of the Wild, page 189.