The durnodaw can be found in Tethra where it exists in great numbers, roaming the skies above the Ganesa Plateau and the Stone Forest.  It only sleeps for an hour a day spending the rest of its time either mating, laying eggs or eating.  It's main source of food is the stonemite.  Every night when the stonemite exits the stone plinths that are their homes, vast flocks of durnodaws sweep down from the plateau to gorge themselves.  The birds will then return to the plateau where they will mate.  Shortly afterward the females will start laying eggs and will not stop until nightfall.  A single durnodaw can lay well over a thousand eggs in a day.  Whilst the female is laying the eggs the male spends its time gouging out channels in the hard rock of the plateau into which he will place the eggs to hide them from predators.  The eggs are the only food source for the Colossi who will consume vast quantities of durnodaw eggs in a single meal.

The durnodaw is a strange looking bird.  It has large eyes that sit high up on a enormous silver beak that can break stone.  Its body it small compared to its beak but its wing span is rivalled only by the horned crane.  A durnodaw can be incredibly savage especially when its eggs are threatened but tend to avoid Myrrans when possible.  Tethrans feel a certain kinship with the bird - perhaps it is their silver beak which resembles the metal Tethrans graft to their skins, or perhaps they identify with the birds' uncompromising savagery.  The durnodaw can be found on Tethra's coat of arms and also on their national flag.