Bird



Birds are winged, bipedal animals.

Characteristics
Birds survived the nuclear blasts of the Great War, with minor impact from radiation. The creatures are seen throughout the wastelands, flying above most settlements in the Capital Wasteland, such as Megaton, the Temple of the Union, and Evergreen Mills. They can also be seen in the sky or perched on items and roads in the Mojave Wasteland.

Vulture


In the Capital and Mojave Wastelands, they can be seen circling around both populated areas and in the far reaches of the wastes, including large settlements such as Megaton and Searchlight. In Appalachia, a deceased vulture is pinned to a rock face.

Raven


In the Mojave, ravens can be seen throughout the desert. They are black, non-hostile birds that avoid direct interaction, flying away if the Courier gets too close. They are relatively common in Nipton and Boulder City.

Radstork


Mentioned only, a radstork is a large bipedal bird that stands taller than a human with a reddish body and black feathers.

Crow


The Institute utilizes synth birds, called "Watchers," to monitor activity within the Commonwealth as part of the Watcher Initiative. Ronnie Shaw comments on "seeing a lot of those Institute crow-things sniffing around." Justin Ayo makes numerous references to watchers, and the Synth Retention Bureau's surveillance monitor banks display footage at elevated angles or "birds-eye" view.

Radgull
Similar to pre-War seagulls, differing only as most specimens suffer from baldness and blistering throughout their body. The birds are still able to fly and are found commonly in the Commonwealth and on the Island.

Chicken


Mutated chickens can be found on the Island and throughout Appalachia, having lost almost all of their plumage since the Great War. They are docile and will flee from the player character if approached or shot at, but they can be killed and looted for food.

Sparrow


Mentioned only, the bird maintains the appearance of a pre-War songbird. They are depicted with a glowing red eye, created by the Institute as part of their Watcher Initiative to spy on the Commonwealth.

Appearances
Birds appear in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76.

Behind the scenes
Because birds are merely a visual effect in the Capital Wasteland, they can fly through any surface. They are also classed as objects and are little more than a moving model in the sky with little/no detail of wing animation. Birds do possess a rudimentary 3D model, which is a bird texture bent into a bird shape.