Iguana parrot

The reptile bird is a hybridized creature that inhabits the Earth Kingdom. It is a favorite pet of sailors and pirates.

History
This bird was first seen perched on the shoulder of the pirate captain at the seedy merchants pier. When the pirates, Zuko and his crew, and Team Avatar got into a fight over a waterbending scroll, the reptile bird chipped in by fighting with Momo; they both attempted to steal the scroll for their respective owners, however, the winged lemur managed to outsmart the bird, tangling it up in a flag and pinning the animal to the mast. Later, when Zhao hired the pirates to blow up Zuko's ship and subsequently kill the prince, it was the pirate captain's reptile bird that accidentally alerted Zuko that the pirates had snuck aboard his ship, and that something was going on. The bird flew away to safety before the ship exploded.

Anatomy
The reptile bird resembles a cross between a green parrot and an iguana. This creature has feathers and is capable of flight, but has many reptilian characteristics as well. It has a parrot-like beak and a feathered tail, but its wings end in claws, and it moves on all four limbs when it chooses not to fly. Its feet also seem to lack the reversed toe characteristic of many modern birds, giving it a more reptilian appearance, and it has a small dorsal fin on its back.

Behavior
This flying reptile is temperamental and loyal only to the person on whose shoulder it perches.

Connection
The earliest known bird, Archaeopteryx, shares many characteristics with the reptile bird. Its loyalty to a pirate whose shoulder it sits on is similar to the classic pirate's parrot.

Trivia

 * Avatar Extras for "The Waterbending Master" states that although it is more commonly known as a "reptile bird", the creature's proper name is "iguana parrot".