A colossal, grey prehistoric bird resembling a shoebill stork stands on a rocky plateau under a dark, stormy sky with lightning flashes.

A colossal prehistoric bird resembling Dromornis stirtoni, standing over 3 meters tall with a massive, barrel-shaped torso and thick, muscular legs built for strength, not speed. Its plumage is storm-grey, mottled with dark browns and deep rust tones, thickest around the neck and chest. The creature's head is grotesquely oversized for a modern bird — its skull nearly 1/3 the length of its body, with a proportion similar to a shoebill stork, but even more exaggerated. The beak is immense, broad, and blocky, with a jagged curve and bony ridges along the sides — shaped for crushing, not slicing, and reminiscent of ancient terror birds. Its eyes are deep-set and intelligent, glowing faintly with golden reflection beneath the overcast sky. Enormous wings sprout from its shoulders, stretching nearly 10 meters across — broad, multi-jointed, and feathered like an eagle’s, with stiff, layered primaries designed for slow, thunderous beats and long glides. It stands atop a windswept plateau in ancient Australia, with a storm raging in the background: lightning flashes, swirling clouds, and wind-blown debris. Its feathers whip in the gale, and it radiates immense power — a sovereign creature of storm and sky, feared by all. See more