Dire hawk has 3 attacks ... but when?

[rrealm]

A dire hawk (and many other birds) have three attacks (a bite, and two claws) but when does the creature get more than just a single bite or claw?

I'm familiar with the rules on when you get more than one attack and when you get just one however, I wasn’t sure if there was a rule somewhere that said, (something to the effect of), if a flying animal with natural attacks and more than one attack, it can use them while charging or just flying in general.

 

[ken-ichi]

A flying creature must follow all the normal rules for making more than one attack. As such the creature must have moved no more than its 5 foot step. This generally causes a flying creature to stall unless its maneuverability is good or perfect as those ratings allow it to hover, or it has the Hover feat.
A flting creature could also make all its attacks if it has landed and not moved more than its 5 foot step.
A creature with pounce could make all its attacks on a flying charge. A creature will list any special abilities that allow more than one attack when it moves.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

I guess the hawk would need the Hover feat.

AR

 

[Nail]

Yep. Sucks to be the hawk.

 

[rrealm]

The thought of a hawk standing on the ground, taking a bite with its beak, then swinging out its left leg to claw attack and then switching the ballance in its feet quickly and atempting to claw with its right foot seams odd to me.

 

[Nail]

BTW: Hawks and eagles tend to dive when attacking. Diving is a cool tactic, outlined in the rules: (Movement Modes, p. 312 MM 3.5e)

A creature that flies can make dive attacks. A dive attack works just like a charge, but the diving creature must move a minimum of 30 feet and descend at least 10 feet. It can make only claw or talon attacks, but these deal double damage.

Make sure that you don't provoke AoOs, BTW. That's harder than it looks; you need to use the 3 dimensions, and keep in mind threatened areas. I could walk (fly? ) you through that, if you wish.

 

[Nail]

The thought of a hawk standing on the ground, taking a bite with its beak, then swinging out its left leg to claw attack and then switching the ballance in its feet quickly and atempting to claw with its right foot seams odd to me.

Fortunately that's not what the rules say....for hawks at least.

Full Attack: Talons +5 melee (1d4–2)

They don't get one attack per claw + a bite.

Eagles, OTOH......

Ninja eagles. That's what we call 'em.

 

[the Jester]

I think they'd most often get full attacks in serious aerial combat, where two opposing birds 'fall' together for several rounds from a great height, tearing at each other ruthlessly.

 

[TDRandall]

Well, on the nature shows it seems like you always see the bird swoop in and grab at it's intended prey with claws (the previously mentioned dive attack). If the prey is large enough, then hawk then hops around a lot grabbing and biting at it. Wouldn't that be its full attack? Pretty soon - familiar stew!

So if the bird comes in and grabs ahold or a character's head or face and over the following rounds yanks, grabs, and generally flutters around to repeatedly attack the character, aren't those latter rounds the full attacks?

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Well, on the nature shows it seems like you always see the bird swoop in and grab at it's intended prey with claws (the previously mentioned dive attack). If the prey is large enough, then hawk then hops around a lot grabbing and biting at it. Wouldn't that be its full attack? Pretty soon - familiar stew!

So if the bird comes in and grabs ahold or a character's head or face and over the following rounds yanks, grabs, and generally flutters around to repeatedly attack the character, aren't those latter rounds the full attacks?

Exactly!