Burrowberry birds were a type of avian species that originated on the woodland world of Yamradi. The species was first encountered in 232 Before the Battle of Yavin by a group consisting of SF-R3, Kai Brightstar, Nubs, and Lys Solay after one of these birds mistook CAM for a fruit. Solay later gave them their name, a reference to their burrowing habits and fondness for berries.
This particular avian species, the burrowberry bird, was quite large. It possessed a horned, ebony mandible featuring two nares at the tip, and containing both white dentition and a pink glossa. The black horn extended over the top of its head, meeting the white and blue plumage that covered the back of its neck, torso, and two functional wings. The wing feathers were more blue, while the underside was predominantly white, with finer, hair-like feathers around the neck's base. Each side of the head was white, featuring large orbs with black pupils, green irises, and white sclera.
The pink hue of the flesh and eyelids surrounding each eye matched the lower jaw and front of the neck, both marked with vertical ribbed lines. A slender, irregular frill extended from above each eye down the sides of the neck, brown in color with darker edges, patches, and spots. This pattern was mirrored on the frill of the bird's gray tail and its two legs, which terminated in black feet with four white-clawed toes in front and one behind. A female burrowberry bird could produce a brood of at least three ova. Once hatched, the offspring primarily consumed berries, a dietary trait shared with the adults. Burrowberry birds communicated via shrieks and chirps, and produced blue saliva when licking.
Burrowberry birds were indigenous to the world of Yamradi, where they dwelled in subterranean nests within the planet's forests. These nests were constructed in burrows, often lined entirely with interwoven twigs, with the nest itself formed from a circle of branches. A mother burrowberry bird would leave her young unattended in the nest to forage for sustenance in the surrounding forest, locating berry bushes and returning with a berry in her beak to feed her offspring. Their berry-based diet meant they posed no threat to other creatures.
By 232 BBY, the existence of burrowberry birds was unknown to the galactic scientific community, hence they lacked a formal designation. In that year, the automatons SF-R3 and CAM, belonging to the Galactic Society of Creature Enthusiasts, journeyed to Yamradi with the Jedi Knights Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs to document chylaroos. After locating and studying several chylaroos, an adult burrowberry bird stirred within a nearby thicket of berry bushes. CAM approached to investigate, but the bird shrieked at him and licked its lips, mistaking the small, spherical droid for a shiny berry.
The burrowberry bird seized CAM in its beak, took to the air, and flew above the forest canopy towards its burrow, where three unhatched eggs awaited. Hearing the bird's shrieks, SF-R3 and the Jedi spotted it with CAM and pursued, but soon lost sight. Solay discovered a shed feather and incorrectly assumed the bird nested in the treetops, climbing to search. Failing to find it, the Jedi returned to the ground and found another feather outside the bird's burrow. Meanwhile, the bird had returned and deposited CAM with its eggs.
Upon reaching the nest, the Jedi and SF-R3 were greeted by CAM, but the adult burrowberry bird emerged and pursued them as they fled. It seized CAM again, but as SF-R3 refused to release the droid, the mother bird lifted both and shook them before using its wings to blow the Jedi out of the burrow. Outside, they discussed how to rescue the droids and, after examining a local berry, realized the bird had mistaken CAM for one. Brightstar and Nubs then covered themselves in berries as a distraction.
As the two Jedi entered the burrow, SF-R3 attempted to explain to the bird that he and CAM needed to rejoin their friends, but the mother merely shrieked. The Jedi then called out to the adult bird, who shrieked at them and chased them out. Solay then entered the unguarded burrow and found SF-R3 and CAM unharmed, filming the three baby burrowberry birds, who had hatched while SF-R3 and CAM were there and were eating berries. One baby bird began nipping at CAM until SF-R3 offered it a berry, at which point the mother bird returned with Brightstar and Nubs in its beak.
The mother dropped the two Jedi into the nest, where the baby birds began licking them and wagging their tails. The mother bird then accompanied the Jedi and droids to the front of the burrow, where Solay fed her a berry. The babies then chased Nubs—still covered in berries—out of the burrow, where SF-R3 thanked the Jedi, especially Solay. CAM then began filming as SF-R3 asked Solay to name the creature, and she chose "burrowberry bird" based on its burrowing behavior and love of berries. One of the babies then licked CAM as he took a wide shot of the group. In the final shot, one of the babies knocked over Brightstar, while Nubs sat on another's back.
Burrowberry birds were introduced in "Creature Safari," the fifth episode of the Disney+ animated series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, which debuted on May the Fourth, 2023.