The horrid croak of the kestrekel is considered a harbinger of death, because these predators gather when a creature is about to die. Individually, a kestrekel is a nuisance. A flock of these birds can be an immediate and dire threat, though.

Kestrekels seek out the sick and injured, their dark eyes watching for any sign of weakness. As the prey is sapped, the beasts probe their coming meal by darting closer for quick bites. Travelers dogged by these carrion birds can lure them close by feigning injuries, but this trick rarely works on any but the most eager beasts.