Phoenixes

A Phoenix is a bird whose feathers are entirely made of fire. When they age, they loose all their feathers before turning to ash, and after this they are reborn, as shown in A Bird in the Hoof. Both Princess Celestia and Spike have phoenixes as pets, such as Philomeena and Peewee.

Appearance
They are brightly colored birds with red and orange flame-like feathers and long, blazing tails. Females are depicted as having three small crests on their heads. In Dragon Quest, they are shown to be capable of engulfing themselves in flames and shine brightly.

A Bird in the Hoof
In their first appearance in A Bird in the Hoof, Fluttershy tries to heal Celestia's elderly pet phoenix Philomeena with little success. In the end she is reborn and fully healed.

Dragon Quest
In their second appearance in Dragon Quest, Spike is convinced by a group of teenage dragons to help in raiding a phoenix nest. Spike throws a rock at the Phoenix parents, who in turn erupt into flames and pursue him. The dragons then approach the nest only to realize the eggs have hatched. The phoenixes and their hatchlings manage to escape after evading the dragons in flight, but an egg is left behind which Spike decides to adopt, and he later names the hatchling Peewee.

Galleries
Philomeena/Gallery Creatures/Gallery A Bird in the Hoof/Gallery

Dragon Quest/Gallery