Cockatrice

The Cockatrice is a mythological monster of uncertain connection to the Basilisk. Though the real-world tales of such creatures often tangle together to make them all but indistinguishable, roleplaying games tend to more clearly segregate them.

The iconic cockatrice, particularly as seen in Dungeons & Dragons, is a weird mixture of dragon and chicken, most commonly portrayed as a (usually oversized) rooster with leathery, bat-like wings and a reptilian tail. Cockatrices sometimes have the ability to breathe fire, but are most commonly known for a petrification attack, either in the form of a gaze attack, like the basilisk, or as a petrifying peck.

In D&D specifically, cockatrices are low-level magical beasts (or monstrosities, in 5e) who are not much bigger, smarter or fiercer than a normal chicken. However, their instinctive reaction to attack enemies when they feel threatened combined with the ability to petrify victims with their beak makes them disproportionately dangerous. Especially because the low levels that a party is technically suited to fighting them at usually doesn't have access to the ability to protect against or undo petrification, nor the funds to restore their victims. In 4th edition, to address this, a poultice made from cockatrice feathers and mud could be used to undo petrification, which gave PCs a better chance of surviving against the nasty little bastards.