Avifors Spell

Avifors Spell
Incantation	Avifors (AH-vi-fors)
Type	Transfiguration, jinx
Hand movement
Light	Blue
Effect	Turned objects into birds

"Good morning. Today we shall learn the transfiguration spell known as Avifors. Avifors will allow you to transform small objects ⁠— such as the parts of this statue ⁠— into birds."

— Minerva McGonagall

The Avifors Spell (Avifors) was a transfiguration spell that transformed small objects and creatures into birds. The spell was viewed as a jinx when used to transform certain creatures into birds.

Nature

"Transfiguration is some of the most difficult magic to practise effectively. It is extremely difficult, for example, to transform something non-living into something that is alive. However, mastering a transfiguration spell such as 'Avifors', which will transform small inanimate objects into birds, can be both rewarding and useful."

— Miranda Goshawk regarding this spell

A Dugbog being transformed into birds with this spell

The Avifors Spell could, at times, be a very complicated spell and some beginning Hogwarts students were known to struggle with it. One student nearly failed the class when he proved unable to transform objects into anything more than eggs. His cousin bragged about this.

This spell could also transform certain creatures into birds, like Dugbogs or Blast-Ended Skrewts.

Teaching

The Avifors Spell in action

"My cousin had trouble with Avifors. He could only turn things into eggs. He was popular at breakfast time but he nearly failed the class."

— A Hogwarts student

The Avifors Spell was learned in first-year and revised in second-year Transfiguration class with Professor Minerva McGonagall, and was included in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk.

Known practitioners

Matilda Weasley (possibly)

Minerva McGonagall

Harry Potter

Ronald Weasley

Hermione Granger

Jacob's sibling

• Boy who failed Avifors Spell

Etymology

From Latin "avis", meaning "bird", with the -fors suffix attached.

Behind the scenes

Harry seen casting the removed Avifors Spell in the first video game

• In the Goblet of Fire video game, this spell is categorised under "jinxes", which seems to contradict past depictions in video games, since the earlier video games do not depict this spell as a jinx, but simply as a harmless transfiguration spell which transforms objects into birds. However, it is possible that the spell is also categorised as a jinx when used to transform creatures into birds, as opposed to inanimate objects, similar to how the Doubling Charm is known as the "Geminio Curse" when used to curse objects into multiplying.
• The wand movement for Avifors appears as cut content in the PC version of the Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone video game. This was the only known wand movement until the spell appeared as a Duelling reward in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (First appearance) (PS1 and GBA versions)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Console versions)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) (Console and PC versions only)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Hogwarts Legacy (Possibly mentioned)

See also

• Bird-Conjuring Charm
• Ducklifors