diff --git a/include/rendering/m2_model_classifier.hpp b/include/rendering/m2_model_classifier.hpp
index 6d6faeb5..9b0ee247 100644
--- a/include/rendering/m2_model_classifier.hpp
+++ b/include/rendering/m2_model_classifier.hpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ struct M2ClassificationResult {
     bool isWaterfall        = false; ///< Waterfall model (ambient sound + splash particles)
     bool isBrazierOrFire    = false; ///< Brazier / campfire / bonfire model
     bool isTorch            = false; ///< Wall-mounted or standing torch
+    bool isSkyBird          = false; ///< Flying bird/bat doodad (hide until animation range)
 
     // --- Ambient emitter type (for sound system) ---
     AmbientEmitterType ambientEmitterType = AmbientEmitterType::None;
diff --git a/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp b/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp
index 741436a6..24edcd70 100644
--- a/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp
+++ b/include/rendering/m2_renderer.hpp
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ struct M2ModelGPU {
     bool isLanternLike = false;     // Model name matches lantern/lamp/light (precomputed)
     bool isKoboldFlame = false;     // Model name matches kobold+(candle/torch/mine) (precomputed)
     bool isLavaModel = false;       // Model name contains lava/molten/magma (UV scroll fallback)
+    bool isSkyBird = false;         // Flying bird/bat doodad — hide until animation range
     bool hasTextureAnimation = false; // True if any batch has UV animation
     bool hasTransparentBatches = false; // True if any batch uses alpha-blend or additive (blendMode >= 2)
     uint8_t availableLODs = 0;  // Bitmask: bit N set if any batch has submeshLevel==N
@@ -215,6 +216,7 @@ struct M2Instance {
     bool cachedIsGroundDetail = false;
     bool cachedIsInvisibleTrap = false;
     bool cachedIsInstancePortal = false;
+    bool cachedIsSkyBird = false;
     bool cachedIsValid = false;
     bool skipCollision = false;    // WMO interior doodads — skip player wall collision
     float cachedBoundRadius = 0.0f;
diff --git a/src/rendering/m2_model_classifier.cpp b/src/rendering/m2_model_classifier.cpp
index 1e8044ec..b72395d1 100644
--- a/src/rendering/m2_model_classifier.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/m2_model_classifier.cpp
@@ -200,6 +200,18 @@ M2ClassificationResult classifyM2Model(
     });
     const bool ambientCreature = hasAny(n, kAmbientTokens);
 
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Sky birds / bats: animated flying doodads that look frozen beyond bone range
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    static constexpr auto kSkyBirdTokens = std::to_array<std::string_view>({
+        "albatross", "carrionbird", "crane", "crow",
+        "eagle",     "gull",        "hawk",  "osprey",
+        "owl",       "parrot",      "pelican",
+        "raven",     "seagull",     "vulture",
+    });
+    r.isSkyBird = hasAny(n, kSkyBirdTokens) || has(n, "\\bird")
+                || has(n, "\\bat\\") || has(n, "\\bat.");
+
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------
     // Animation / foliage rendering flags
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp b/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
index 33a7b1b5..4827ce16 100644
--- a/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/m2_renderer.cpp
@@ -1245,6 +1245,7 @@ bool M2Renderer::loadModel(const pipeline::M2Model& model, uint32_t modelId) {
     gpuModel.isWaterfall                 = cls.isWaterfall;
     gpuModel.isBrazierOrFire             = cls.isBrazierOrFire;
     gpuModel.isTorch                     = cls.isTorch;
+    gpuModel.isSkyBird                   = cls.isSkyBird;
     gpuModel.ambientEmitterType          = cls.ambientEmitterType;
     gpuModel.boundMin = tightMin;
     gpuModel.boundMax = tightMax;
diff --git a/src/rendering/m2_renderer_render.cpp b/src/rendering/m2_renderer_render.cpp
index be415c13..d39b3d43 100644
--- a/src/rendering/m2_renderer_render.cpp
+++ b/src/rendering/m2_renderer_render.cpp
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ uint32_t M2Renderer::createInstance(uint32_t modelId, const glm::vec3& position,
     instance.cachedIsGroundDetail = mdlRef.isGroundDetail;
     instance.cachedIsInvisibleTrap = mdlRef.isInvisibleTrap;
     instance.cachedIsInstancePortal = mdlRef.isInstancePortal;
+    instance.cachedIsSkyBird = mdlRef.isSkyBird;
     instance.cachedIsValid = mdlRef.isValid();
     instance.cachedModel = &mdlRef;
     instance.recomputeCachedCullFactors();
@@ -212,6 +213,7 @@ uint32_t M2Renderer::createInstanceWithMatrix(uint32_t modelId, const glm::mat4&
     instance.cachedBoundRadius = mdl2.boundRadius;
     instance.cachedIsGroundDetail = mdl2.isGroundDetail;
     instance.cachedIsInvisibleTrap = mdl2.isInvisibleTrap;
+    instance.cachedIsSkyBird = mdl2.isSkyBird;
     instance.cachedIsValid = mdl2.isValid();
     instance.cachedModel = &mdl2;
     instance.recomputeCachedCullFactors();
@@ -870,6 +872,16 @@ void M2Renderer::render(VkCommandBuffer cmd, VkDescriptorSet perFrameSet, const
             if (paddedRadius > 0.0f && !frustum.intersectsSphere(instance.position, paddedRadius)) continue;
         }
 
+        // Animated sky birds: cap render distance to bone-update range so they
+        // fade in only when close enough for animation, hiding frozen poses.
+        if (instance.cachedIsSkyBird && instance.cachedHasAnimation && !instance.cachedDisableAnimation) {
+            constexpr float kBirdMaxDistSq = rendering::M2_LOD3_DISTANCE * rendering::M2_LOD3_DISTANCE;
+            if (effectiveMaxDistSq > kBirdMaxDistSq) {
+                effectiveMaxDistSq = kBirdMaxDistSq;
+                if (distSq > effectiveMaxDistSq) continue;
+            }
+        }
+
         sortedVisible_.push_back({i, instance.modelId, distSq, effectiveMaxDistSq});
     }