Maidhc O Casain
Na Bith Mo Riocht Tá!
I can't suggest much for flying familiars in the core rules or even the extended books by wizards before at least 5th level. Now if you can pitch Leif on the idea of a non-wizard's book--ENWorld publishing did what I consider to be a reasonable job on the subject, Dweomercraft: Familiars. That includes the following feat:
Summon Exceptional Familiar (General)
Prerequisite: Spellcaster 3rd level
The familiar represents a more unusual breed of animal that is not typical of familiars and may also grant benefits different than normal.
Familiars associated with this feat would be: Badger, Boar, Cheetah, Eagle, Leopard, Lizard, Monkey, or Wolf.
This would allow you to select a small flying animal such as an Eagle, Great Grey Owl or even a seagull. They offer only modest gains over regular familiars with the big advantages being that they are small rather than tiny so you could ride. This larger size gives them some advantages as well as disadvantages in combat.
The book includes much more advanced familiars as well, but they don't come until higher levels.
So these are basically regular familiars, but made from slightly larger versions of critters?
What about it, Leif? Could I take the alternative package for Wizard now, and take 'Summon Exceptional Familiar' at Wizard 3rd (or possibly wait for Wizard 6th and take Improved Familiar)? A Great Grey Owl would be an excellent familiar for a Rogue type Wizard, I'm thinkin'.
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