Anyone else want a bord race? (Avian)

[Iscah]

Lore book 2 page 250:
The Padjal
"There are none in Eorzea so foolish as to suggest the wise Padjali leaders of Gridania might be of inferior stock.Yet if we are to compartmentalize the realm's denizens based on whether they are to be counted amongst the five races, then where does that leave the Seedseers? Their fawn-like horns, their ceased aging, their ability to commune with the elementals, are all traits more commonly associated with those peoples dishonored with the 'beastman' designation."
It hints that they should be classed as beastman without stating it due to the lore books always taken from the perspective of a living being on Hydalen and calling leaders of a nation beastmen would just be disastrous for one's health

I don't think it's intended to suggest that the Padjal are a beast tribe - just (supposedly) a highlighting of how arbitrary the line between men and beastmen might be.

It's a poor example in any case, that seems at odds with a lot of other lore - even with their horns, they look more "human" than some of the major races. We have - or will soon have - other horned races (Au Ra) and long-lived races (Viera), and the conjurer questline makes it clear that not only Padjals are able to commune with the elementals. Sylphie is clearly a normal Hyuran, and you are directed to take your early lessons from other Hyuran and Elezen conjurers who are particularly attuned to that element's elementals.

Miqo'te or Au Ra would have been a much better example of a race with "beastman-like" features.

In any case the actual rule of the division seems quite clear to me: races with human-like faces are considered men, others are beastmen. (Lalafells are probably a borderline case by that definition, come to think of it....)

[Roda]

I don't think it's intended to suggest that the Padjal are a beast tribe - just (supposedly) a highlighting of how arbitrary the line between men and beastmen might be.

It's a poor example in any case, that seems at odds with a lot of other lore - even with their horns, they look more "human" than some of the major races. We have - or will soon have - other horned races (Au Ra) and long-lived races (Viera), and the conjurer questline makes it clear that not only Padjals are able to commune with the elementals. Sylphie is clearly a normal Hyuran, and you are directed to take your early lessons from other Hyuran and Elezen conjurers who are particularly attuned to that element's elementals.

Miqo'te or Au Ra would have been a much better example of a race with "beastman-like" features.

In any case the actual rule of the division seems quite clear to me: races with human-like faces are considered men, others are beastmen. (Lalafells are probably a borderline case by that definition, come to think of it....)

Yeah that quote is incredibly cherry-picked. It's actually discounting the term "beastmen" with examples of similarities with our more friendly races than suggesting any one should be moved to the beastman category.
It does in fact mention miqote, au ra, and roegadyn as being cat-like, dragon-like, and gigas-like races respectively, and then throws it out saying how arbitrary the beastman classification is.

The section is called "Undefining Beastmen" for Hydaelyn's sake!