"About time, too. He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on."
     -- Albus Dumbledore about his Phoenix, after it burst into flames

The Phoenix is a magical bird about the size of a swan. The Phoenix has crimson feathers on its body and a long, golden tail as long as a peacock's. It's claws and beak are gleaming gold and its eyes are black. (These colors happen to be the colors of Gryffindor House, interestingly enough.) The Phoenix can disappear and reappear at will, in a burst of flames. Phoenix tears heal wounds. It can lift great weight with its tail; when Harry grasped Fawkes' tail in the Chamber of Secrets, he felt as if he were becoming weightless. The song of the Phoenix gives strength and hope to those it sings for.

Fawkes is the pet Phoenix of Albus Dumbledore. The wands of both Harry and Voldemort contain feathers from Fawkes' tail.

When a Phoenix is approaching its Burning Day, it resembles a half-plucked turkey and makes gagging noises. Its eyes become very dull and its feathers fall out. Then suddenly it will burst into flames and turn to a pile of ashes on the floor. From this pile of ashes rises a newborn Phoenix, small and ugly. In a matter of days it becomes a fully grown, beautiful Phoenix.