That raven is actually Diaval, a raven shapeshifter who is Maleficent’s closest confidant. When Aurora sees him, she quickly acknowledges him and refers to him as a “pretty bird.” ...

Only in Maleficent, Diaval is a shape-shifter — he's able to assume many forms. He can be a human, he can turn into a bird, or he can transform into a giant freakin’ badass fire-breathing DRAGON.

In the original Maleficent, one of the relationships that seemed to catch fans by surprise is that of Angelina Jolie ’s tragically misunderstood villain-turned-anti-hero and her shapeshifting ...

He’s devoted to Aurora, he’s cute, he’s funny, he’s resourceful, Maleficent already likes him, and he can fly (even if changing from a human to a raven isn’t something he can do at will).