Hoot the Owl

From the Super Mario Wiki

This article is about the friendly owl who appeared in Super Mario 64 and its remakes. For information about the protector of Hoo's Wood, who was an ememy in Super Princess Peach, see Hoo.

Mario, clinging onto Hoot as they fly over Whomp's Fortress.

“Mario, lay off the pasta!”
—Hoot the Owl, Super Mario 64

Hoot in Mario Party Advance.

Hoot the Owl is a nocturnal owl who sleeps in a tree near Whomp's Fortress in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. When Mario climbs into his tree, Hoot will offer to give Mario a ride to the top of the fortress. He later appears at Tall Tall Mountain. He also appears as an unlucky gambler in Mario Party Advance.

When Mario hangs on to Hoot too long, he drops Mario, and tells him "Mario, lay off the pasta!"

Hoot is very similar to the Heavy Zeds from Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins and the generically-named owls of Wario Land II in that all these characters are sleeping owls who will help the game's protagonist when awoken, and finally background owls in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS which only make sounds.