Sand Bird: Difference between revisions

The '''Sand Bird''' is a bird creature that [[Mario]] encounters in ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Galaxy 2]]''. In ''Super Mario Sunshine'', it originally appears as an egg, but it ultimately hatches during the events of the game. When hatched, the Sand Bird resembles an entity composed of [[sand block]]s, arranged in a shape reminiscent of an actual bird. Although the Sand Bird does not seem to possess any outstanding biological characteristics, it is a living creature<ref>"''(...) Which is important, because the egg is living, of course! (...)''" — '''Pianta professor''', ''Super Mario Sunshine''</ref> and capable of movement and producing screech noises.

===''Super Mario Sunshine''===

[[File:SandBird SMSunshine.jpg|thumb|left|The Sand Bird flying in ''Super Mario Sunshine'']]

Prior to hatching, the Sand Bird egg is kept inside a structure called the [[Shine Tower]] on [[Isle Delfino]]'s [[Gelato Beach]]. Three large mirrors are situated around the building, reflecting sunlight into a device on the tower's top that keeps the Sand Bird egg warm and healthy.<ref>"''(...) Actually, it not only holds the egg, it also keeps it warm. (...)''" — '''Pianta professor''', ''Super Mario Sunshine''</ref> This process has been going on for more than a century.<ref>"''(...) They gather the sun's rays and reflect them at the tower. They've been doing that for over 100 years! Isn't that wild? (...)''" — '''Pianta professor''', ''Super Mario Sunshine''</ref> The Shine Tower and the Sand Bird egg are supervised by a [[Pianta]] professor,<ref>"''(...) That's what the professor studying the Shine Tower said...''" — '''[[Sand Cabana]] proprietress''', ''Super Mario Sunshine''</ref> who can be found near the structure most of the time.

The Sand Bird then finally hatches in between Episodes [[Wiggler Ahoy! Full Steam Ahead!|3]] and 4, breaking out of the Shine Tower and flying away. During Episode 4, the newly hatched Sand Bird can be found soaring high above the ground, circling a tower. Mario accesses this place by leaping through the hole in the Shine Tower's roof into the broken remains of the Sand Bird egg. By doing this, the player is presented with a [[Red Coin]] challenge: Mario needs to collect eight Red Coins while trying not to fall into the [[pit]] below him, and he can use the Sand Bird's flight path to access the harder-to-reach coins. When Mario jumps, momentum does not factor in as usual, as the bird's constant flight means that he will have to move forward more while jumping to retain his position. Furthermore, at two points during the flight, the bird will tilt its body at a 90° angle, requiring Mario to adjust his footing accordingly. Seven of the Red Coins can be found on the bird's neck, wings, and tail. The eighth one is located on top of the large tower in the center of this area; once the Sand Bird reaches the end of its course near the top of this tower, it will dive and start from the beginning again.