Little bird

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This article is about the recurring ambient white birds that originate in Super Mario 3D Land. For other uses, see Bird.
Little bird
Rendered 3D model of a little bird.
A little bird, distinguished by its white color and crest
First appearance Super Mario 3D Land (2011)
Latest appearance The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
Comparable

Little birds,[1] or small birds,[2] are white birds with distinctive crests that are recurring ambient species in the Super Mario franchise ever since their debut in Super Mario 3D Land. Occasionally, they even serve a gameplay purpose. Their appearance seems to be based on Paridae, a family of tits, chickadees, and other with similar body shapes, with some species such as the crested tit sporting crests, though the colors of their feathers and beaks coincide more with those of the albino house sparrow. They are similar in behavior to other birds throughout the series, such as the Birds in Super Mario Sunshine, as well as the blue birds outside Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64.

History[edit]

Super Mario series[edit]

Super Mario 3D Land[edit]

Little birds appearing next to Toad on the left area of the official group art for Super Mario 3D Land

Little birds make their first appearance in Super Mario 3D Land, serving as ambient creatures and usually appearing in flocks. When Mario or Luigi approaches them, they fly away.

Super Mario 3D World / Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury[edit]

In Super Mario 3D World and its Nintendo Switch port Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, little birds can also be found in various levels. In this game, they can occasionally appear on the title screen, where they fly away when the main cast of characters run through it. In the Bowser's Fury campaign of Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, seagulls can be seen throughout Lake Lapcat, and fly away if Mario or Bowser Jr. comes near, or if a Green Shell is kicked or thrown at them. All Cat little birds will also fly away immediately when the rain that signals Fury Bowser is about to rampage begins.

Super Mario Odyssey[edit]

A flock of little birds wearing top hats scared by Mario in the Cap Kingdom of Super Mario Odyssey.
A flock of little birds wearing top hats, released from a crate by Mario in the Cap Kingdom of Super Mario Odyssey

In Super Mario Odyssey, the little birds can be found in the Mushroom Kingdom and in the Cap Kingdom, the latter wearing top hats. Other variants of little birds also appear in other kingdoms, such as a blue jay variant in the Wooded Kingdom. If Mario falls asleep in an area where little birds can be found, one may rest on his nose, though in areas such as the Metro Kingdom, many birds can be found near Mario when he is sleeping.

Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[edit]

In Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, little birds appear during the first portion of Mario's Figure Skating Spectacular, which is based on Super Mario 3D Land. As always, they fly away when the skaters come near.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]

Little birds standing on the ground and flying away from Larry in Mario Kart 8.
Little birds standing on the track (on the right) and flying away from Larry in Mario Circuit.

A flock of little birds appear on the road in the following courses in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe:

A variant of little birds resembling sparrows appears in Tour Tokyo Blur and Wii Maple Treeway.

When racers approach them, they fly away, though after a set period of time without any racers, they return to the track. These birds are removed in the split-screen modes of the game.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker[edit]

Captain Toad and some little birds in Super Bell Hill

Players can interact with the little birds in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. Normally, they fly away when Captain Toad or Toadette approaches them, but if they stand by a little bird long enough, the little bird flies and lands on their heads, which is detailed in Episode 11 of the European The Cat Mario Show.

Mario Sports Superstars[edit]

A little bird being found in Mario Sports Superstars
A little bird in Mario Sports Superstars

Little birds are one of the objects encountered in the grass in the stable mode of Mario Sports Superstars sport, Horse Racing. When players pass into them, they fly away and reveal a ? crate, which reveals a Mario Token. When players obtain 20 Mario Tokens, they unlock the Mario Token Crown, a special horse accessory for the head.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle[edit]

A crow in Spooky Trails
A black little bird resting on a hay stack in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, white and black little birds can be found in the Ancient Gardens and Spooky Trails, respectively. They behave like they do in the Super Mario series, in which they fly away when the party members are near them, only to return soon after the party members leave the area.

Super Mario Party[edit]

Little birds in Social Climbers
Little birds flying by

In Super Mario Party, little birds fly across the screen during Social Climbers.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie[edit]

Little birds appear in The Super Mario Bros. Movie as wildlife in the Mushroom Kingdom.[3]

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Little bird.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 小鳥[4]
Kotori
Little bird

Chinese (simplified) 小鸟
Xiǎoniǎo
Little bird

Chinese (traditional) 小鳥
Xiǎoniǎo
Little bird

French Petit oiseau
Little bird
German Vöglein
Little bird
Italian Uccellino
Little bird
Spanish Pequeña ave
Little bird

Trivia[edit]

Little birds flying away from Baby Luigi in Hyrule Circuit in Mario Kart 8.
Little birds flying away from Baby Luigi in Hyrule Circuit
  • Despite being endemic to Mario's world, little birds can also be found on the Hyrule Circuit in Mario Kart 8, which is set in the kingdom of Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda franchise.

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Cat Mario Show (Jul 9, 2015). The Cat Mario Show - Episode 11 YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  2. ^ Kazuya Sakai (ed.). The Art of Super Mario Odyssey. First English Edition. Translated by TransPerfect. Milwaukie: Dark Horse, 2019. page 069. ISBN: 978-1-50671-375-5.
  3. ^ Matyas (November 30, 2022). The Super Mario Bros. Movie - NEW Footage. YouTube. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Nintendo (October 19, 2015). Encyclopedia Super Mario Bros., page 185. Nintendo. Retrieved July 23, 2017.