Squawks

Squawks the Parrot is an Animal Friend in the Donkey Kong series who first appeared in the game Donkey Kong Country. Along with Enguarde, Squawks has the most non-cameo appearances of all the Animal Friends in the Donkey Kong series (however, Enguarde has the most playable appearances). Squawks is the only Animal Friend who fulfills multiple tasks throughout the series.

Donkey Kong Country
In the original Donkey Kong Country, Squawks only appears in one level, "Torchlight Trouble". Once released from his crate, Squawks follows Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong through the pitch-black cavern. Armed with a bright lantern, Squawks lights up the surrounding area, allowing the Kongs to see ahead in this dark level. He is the only Animal Friend to not have an Animal Token.

Donkey Kong Country 2 / Donkey Kong Land 2
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Land 2, Squawks is much bigger than in Donkey Kong Country, but otherwise looks the same as in his debut. His official artwork is recycled from Donkey Kong Country but with added detail and with the lantern removed as he serves a different function in this appearance. In this game, he can be directly controlled and used to attack enemies by shooting eggs from his beak.

In some levels, Squawks can be released from a crate, and will then carry his Kong allies through the level, until reaching a No Animal Sign. In other levels, the Kongs can directly transform into Squawks. Additionally, Squawks does not run away when hit by an enemy. Instead, one of the Kongs drops from his claws, but Squawks remains playable as long as a second Kong remains. As such, he acts nearly the same when released from a crate as he does if the Kongs transform into him using a barrel, although he flies much slower when he is carrying the Kongs as he is slowed down by their weight. Squawks is also the first Animal Friend to fight a boss, having to fight King Zing, the leader of the Zingers, in his lair in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.

The following levels contain Squawks in both Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Land 2, unless otherwise stated:
 * Levels


 * Squawks's Shaft
 * Bramble Blast (Bonus Round only in Donkey Kong Land 2)
 * Bramble Scramble
 * Target Terror (Donkey Kong Country 2 only; Bonus Round only)
 * King Zing Sting (Boss)
 * Parrot Chute Panic (Bonus Round only in Donkey Kong Country 2)
 * Castle Crush (Donkey Kong Country 2 only)
 * Toxic Tower
 * Screech's Sprint
 * Animal Antics (Donkey Kong Country 2 only)

Parrot Chute Panic introduces a second, blue parrot known as Quawks, who does not shoot eggs, and merely slowly descends down pits with the Kongs. In the monochromatic Donkey Kong Land 2, the two birds share a single sprite model.

Donkey Kong Country 3 / Donkey Kong Land III
Squawks remains unchanged from his Donkey Kong Country 2 and Donkey Kong Land 2 depiction in the next pair of games in the series, Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble and Donkey Kong Land III.

The following levels contain Squawks:
 * Levels


 * Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble
 * Springin' Spiders
 * Low-G Labyrinth (Bonus Round)
 * Pot Hole Panic
 * Stampede Sprint (Bonus Round)
 * Swoopy Salvo


 * Donkey Kong Land III
 * Minky Mischief
 * Miller Instinct
 * Redwood Rampage
 * Ugly Ducting
 * Kuchuka Karnage (Bonus Round)
 * Rainforest Rumble
 * Ghoulish Grotto

Donkey Kong 64
Squawks returns in Donkey Kong 64, where he is the same size as in his original appearance. It is he who first informs Donkey Kong that his Golden Bananas were stolen by the vile King K. Rool. In this adventure, Squawks fulfills a variety of roles. He acts as a guide and provides information to the Kongs, carries Tiny Kong in his claws if the young Kong shrinks herself and carries a lantern in dark caves (just like in the original Donkey Kong Country).

Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
Squawks appears as a common item in the racing game, Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. There, he can be sent out by a racer to attack the player in front of them. Once the bird makes his way to a player, he will hover around the victim for a short amount of time, causing them to lose Wild Moves for a few moments.

Donkey Kong Country Returns
In Donkey Kong Country Returns, Squawks appears as an item sold by Cranky for 15 Banana Coins in his own shop. The player is allowed to buy an unlimited amount of Squawks if they can afford it. He helps the Kongs find Puzzle Pieces when purchased. When the Kongs are traveling through a level, the parrot begins to yell from the bottom left corner of the screen when an undiscovered Puzzle Piece is near. Therefore, the player is given a hint to the piece's location. Squawks can also find switches in the Factory world; finding all switches opens the path to the Feather Fiend.

In Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, he has the same purpose as in the previous game. However, if player chooses the New Mode at the start of the game, he will cost only 5 Banana Coins.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Squawks returns in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with the same purpose as in the previous game and its remake; to help the player find puzzle pieces in levels. He can be purchased from Funky's Fly 'n' Buy for 10 Banana Coins.

Donkey Kong Country
Squawks appears in the second part of the Club Nintendo comic "Donkey Kong Country" as an ally of Donkey and Diddy Kong. He is given to them by Candy Kong at her Save Point, and he brings them to a cave. Inside, the Kongs get attacked by a Kritter. With the help of Squawks, who uses his torch to project Donkey's shadow onto the wall, the Kongs scare the enemy away. After this event, Diddy and Donkey leave Squawks and proceed.

Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24
In "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", a comic published in the same magazine, Squawks is seen conducting an "automatic parrot wake-up service" to get the Kongs off their palms in the morning. He uses a microphone and speakers to tell a joke. Diddy calls Squawks a "dumb parrot" and claims that he is telling the same joke every morning.

Trivia

 * Early in Donkey Kong Country's development, Donkey Kong was initially meant to use a mining helmet in "dark levels", and is depicted wearing it in two pre-release artworks. The item was eventually scrapped and replaced by Squawks.
 * In Bonus Bananza, the player can guess "Squawks," "Squeaks," and "Flapper" when determining Squawks's name.
 * Starting in Donkey Kong Country Returns, Squawks has been given two backwards-pointing toes just like a real parrot. In previous games, he was portrayed with only one.