Sand Bird

The Sand Bird is a legendary bird that Mario helps to hatch in Super Mario Sunshine. Plungelos were walking on the mirrors near the Shine Tower, which housed and protected the egg. The tower has a device at the top that gathers sunlight and directs it at the egg. With the Plungeloes on the mirrors, the light couldn't warm the Sand Bird's egg. Fortunately, Mario defeated them and the Wiggler sleeping on the device.

After hatching it, a bonus area could be accessed, and is in fact the focus of the beach's fourth Episode. In the area, Mario rides the Sand Bird around a tower to collect eight Red Coins. The bird itself seems to be made of non-disentigrating Sand Blocks, and has no eyes. It can flap its wings and screech but cannot talk. Not much else is known about the creature.

Trivia

 * The event when the Sand Bird flies among towers in the sky resembles the Tower of the Wing Cap from Super Mario 64.
 * The Sand Sailer found in the Slipsand Galaxy in Super Mario Galaxy 2, although not identical, may be a subtle reference to the Sand Bird.