Expresso

Expresso the Ostrich is an Animal Buddy in the Donkey Kong series who first appeared in Donkey Kong Country as one of four rideable Animal Buddies (along with Rambi the Rhinoceros, Enguarde the Swordfish and Winky the Frog) and also as one of two who are birds (along with Squawks the Parrot).

Donkey Kong Country
In Donkey Kong Country, Expresso can run at fast speeds and glide through the air by flapping his wings, but he has no offensive capabilities and has no way to defend himself against threats; some small enemies may pass under his legs, however, leaving him unharmed.

Levels:
 * Temple Tempest
 * Orang-utan Gang
 * Ice Age Alley
 * Misty Mine

Donkey Kong Land
Expresso reappears in Donkey Kong Country's semi-sequel Donkey Kong Land. He is one of the game's two Animal Buddies, the other being Rambi. In this game, Expresso's abilities remain largely the same as before, except he can defeat enemies by jumping on them. He can even defeat Zingers.

Levels:
 * Deck Trek
 * Mountain Mayhem
 * Landslide Leap
 * Collapsing Clouds

Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24
In the Club Nintendo comic "Donkey Kong in: Banana Day 24", Diddy and Dixie Kong are briefly seen riding Expresso to an airport.

Trivia

 * Aside from Donkey Kong Country's various remakes, Expresso has yet to reappear, though an identical ostrich, also known as Expresso appears in the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest.
 * The name "Expresso" is a combination of the words espresso (a coffee drink) and express (meaning "fast").
 * Though Expresso, along with several other ostriches, appeared in the trailer for the cancelled game Donkey Kong Racing, it is unknown if Expresso was going to be a ridable character or not.
 * Expresso can be found in the course Jinxy's Dunes in the game Banjo-Pilot.
 * Cranky Kong referenced Expresso in the Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest instruction manual by saying, "A more tragic looking bunch of useless no-hopers you'll never see! I liked Expresso and Winky--where have they gone?", as well as in the Donkey Kong 64 instruction manual with, "I just hope they've included poor old Winky and Expresso this time instead of that bone-brained rhino that always seems to get in the games."
 * Expresso's shoes bear a resemblance to the Turbo Trainers in Banjo-Kazooie.
 * He is similar to an Ostro from Super Mario Bros. 2, as both are ostriches the hero can ride. But Ostro is an enemy while Expresso never attacks Donkey Kong.
 * When Expresso touches an enemy or gets touched by an enemy, his scream is the same as when Mini-Neckies are defeated in the SNES version of Donkey Kong Country.