Editing Nitpicker

|image=[[File:DKJ Nitpicker Artwork.png|150px]]<br>Artwork for ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]''

|latest_appearance=''[[WarioWare: Move It!]]'' ([[List of games by date#2023|2023]])

|variants=[[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird (''Donkey Kong'' series)]]<br>[[Bird (Mario vs. Donkey Kong series)|Bird (''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series)]]<br>[[Hawks]]<br>[[Kaibādo]]

'''Nitpickers''' are avian [[List of enemies|enemies]] first appearing in ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' Ever since their original appearance, Nitpickers and their successors have remained largely unchanged in behavior. Their name references the practice of {{wp|nitpicking}}, which refers to fixating on inconsequential details for criticism, though them being birds likely references how some birds such as {{wp|oxpecker}}s eat parasites - a literal version of "nitpicking."

 

A flock of Nitpickers<ref>{{cite|language=en-us|date=1985|title=''Donkey Kong Jr.'' NES instruction booklet|page=5|publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref><ref>Instruction manual for Atari 8-bit port{{page needed}}</ref><ref>Instruction manual for Atari 7800 port{{page needed}}</ref> (also known as '''Stookybirds''')<ref>Instruction manuals for ColecoVision, Intellivision, and Coleco Adam ports{{page needed}}</ref> is released by [[Mario]] to impede [[Donkey Kong Jr.]] from progressing in the [[Jump Board Scene]] in ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]''. The birds are depicted yellow, having a distinct magenta coloration on their wings and beaks; likewise, they are slender and bear an unflinching attitude. They proceed in flying in a straight line after being sent by Mario, traveling along a wide platform. They then descend into the small opening in the platform, continuing their flight thereafter in the opposite direction, under the platform. Occasionally, Nitpickers drop [[egg]]s when turning the other direction. The eggs, as well as the birds themselves, are harmful to Donkey Kong Jr. and can drain one of his lives upon coming into contact. On the other hand, Nitpickers can be defeated by having [[fruit]] dropped on them.

Along with [[Snapjaw]]s, Mario employs another flock of Nitpickers (also known as [[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird]]s) in the [[Chain Scene]]. In the Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, and Coleco Adam ports, the two types share the same sprite. A Nitpicker also appears on the {{file link|DKJ Instruction Banner.jpg|arcade cabinet instructions}}.

Nitpickers, referred to as '''birds''',<ref>''Game & Watch Donkey Kong Jr.'' English instruction.</ref> return in ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' for the [[Game & Watch]]. In the [[Donkey Kong Jr. (New Wide Screen)|New Wide Screen version]], they follow only a straight path from left to right and pass by a set of vines located at the bottom of the screen. They spawn at the left side of the screen, do not drop eggs, and do not steer back as they did in the original game, merely disappearing after encountering the right side of the screen. In the [[Donkey Kong Jr. (Table Top)|Table Top/Panorama Screen version]], they come from the top and zigzag their way down the screen. In ''[[Donkey Kong II]]'', birds from the previous game's New Wide Screen version reappear for the top screen in which they zigzag downwards.

A single Nitpicker appears in the +-×÷ Exercise mode of ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. Math]]'', though not in ''[[Donkey Kong Jr. + Jr. Sansū Lesson]]''. It flies over the problem numbers on the left side of the screen. When Donkey Kong Jr. solves a problem, it will drop an egg next to the corresponding number.

In the [[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Game Boy version]] of ''[[Donkey Kong (Game Boy)|Donkey Kong]]'', Nitpickers are succeeded by several birds that retain and mix their behaviors. In order of appearance, these consist of [[Hawks]], [[Kaibādo]], and the ostensibly returning [[Bird (Donkey Kong series)|Bird]]s. They spawn from [[Bird Nest|nest]]s that are mostly placed high above the ground, subsequently performing three flights across the room. The end of one flight is marked by their encounter with one of the room's margins, after which they descend a little and change direction. They occasionally drop lethal eggs on [[Mario]], provided the protagonist walks underneath it.

Nitpickers are featured as minor impediments in the episode "The Lost City of Kongoland" of ''[[Captain N: The Game Master]]'', where they resemble vultures. They are depicted with long tubular beaks, tapering heads, and bulging eyes, as well as straight and focused looks. In the show, Nitpickers are summoned after [[List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate#Simon|Simon Belmont]] blows into a flute from [[Dr. Light|Dr. Wright]] while he and the rest of the N Team are cruising down a river in Kongoland. Their beaks are said to be poisonous, and Kevin warns his crew to take cover. The birds immediately show and try to raid the team's vessel, but as they swoop down, Princess Lana draws a bazooka and counter-attacks them with large cork projectiles.

While the [[Mario vs. Donkey Kong (series)|''Mario vs. Donkey Kong'' series]] does not feature the original Nitpickers, it does feature a [[bird (Mario vs. Donkey Kong series)|variation]].

===''WarioWare'' series===

====''WarioWare: Twisted!''====

In ''[[WarioWare: Twisted!]]'', one Nitpicker has to be avoided by Donkey Kong Jr. as he climbs two ropes in the second difficulty of the [[Donkey Kong Jr. (WarioWare: Twisted!)|Donkey Kong Jr.]] microgame. It flies on a straight line from left to right, across the ropes.

 

 

In ''[[WarioWare: Move It!]]'', one Nitpicker acts as an obstacle in a different [[Donkey Kong Jr. (WarioWare: Move It!)|Donkey Kong Jr.]] microgame, where it must be avoided by a voxelated Donkey Kong Jr. as he climbs the vines to reach the top of the platform.

Nitpickers<ref>{{cite|language=en|format=PDF|date=1985|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAAUE.pdf|title=''Ice Climber'' instruction booklet|page=5}}</ref> are one of the main enemies in ''[[nwiki:Ice Climber|Ice Climber]]'' and ''[[nwiki:VS. Ice Climber|VS. Ice Climber]]''. They are colored red and can fly between levels on each mountain, unlike other enemies that are locked to one level, and loosely pursue [[List of fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Melee#Ice Climbers|Popo and Nana]]. A single hammer hit defeats them. This depiction of Nitpicker is absent from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', unlike other ''Ice Climber'' enemies, but they still do appear in some ''Ice Climber''-themed [[microgame]]s in the ''WarioWare'' series.

==Profiles and statistics==

|name=ニットピッカー (JP) / Nitpicker (EN)

|artwork=[[File:Nitpicker Perfect.png|150px]]

|shuzoku=フライ{{ruby|族|ぞく}}

|tojo_gemu={{ruby|ＪＲ|ジュニア}}

|desc='''<big>タマゴを捨てる変な鳥</big><br>

マリオの命令でジュニアを攻撃する鳥のモンスター。自分のタマゴを武器にするという、とんでもないヤツだ。動きが遅いので、タマゴを落とす場所さえ、覚えればこわくない。<ref name=Daijiten>{{cite|language=ja|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|date=1994|title=「パーフェクト版 マリオキャラクター大事典」 (''Perfect Ban Mario Character Daijiten'')|page=[https://i.imgur.com/dNS2985.jpeg 143]}}</ref>

|tribe=Fly clan

|disposition=Irresponsible

|game_appearances=Jr.

|eng_desc='''''<big>Strange bird discarding its eggs</big><br>

DKJR Artwork Nitpicker.png|''Donkey Kong Jr.'' (NES)

NES Remix Stamp 054.png|Stamp from ''[[NES Remix 2]]''

|Jpn=ニットピッカー<ref name=Daijiten/>

|JpnR=Nittopikkā

|Jpn2=鳥<ref>''Game & Watch Donkey Kong Jr.'' Japanese instruction.</ref>

|Jpn2R=Tori

|JpnM=Nitpicker

|Jpn2M=Bird (Game & Watch and ''Famicom Remix'')

|Fre=Casse-pied<ref name=int>''Donkey Kong Junior'' Atari computer version manual (International){{page needed}}</ref>

|Fre2=Bec d'acier<ref>French ColecoVision manual{{page needed}}</ref>

|FreM=Slang meaning annoying pest or pain in the neck

|Fre2M=Steel beak

|Ger=Nittpicker<ref name=int/>

|Ger2=Spukvogel<ref>German ColecoVision manual{{page needed}}</ref>

|GerM=Nitpicker

|Ger2M=Spookbird

|Ita=Pestifero<ref name=int/>

|Ita2=Uccello<ref>''[[Donkey Kong II]]'' Italian booklet{{page needed}}</ref>

|Ita3=Volatile<ref>{{cite|title=''[[Donkey Kong Jr. (game)|Donkey Kong Jr.]]'' (3DS - [[Virtual Console]]) Italian e-manual|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite|title=''[[NES Remix]]'', ''Donkey Kong Jr.'' level 3|quote=Sconfiggi 2 volatili usando dei frutti!|language=it|publisher=Nintendo}}</ref>

|ItaM=Pestiferous

|Ita3M=Bird, a word mostly used for unspecified flying creatures

|ChiS=乌鸦<ref>{{cite|language=zh-hans|url=www.ique.com/DSi/DSiWare/game_and_watch|title=GAME&WATCH|publisher=ique.com|accessdate=June 27, 2021}}</ref>