Squawks
- Not to be confused with Quawks.
| Squawks | |
|---|---|
 Squawks in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze | |
| Species | Parrot |
| First appearance | Donkey Kong Country (1994) |
| Latest appearance | Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (spirit cameo) (2018) |
- “Squawks is the one animal that you cannot ride, but he is helpful nonetheless. You can find him in the darkest cave level. Once you release him, he will hold a flashlight that will help light your path. Because he is so essential to success in this darkened level, he's not too hard to find when you need him.”
- —Donkey Kong Country instruction booklet, page 25
Squawks is a green-feathered parrot and an Animal Friend who first appears in Donkey Kong Country. He frequently assists Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and the other Kongs on their journeys. Squawks also has a related purple variant named Quawks, who appears in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
History
Donkey Kong Country series
Donkey Kong Country
In Donkey Kong Country, Squawks only appears in one level, Torchlight Trouble. His Animal Crate appears at the start, and when Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong break it open, Squawks begins to follow the Kongs through the dark cavern. Squawks is about half the size of the Kongs, and he carries a bright lantern with his talons and uses it to light up the surrounding area, which enables Donkey Kong and Diddy to see a bit of the path ahead. Squawks is the only Animal Friend who cannot be mounted and to not have an associated animal token and its own corresponding area.
Early in Donkey Kong Country's development, Donkey Kong was meant to use a mining helmet in "dark levels", and is depicted wearing it in two pre-release promotional renders. The item was eventually scrapped and replaced with Squawks.[1]
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
In Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Squawks not only has a much larger role, but he was also made larger, around the size of Diddy and Dixie Kong. Squawks no longer carries a lantern around, but he can instead carry the Kongs with his talons and fly them around. Squawks still retains a somewhat similar appearance as before, but he no longer carries around a lantern. Squawks can attack other enemies by spitting out an unlimited number of eggs. In some levels, the Kongs can ride Squawks after freeing him from his Animal Crate. In some other levels, the Kongs can directly transform into Squawks by jumping into an Animal Barrel. In both cases, the player can control Squawks until he passes the No Animal Sign. Squawks can fly around faster when transformed into, because he is not slowed by carrying the weight of the Kongs. Squawks does not fly away if he gets hit by an enemy or obstacle, but instead drops a Kong from his talons. He first appears in the level Squawks's Shaft, which also features his name in the title. Squawks also fights King Zing at the end of Krazy Kremland, in the boss level King Zing Sting, and Squawks is the first Animal Friend in the Donkey Kong Country series required to fight a boss, let alone fight one. In the second half of Screech's Sprint, Squawks races Kaptain K. Rool's pet bird, Screech.
In one of the quizzes of Swanky's Bonus Bonanza, the player can guess "Squawks," "Squeaks," and "Flapper" when determining Squawks's name.
- Level appearances
- Squawks's Shaft
- Bramble Blast
- Bramble Scramble
- Target Terror (Bonus Level)
- Parrot Chute Panic (Bonus Level)
- Windy Well (Bonus Level)
- Castle Crush
- Toxic Tower
- Screech's Sprint
- Animal Antics
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
Squawks makes his fourth appearance in Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, where he is unchanged from his previous appearance in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest. However, Squawks is less common because he only appears in five levels, and two of them are only within a Bonus Level: Springin' Spiders, Low-G Labyrinth's second Bonus Level, Pot Hole Panic, Stampede Sprint's second Bonus Level, and lastly Swoopy Salvo.
Donkey Kong Country Returns / Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
In Donkey Kong Country Returns and its Nintendo 3DS version, Squawks is sold for 15 Banana Coins (five Banana Coins in the Nintendo 3DS version's New Mode) at Cranky Kong's Shop. When purchased, Squawks appears at the bottom-left corner of the screen in a level. He assists the player in locating undiscovered Puzzle Pieces throughout that level. Squawks yells whenever an undiscovered Puzzle Piece is nearby. Squawks can also find switches in the Factory world, which are needed to open the path to Feather Fiend. The Kongs use Squawks an unlimited number of times if they can afford it. Additionally, while scrolling through the island map, the player can see Squawks circling around whatever world they are currently hovering over. Starting with this game, Squawks has two backwards-pointing toes just like a real parrot, whereas in previously-released games he was portrayed with only one.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Squawks returns in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and its Nintendo Switch port with the same purpose as in Donkey Kong Country Returns. He can be purchased from Funky's Fly 'n' Buy for 10 Banana Coins (5 in Funky Mode in the Nintendo Switch port).
Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle
In the 1995 novel Donkey Kong Country: Rumble in the Jungle, Squawks the Parrot makes an appearance within the interconnecting caves of several snow-capped mountains. Donkey, Diddy and Cranky Kong become trapped in the darkness of a large cave after an avalanche, while on their way to Big Ape City. Donkey Kong has the idea to call Squawks for help by crying out at the top of his lungs. Several minutes later, Squawks appears carrying a flashlight, and he agrees to show the Kongs the quickest route through the mountain. Squawks brings them to the cave exit which is closest to Big Ape City. After the Kongs thank Squawks, he returns to the caves and the Kongs proceed to the city.
Club Nintendo
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 DK’s shadow onto the wall, the Kongs scare the enemy away. After this event, Diddy and DK 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.
Super Mario RPG
According to Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars monster designer Kazuyuki Kurashima, the parrot on Valentina's head is a homage to Squawks.[2]
Donkey Kong Land series
Squawks appears in the last two installments of the Donkey Kong Land series: Donkey Kong Land 2 and Donkey Kong Land III, based on his appearances in Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! respectively. In both games, Squawks can only be transformed into from entering a Squawks Barrel, as neither game allows the Kongs to ride any Animal Friends cannot ride Squawks due to Animal Crates being removed. Squawks and Quawks have the same sprite due to the Game Boy's monochromatic screen.
In Donkey Kong Land 2, Squawks only appears in five levels, one of them being exclusively in a Bonus Level: Squawks's Shaft, Bramble Blast's second Bonus Level, Bramble Scramble, Toxic Tower, and lastly Screech's Sprint. In Donkey Kong Land III, Squawks appears in seven levels, one of them similarly being only in a Bonus Level: Minky Mischief, Miller Instinct, Redwood Rampage, Ugly Ducting, Kuchuka Karnage's second Bonus Level, Rainforest Rumble, and lastly Ghoulish Grotto.
Donkey Kong 64
In Donkey Kong 64, Squawks first appears in the opening cutscene, where he informs Donkey Kong that his Golden Bananas were stolen by King K. Rool. During the adventure, Squawks has various roles: he provides instructions to the Kongs at different parts of their journey. Squawks also carries a lantern in some subterranean locations, a role taken from Donkey Kong Country. This is the first game where Squawks talks, and he opens most of his dialogue with "Squawk!" and ends them with "Bwark!". Some cutscenes show more than one Squawks. In DK Isles, if the Kongs play on some Music Pads, Squawks rewards them a Golden Banana. At Angry Aztec, when Tiny Kong shrinks to her Mini-Monkey size and plays on a Music Pad, Squawks shows up to carry her into a tower where she races the Beetle. In Fungi Forest, there are two more opportunities for Tiny to ride Squawks: first inside of a tree to get a seed and secondly to reach the top of a giant beanstalk. Unlike the Donkey Kong Country games, Squawks cannot carry any of the Kongs while they are at regular size.
Picross NP Vol. 8
Squawks makes a cameo appearance in Picross NP Vol. 8 as one of the images that must be cleared.
Diddy Kong Racing DS
A Squawks has a very minor appearance in the opening cutscene for Diddy Kong Racing DS where it gives a letter to Diddy from Timber to inform him of Wizpig's invasion of Timber's Island.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
Squawks appears as a common red balloon item in Donkey Kong Barrel Blast. A racer can send out Squawks to target the racer in front of them. When Squawks makes his way to a player, he hovers around them for a short amount of time: the racer cannot use Wild Moves while this occurs. Squawks attacks the racer whenever they attempt a Wild Move, causing them to lose ten bananas. Squawks has a longer attack duration if he is summoned by a Kong instead of a Kremling.
Super Smash Bros. series
Squawks only appears in two Super Smash Bros. games, both in the form of an item. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Squawks appears as a trophy, and in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he is an Advanced support spirit, which removes fog or poisonous clouds from certain spirit battles.
Super Mario Odyssey
In Super Mario Odyssey, one of the roads in New Donk City is called "Squawks Park Street".
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
In the Donkey Kong Adventure story of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, one of Donkey Kong's Bwananarang weapons, the Law of the Macaw, is designed after the appearance of Squawks the Parrot. The weapon's description jokingly states that "enemies are about to learn a serious lesson courtesy of the school of hard Squawks".
Profiles and statistics
Donkey Kong Country series
Donkey Kong Country
- Instruction booklet bio: Squawks is the one animal that you cannot ride, but he is helpful nonetheless. You can find him in the darkest cave level. Once you release him, he will hold a flashlight that will help light your path. Because he is so essential to success in this darkened level, he's not too hard to find when you need him.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
- Instruction booklet bio: Squawks's role in Diddy's new adventure is much more important. Rather than just carrying a flashlight, he can now lift both Diddy and Dixie for high-flying adventures. Squawks can also spit eggs at enemies if you press the
button.
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!
- Instruction booklet bio: He can fly, but he's no lightweight! The egg-spitting Squawks returns from previous adventures to lift Dixie Kong and Kiddy Kong to higher ground! Squawks has relatives who can pick up barrels with their claws and bomb the baddies below.
Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Instruction booklet bio: Squawks will help you locate Puzzle Pieces.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- Wii U electronic manual bio: Alerts you when a puzzle piece is nearby by squawking. You can take one Squawks with you for each level.
- Official Facebook page of Nintendo Australia and New Zealand:
The best thing about Squawks is he can help you find even the most deviously hidden puzzle pieces in Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
He would certainly come in handy when you can't find your keys in the morning…[3]
Donkey Kong Land 2
- Virtual Console electronic manual bio: Press
to fly. Press 
to fire eggs at enemies.
Donkey Kong Barrel Blast
- Instruction booklet bio: Hops on the opponent in front of you and prevents them from using Wild Moves. (Boost: The effect will last longer.)
Super Smash Bros series
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
| Trophy Squawks | ||
| ||
| Category: Series Related | ||
| How to unlock: Random | ||
| Squawks has filled more roles than most animal friends. Remember when he carried a much-needed light through the caves? Or when he carried the Kongs over danger? Good times, good times... Lately Squawks has helped by letting you know when Puzzle Pieces are near. So helpful! (American English) | ||
| Whether lighting their way in the dark or carrying them through the air, Squawks the Parrot is a reliable ally of Donkey Kong and co. Lately, he's taken to sitting on branches and letting his friends know when there are puzzle pieces nearby. Quite the little helper! (British English) | ||
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
| Spirit #152 Squawks | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Series/game | Donkey Kong Series |
| Type | Support | |
| Slots | 2 | |
| Class | Advanced | |
| Strength / effect(s) | Fog Immunity | |
| How to obtain | World of Light (Light Realm); Spirit Board | |
| Spirit battle | Opponent(s) | Duck Hunt |
| Conditions |
Rule: Fog
| |
| Stage | The Great Cave Offensive | |
| Song | Ice Cave Chant |
List of appearances
Gallery
- For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Squawks.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Land III (GBC)
The Super Mario Bros. Movie concept art
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | オウムのスコークス[4] Ōmu no Sukōkusu |
Squawks the Parrot | |
| Chinese (simplified) | 斯克库斯[?] Sīkèkùsī |
Squawks | |
| Chinese (traditional) | 斯克庫斯[?] Sīkèkùsī |
Squawks | |
| French | Squawks le perroquet[5] | Squawks the parrot | |
| German | Squawks der Papagei[?] | Squawks the Parrot | |
| Italian | Squawks il pappagallo (before Donkey Kong Country 2)[?] | Squawks the parrot | |
| Pagal il pappagallo[?] | Pagal the parrot; from pappagallo ("parrot") | ||
| Portuguese | Squawks[?] | - | |
| Russian | Чик[?] Chik |
From onomatopoeia чик-чирик (chik-chirik, a bird's call) | |
| Spanish | Squawks el Loro[?] | Squawks the Parrot |
References
- ^ playtonicalMark (July 5, 2015). @playtonicalMark @wildvine47 @NujaviBardales @BringBackKRool @WinkySteve originally intended as the torch light for dark levels. Was replaced with Squawks. Twitter. Retrieved July 6, 2015. (Archived November 21, 2015, 18:03:07 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ kurashimakaz (June 23, 2023). This is a homage.. Twitter. Retrieved June 23, 2023. (Archived June 23, 2023, 08:44:03 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ NintendoAUNZ (March 18, 2014). Facebook. Retrieved October 8, 2014. (Archived October 8, 2023, 21:42:41 UTC via archive.today.)
- ^ All the characters named on the Japanese website for the Game Boy Advance version of Donkey Kong Country 3. Retrieved January 31, 2014. (Archived November 24, 2005, 19:36:41 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Ensemble d'extension Concert de Dixie Kong dans la jungle. LEGO.com (European French). Retrieved June 7, 2023. (Archived April 28, 2024, 01:11:16 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast | ||
|---|---|---|
| Playable characters |
Kongs | Donkey Kong (Ultra Barrel) • Diddy Kong • Dixie Kong • Lanky Kong • Tiny Kong • Funky Kong • Wrinkly Kong • Cranky Kong |
| Kremlings | Kritter • Kip • Kass • Klump • Kalypso • Kludge • Kopter • King K. Rool | |
| Non-playable character | Candy Kong | |
| Cups | Topaz Cup | DK Jungle • Salty Sea • Mt. Dynamite |
| Sapphire Cup | Scorching Canyon • DK Jungle Falls • Shimmering Sea • Mammoth Glacier | |
| Diamond Cup | Open Ocean • Mt. Dynamite Remix • Parched Palace • Cranky's Temple | |
| Platinum Cup | Dynamite Run • DK Jungle Sunset • Alpine Peak • Temple Heights • Cosmic Highway | |
| Other | Gallery | |
- Parrots
- Animal Friends
- Playable characters
- Diddy Kong Racing
- Donkey Kong 64 characters
- Donkey Kong Barrel Blast items
- Donkey Kong Country characters
- Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest characters
- Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! characters
- Donkey Kong Country Returns characters
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze characters
- Donkey Kong Land 2 characters
- Donkey Kong Land III characters
- LEGO Super Mario characters
- Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophies
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate spirits
