Welcome back to the series where the Hylians of Skyward Sword take a personality test to determine which bird they are. In other words, we explore the birds that inspired the names and designs of the sky-dwelling people, as alluded to in Hyrule Historia. We covered the members of the Knight Academy in part one, and in this follow-up, we’ll visit the Bazaar as well as some of the neighboring floating islands where other merchants can be found. So jump on your Loftwing and let’s fly!
Croo
It’s possible that this old-timer found relaxing at the restaurant in the Bazaar was named after the cooing sound that some birds make, but the more likely inspiration is the crow. Further evidence of this comes from his name in the French version of the game, Corvus, which is the same name of a genus of birds that include crows and ravens.
Dovos
This food-lover takes his name from the dove which, despite their reputation for being graceful symbols of peace, are really just pigeons. Say that to these birds and hear what it sounds like when doves cry. Pictured here is a mourning dove.
Gondo
Gondo’s name is Shona, a language spoken in Zimbabwe, is “eagle.” However, it could also be derived from condor, a type of vulture found in the Americas. This would help describe Gondo’s penchant for collecting scraps. Pictured here is the Andean condor, which the internet says is a real bird and not a creature from The Dark Crystal.
Luv & Bertie
The new parents and purveyors of the potion stand take their names from the lovebird, a genus of small, colorful parrots native to Africa. The birds gained their name from the strong, monogamous bonds they form and their tendency to spend long periods of time sitting close together. Dawww.
Peatrice
The manager of the item-check stand and, depending on how you choose to play, Link’s infatuated or spurned love interest gets her name from a combination of “peahen” and either “Beatrice” or possibly “rectrice” (the flight feathers on the tail of a bird).
Piper
The Bazaar restaurant’s chef draws her name from sandpiper, a family of shorebirds that eat small insects in the sand while running back and forth in what looks like an effort to avoid getting their feet wet. Pictured here is the stilt sandpiper. Piper’s customers will wait a long time for a taste of her piping hot food!
Rupin
Rupin’s name is likely a combination of “robin” and “rupee,” given this pushy merchant’s love of money. His name also may be a corruption of “Rubin.” Pictured here is the American robin.
Sparrot
The fortuneteller’s name may be a combination of “sparrow” and “tarot,” the card deck used for divination. This would mean the pronunciation of his name is just like that of the lovely little bird, which like Sparrot’s predictive powers, blows my mind. Pictured here is a Savannah sparrow.
Dodoh
Dodoh draws his name from the extinct dodo bird, an odd-looking creature with an unearned reputation for stupidity. At first, I felt bad for the comparison, but then I remembered Dodoh’s minigame and the way he sadly plays his trumpet when you lose, and the feeling quickly dissipated.
Peater
Like his daughter Peatrice, Peater’s name comes from the peafowl (in his case, peacock) and is a play on the name Peter. Known for their colorful, ostentatious displays, it is funny to compare the peacock to Peater, whose days of peak physical form seem to be in the rearview mirror.
Pumm & Kina
The father/daughter duo is not named after a bird, but a pumpkin. It seems they were destined to own a giant pumpkin-shaped tavern and pumpkin patch on a pumpkin-shaped island.
That does it for this installment. Stay tuned for the next and final part, where we will visit all the other Hylians of the sky.
