Loftwing
Loftwings (pronounced /ˈlɒftˌwɪŋ/ LOFT-wing and /ˈlɔːftˌwɪŋ/ LAWFT-wing)[citation needed],(SeriesThe Legend of Zelda Series | SSSkyward Sword)[2] also known as Guardian Birds,(SSSkyward Sword)[3] are a recurring species in The Legend of Zelda series. They are birds used by the citizens of Skyloft to fly around the different regions and are used during the annual Wing Ceremony.[3]
Characteristics
Skyward Sword
It is a custom in Skyloft for each person to have their own Loftwing, which is a symbol of the divine protection granted by the Goddess Hylia.[3] A Loftwing and its rider have a special connection, as Skyloftians consider themselves to be one half of a pair until they are made whole by the Loftwings.[3] When a Skyloftian is young, they meet their bird companion under the Statue of the Goddess.[4] Having a Loftwing and being able to ride it separates the kids from the adults.[5]
Loftwings cannot fly during the nighttime since they have a terrible night vision, and only those which have been specially trained can fly in the dark.[6] They can also be taught a special move called the Spiral Charge, but since it is a stressful move for Loftwings to perform, it is usually only taught to senior Knight Academy students.[7][8]
The crest of the Goddess Hylia is a symbol of a Loftwing, which bears resemblance to many other symbols in The Legend of Zelda series. The Hylian Crest found on every version of the Hylian Shield is a symbol of Link's Crimson Loftwing.[9] The crest of the Royal Family also depicts the image of a Loftwing in its design.
Link's Loftwing is a special, rare breed which had previously been thought to have gone extinct.[10][11]
Other Appearances
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Under the name of a regular Loftwing, Link's Crimson Loftwing appears as a Support Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. When equipped, it creates a strong wind during battle.
A Link to the Past (Ishinomori)
In chapter 3, Sahasrahla's friends and wife give Link a pair of wings-glider to quickly reach the Desert of Mystery. The librarian explains the wings are made with the feathers of a bird capable of carrying a person. In the Italian translation, published long after Skyward Sword released, the bird in question is said to be a Loftwing.[12]
Trivia
- Loftwings are modeled after the Shoebill, a species of bird native to tropical east Africa. The idea for their curled tails came from one of the designers' pet shiba.[1]
- Many Loftwings bear characteristics similar to their owners:
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Names | Meanings |
 Japanese | ロフトバード (Rofutobādo) (SSHDSkyward Sword HD | SSBUSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate) | |
   ChineseTRTraditional | 洛夫特飛鳥 (Luòfūtè fēiniǎo) (SSHDSkyward Sword HD) | |
 ChineseSISimplified | 洛夫特飞鸟 (Luòfūtè fēiniǎo) (SSHDSkyward Sword HD)[18] | |
 Danish | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[15] | |
 Dutch | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[16] | |
 Finnish | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[20] | |
 FrenchEUEuropean | Célestrier (SSSkyward Sword)[13] | Portmanteau of "céleste" (celestial) and destrier. |
 Greek | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[22] | |
 PortugueseEUEuropean | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[19] | |
 Russian | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[17] | |
 SpanishLALatin American | Neburí (SSSkyward Sword)[21] | |
 SpanishEUEuropean | Pelícaro (SSSkyward Sword)[23] | |
 Swedish | Loftwing (SSSkyward Sword)[14] | |
| This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference. | ||
Gallery
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Artwork of Link riding his Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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Wing Ceremony from Skyward Sword
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Zelda's Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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Groose's Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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Cawlin's Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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Strich's Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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Orielle's Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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Eagus's Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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The golden Loftwing from the Wing Ceremony from Skyward Sword
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Sprite of the golden Loftwing from the Wing Ceremony from Skyward Sword
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Concept art of a Loftwing from Skyward Sword
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A promotional image from the 2021 Winter issue of the Nintendo Magazine featuring Link and Zelda's Loftwings in Skyward Sword HD
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Icon of the Golden Loftwing from Skyward Sword HD
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Amiibo of Zelda with her Loftwing
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Loftwings are modeled after birds called shoebills, and the idea for their curled tails came from the designer's pet shiba.
(Hyrule Historia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 9) - ↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 62
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3
As you know, each of us in Skyloft is but one half of a pair. We are only made whole by our Loftwings, the guardian birds that the goddess bestows upon each of us as a symbol of her divine protection.
— Gaepora (Skyward Sword) - ↑
When we are young, every one of us meets our Loftwing under the great Statue of the Goddess. It's quite a big moment, as I'm sure you recall.
— Gaepora (Skyward Sword) - ↑
Here in Skyloft, it's being able to ride a Loftwing that separates the kids from the adults.
— N/A (Skyward Sword) - ↑
Listen up. Loftwings can't fly at night! They have terrible night vision, and only the few who have received special training can fly in the dark. If you really need to fly, you'll just have to wait for daylight.
— Pipit (Skyward Sword) - ↑
The Spiral Charge is a stressful maneuver for most any Loftwing to pull off. But you and that red bird of yours...I'll bet you can handle it without a sweat!
— N/A (Skyward Sword) - ↑
This is a technique that only senior Knight Academy students who have mastered high-level flight skills are allowed to perform.
— Owlan (Skyward Sword) - ↑
Our hero, who rescues the land that will later become Hyrule, rides a red bird. This is why the mark of a bird appears on his shield. However, since the design had already appeared, was this some herald of fate to come?
(Hyrule Historia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 9) - ↑
Of course, that Crimson Loftwing of yours is something special. I'd feel pretty confident riding him, too!
— Pipit (Skyward Sword) - ↑
The bird that came to him was a Crimson Loftwing. It is a breed so rare we were sure for some time that it had vanished from the line.
— Gaepora (Skyward Sword) - ↑
Queste sono le volo-piume, appartenevano a un Solcanubi, un uccello che i cavalieri di Hyrule cavalcavano per scendere in battaglia!
(These are the fly-feathers, they belong to a Loftwing, a bird that Hyrule Knights used to rode to jump into battle!) — Librarian (A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori, Italian version) - ↑ Hyrule Historia, Les Éditions Soleil, pg. 9 (SSSkyward Sword)
- ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 77
- ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 87
- ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 37
- ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 117
- ↑
我的洛夫特飞鸟有没有好好地把LinkAppears in-game as the player's chosen name.叫醒呢？
— Princess Zelda (Skyward Sword HD, Simplified Chinese version) - ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 57
- ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 97
- ↑
¡Me alegro que mi neburí haya conseguido despertarte! La promesa que me hiciste... Sabía que se te iba a olvidar.
— Zelda (Skyward Sword, Latin American Spanish version) - ↑ Skyward Sword manual, European Limited Edition Pack version, pg. 107
- ↑
Mi pelícaro se las ha arreglado para despertarte, ¿eh? Nuestra promesa... Seguro se te había olvidado por completo.
— Zelda (Skyward Sword, European Spanish version)