Most Popular Birds Who Became Famous in Pop Culture
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Famous dogs and cats get a lot of love — Hello Kitty, anyone? — but you may be surprised at how many popular birds there are in TV, movies and books. In fact, chances are your childhood included one or more of these feathered characters — several of which always provided comic relief in their roles.
From Tweety Bird to Hedwig, check out these 25 famous birds.
Tweety Bird
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1942, “A Tale of Two Kitties”
Why Tweety Bird Is So Popular
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Although most see Tweety Bird as a yellow canary, he was actually drawn as just a generic wild, baby bird. In his first appearances, he lived in a tree outside. Although his 1942 appearance was his first official one, he was also in a 1941 short called “The Cagey Canary.”
In 1947, he was brought inside and introduced to Sylvester the cat, and the rest is history.
Road Runner
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1949, “Fast and Furry-ous”
Why Road Runner Is So Popular
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You have to wonder if the modern-day “Fast and the Furious” movies knew the name of the very first Road Runner cartoon, featuring him and his adversary, the not-so-wiley Wile E. Coyote.
The Road Runner is a timeless cartoon character that hasn’t changed at all since his debut in 1949 as one of the famous Chuck Jones directed cartoons.
Daffy Duck
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1937, “Porky’s Duck Hunt”
Why Daffy Duck Is So Popular
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One of the oldest birds on this list, Daffy Duck has been around for decades and is a favorite of children and adults alike. According to the Chuck Jones website, his personality was, “something new to moviegoers: an assertive, completely unrestrained, combative protagonist.”
Over the years, Daffy’s personality changed — going from comedic to a greedy character, constantly jealous of Bugs Bunny and always wanting the spotlight.
Hei Hei
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 2016, “Moana”
Why Hei Hei Is So Popular
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Although a side character that does not talk in Disney’s “Moana,” for many, Hei Hei stole the show.
Depicted as rooster of some type, most likely a Bantam, Hei Hei is the comic relief, as he is not very bright and tends to fall off the boat a lot as well as eat stones instead of seeds.
Woody Woodpecker
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1940, “Knock, Knock”
Why Woody Woodpecker Is So Popular
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If you grew up on the old cartoons, then you know the unmistakable laugh that meant Woody Woodpecker was coming on. Walter Lantz, the cartoonist who created Woody Woodpecker, drew inspiration from the Pileated Woodpecker, which, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation has a distinctive call compared to other woodpeckers, “It's call is less of a ‘ha-hah, ha-ha-hah’ and more of a high-pitched, maniacal laugh.”
Yup, that about sums up Woody Woodpecker!
Donald Duck
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1934, “The Wise Little Hen”
Why Donald Duck Is So Popular
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Beating Daffy Duck by just a few years, Donald Duck is one old bird. In his very early appearance, he looked quite different; some may not even recognize him.
In his second appearance in 1934, “Orphans’ Benefit” is when his explosive temper was shown. It was an instant hit and became the basis for his personality from then on.
Big Bird
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Famous for being a: Live-action character
First appearance: 1969, “Sesame Street”
Why Big Bird Is So Popular
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More than likely, Big Bird was part of your childhood and taught you some important lessons about math, reading, friendship and more.
Standing at 8-feet-2, Big Bird learned to read and write on the show, teaching kids along the way.
Foghorn Leghorn
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1946, “Walky Talky Hawky”
Why Foghorn Leghorn Is So Popular
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Foghorn Leghorn was known for his somewhat annoying, catchphrase, “That’s a joke, ah say, that’s a joke, son.”
What many don’t know is that catchphrase was originally that of another live-action person character, Senator Claghorn, played by Kenny Delmar, from the radio show “The Fred Allen show.”
Iago
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1992, “Aladdin”
Why Iago Is So Popular
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It’s not often that the villains in Disney movies are given pets or sidekicks (though Ursula does have her eel henchmen), but Iago fit the bill perfectly in his role as the cheeky partner to Jafar in Aladdin. His sarcasm gives the movie comedy in the darker scenes and made him a fan favorite.
Fun fact: Iago was actually based on the character of the same name in Shakespeare’s “Othello.”
Woodstock
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: April 4, 1967, “Peanuts” comic strip
Why Woodstock Is So Popular
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Woodstock is Snoopy’s adorable friend who cannot fly very well and is only understood by Snoopy. In his first appearance, the unnamed little bird flies onto Snoopy’s nose and falls fast asleep.
He was later named Woodstock after the 1970 summer music festival.
Zazu
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1994, “The Lion King”
Why Zazu Is So Popular
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Voiced by Rowan Atkinson, Zazu is a staple character in Disney’s “The Lion King.” He is a red-billed hornbill that acts as the mentor for Mufasa and Simba.
He also works as a bit of comic relief in some scenes. He would return in the sequels as well as in some TV programs and shorts.
Kevin
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 2009, “Up”
Why Kevin Is So Popular
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Kevin is a focal point in the movie “Up,” though he does not talk like many Disney animals. He is a very large species of tropical bird that one of the main characters, Carl Fredrickson, is looking for.
Like many Disney animals, he provides comic relief in the movie along with Dug, the dog.
Blu
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 2011, “Rio”
Why Blu Is So Popular
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Blu is a Spix’s macaw from the 2011 movie “Rio.” Although a macaw, Blu cannot fly. This does not stop him from taking a huge adventure from Minnesota to Rio de Janeiro, learning to not limit himself along the way.
It’s a character many can relate to, which spurred his popularity.
Scuttle
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1989, “The Little Mermaid”
Why Scuttle Is So Popular
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In Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” Scuttle is a self-professed human expert.
In reality, the seagull knows nothing about humans and is wrong about everything he tells Arial, making him one of the comedic highpoints of the movie, along with Chef Louis.
Hedwig
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Famous for being a: Bird actor
First appearance: Harry Potter series
Why Hedwig Is So Popular
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We first fall in love with Hedwig in J.K Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series of books and then again when she takes flight on the big screen. In the films, Hedwig is actually portrayed by male snowy owls, as female snowys have very dark markings and are not the well-known stark white people associated with the species.
She was played by seven different male owls throughout the movie, with Gizmo being the main one.
Daisy Duck
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1937, “Don Donald”
Why Daisy Duck Is So Popular
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Daisy Duck made her first appearance not long after Donald, as his unnamed girlfriend in “Don Donald.” She was named in “Mr. Duck Steps Out” in 1940.
She is often portrayed as more sophisticated than Donald and nicer, too. Although she is not considered part of the Disney “Fab Five” — Donald, Minnie, Mickey, Goofy and Pluto — she has been with them from the beginning and is a very popular Disney character.
Archimedes
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 1963, “The Sword in the Stone”
Why Archimedes Is So Popular
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Archimedes is a talking owl that helps Merlin tutor Arthur in Disney’s animated “The Sword in the Stone.” His feathers are almost constantly ruffled and he is the pessimist of the group.
Still, it’s hard to not like him because he’s just so cute!
Gift
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Famous for being a: Bird actor
First appearance: 1985, “LadyHawke”
Died: Dec. 2, 2014
Why Gift So Popular
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At the center of the incredible “LadyHawke” love story are two animal actors, one being a stunning red-tailed hawk named Gift. This talented hawk was also seen in other shows, including “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman.”
She was owned by the Wildlife Images Rehabilitation & Education Center and lived to be 35 years old before passing peacefully in her sleep.
Diaval
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Famous for being a: Live-action character
First appearance: 2014, “Maleficent”
Why Diaval Is So Popular
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Although the original Maleficent from Disney’s animated “Sleeping Beauty” had a Raven named Diablo that did her bidding, he was hardly a character. But that all changed in 2014 when Diaval the Raven became Maleficent’s friend, confident and perhaps even a love interest.
She could change him into human (or any other form) whenever she wished, allowing his character to develop more. He quickly became a favorite among fans.
Huey, Dewey and Louie
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Famous for being: Animated characters
First appearance: Oct. 17, 1937, “Donald Duck” Sunday newspaper strip
Why Huey, Dewey and Louie Are So Popular
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Donald Duck’s nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie were first drawn to life on paper, before going in the 1938 film, “Donald’s Nephews.” Originally their red, green and blue shirt colors were used interchangeably, so there was no way to tell which was which.
It wasn’t until the 1992 “Ducktales” that each was assigned a color.
Errol
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Famous for being a: Bird actor
First appearance: Harry Potter series
Why Errol Is So Popular
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Another famous Harry Potter owl is Errol. An elderly owl, he provides comic relief with his inability to deliver messages on time … and to fly through windows.
Although his breed is not named in the books, in the movies he is a great grey owl, a species chosen by Rowling because they fit exactly what she has pictured Errol to look like.
Jimmy the Raven
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Famous for being a: Bird actor
Known for: “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Died: Unknown
Why Jimmy the Raven Is So Popular
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Jimmy the Raven was an incredibly talented bird actor that got his start in the 1938 film, “You Can’t Take It With You,” alongside Jimmy Stewart. While filming that movie, Stewart declared, “The raven is the smartest actor on set. They don’t have to make as many retakes for him as for the rest of us.”
Jimmy is also the raven in the classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He was seen in dozens of roles over his 20-year career and knew just about as many tricks, including opening mail, using a typewriter, dealing a hand of poker and even lighting a cigarette.
Paulie
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Famous for being a: Bird actor
Known for: 1998, “Paulie”
Why Paulie Is So Popular
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“Paulie” is a movie about a talking parrot in a science lab that gets the janitor to help him escape to find his original owner. The Paulie in the movie was played by 17 blue-crowned conures.
And they learned more than 50 behaviors for the movie.
Skipper
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Famous for being an: Animated character
First appearance: 2005, “Madagascar”
Why Skipper Is So Popular
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As can sometimes happen, the side characters stole the show in the 2005 animated film, “Madagascar.” It quickly became apparent that fans loved the penguins, led by Skipper — so much so, that they later got their own movies.
As the ring leader, Skipper often makes plans that do not work out, but he’s loyal to everyone, saying that they will “never leave a man behind.”
Fawkes
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Famous for being an: Animatronic character
First appearance: Harry Potter series
Why Fawkes Is So Popular
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Fawkes is another famous bird from the Harry Potter series. He is a mythical phoenix, that has burning days when he burns into ash and is then reborn out of them to start his life over. He is loyal to the Dumbledore family and anyone who is loyal to them, including Harry Potter when he needs help the most in “The Chamber of Secrets.”
Interestingly enough, the animatronic character was so lifelike that actor Richard Harris (who played Dumbledore), actually believed he was real.