The owl animal companion in Kirby's Dream Land 3 is Coo. Coo is one of Kirby's Animal Friends and helps Kirby navigate areas where flight, wind resistance, or mid-air inhaling are important.
Coo first appeared alongside the Animal Friends in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and returns in the 1997 Super Nintendo sequel. When Kirby rides Coo, the pair can fly quickly and continue moving effectively even against strong gusts of wind. Coo also lets Kirby inhale while airborne, giving the partnership a distinct advantage over Kirby's normal floating ability.
Players sometimes confuse Coo with Pitch, another bird-like companion introduced in Dream Land 3. Pitch is smaller and has more specialized Copy Ability variations, but he cannot fly against strong winds in the same way. Rick is the hamster companion, while Kine is the ocean sunfish who improves Kirby's underwater movement. Coo's name is therefore tied specifically to the owl among Kirby's recurring Animal Friends.