Cucco

Cuccos are chickens that has featured in several The Legend of Zelda games. They are well known for attacking Link if he attacks them for an extended period of time, an act sometimes known as the Cucco's Revenge Squad. In all games of their appearance, Link can lift Cuccos above his head, although this doesn't always serve a purpose.

Interestingly enough, "cuccos" are an extinct species of birds that were considered a delicacy in ancient Babylon.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
In their first appearance, Cuccos could be found in Kakariko Village. This game introduced their vengeful "death swarm" behavior.

Cucco-like monsters appeared in the Dark World, reacting to attacks with the same movements and sound effects. Unlike their paler counterparts, these monsters don't call in a "revenge squad" when abused after any period of time.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Cuccos in this game couldn't be lift or thrown without the aid of the Power Bracelet, and could only be found in Mabe Village.

A unique Cucco, known as The Flying Rooster helps Link acquire the Key to the Eagle's Tower of the game and then helps you get to the actual level itself. Playing the Frog's Song of Soul that Link learned from Mamu in the Sign Post Maze near the windmill in Mabe Village, the Rooster can be resurrected. While a normal Cucco in this game will do nothing special while lifted, the Flying Roost will allow Link to fly over bottomless pits much like Roc's Feather. Unlike the feather, Link isn't required to fall down until he throws the rooster. The Flying Rooster will follow Link around everywhere on the overworld map, but will not follow him into dungeons.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Cuccos could be found in a variety of places, and again attacked Link in swarms if struck. As a new feature, Link could grab a Cucco and use it to glide slowly when jumping off a cliff. This technique is known as Chicken Gliding, and can be used several times throughout the game to earn Pieces of Heart. Unlike the Flying Rooster, Cuccos grabbed in this and later games cause like to slowly glide downward instead of fly upwards.

Anju, who can be found in Kakariko Village, requests that Link helps return her missing Cuccos to their pen. If this task is accomplished, the player can earn an Empty Bottle. When Link returns later, the Cuccos will found to be out of their pen once more. He can complete the as many times as he returns to the village, but Anju will instead only award him with fifty Rupees.

The game also features Cojiro, a blue Cucco, and a smaller variant known as the Pocket Cucco.

Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
Cuccos in both games appear similarly and function identically to those found in Link's Awakening.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Cuccos appear and function the same as in Ocarina of Time.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
The Cuccos of The Minish Cap were mostly the same as in A Link to the Past, though there were golden Cuccos that appeared only for a minigame along with small yellow Cucco Chicks. The Cucco chicks will attack Link if he is shrunk.

Quote from The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap Cucco! figurine: "With a boisterous crow and a cute crest, these feathered friends are the most popular pets in Hyrule. The baby chicks like small bugs."

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Cuccos now came in white, brown and other realistic chicken colors. When attacked repeatedly, the Cuccos no longer call in the revenge squad. Instead, attacking them allows the player to control the Cucco for a few seconds, similar to how Seagulls could be controlled with Hyoi Pears in Wind Waker.

The Oocca are very similar to Cuccos in appearance and name. When Link grabs one in City in the Sky, they can even be used to glide like a regular Cucco.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Cuccos in this game appear and function similar to their counterparts in Ocarina of Time, although the "Revenge Squad" comes at their attacker much faster than any other game, making them a more lethal force. This is the only game in the series Cuccos appear in where Link cannot lift or throw them.