Rito

The Rito are the race of anthropomorphic birds that inhabit Dragon Roost Island, the volcanic island located in the Great Sea in. The Rito are an evolved form of Zora that have gained the ability to fly. This trait makes them suited to serve the role of mailmen. As such, a big part of their island is used as a Post Office.

History
The Rito began their history as the Zora tribe, with whom they share their social organization and symbols. The Rito were not always creatures of the sky, and the Grappling Hook is a remnant of those days. The Rito still aren't aerial beings by birth; they need to get their wings from the Sky Spirit, Valoo, by visiting him and receiving a scale from him. This also seems to serve as a sort of coming-of-age ritual.

The Rito are the keepers of Din's Pearl. Originally, the pearl was owned by Prince Komali's grandmother, but she passed it on to her grandson when she died. Komali does not give the Pearl to Link instantly because it is the only thing that comforts him, and he feels Link is useless. Later on, when Link clears the Dragon Roost Cavern and calms Valoo, Komali is impressed by Link's bravery. He gives Link Din's Pearl in order to increase his own courage.

Society
The Rito worship the Sky Spirit Valoo, and appoint an attendant to take care of him. At the time of, this attendant was Medli. These attendants were also revered as teachers. The leader of the Rito people is their Chieftain.

Anatomy
Rito are very similar in appearance to the Zora from which they are descended. In addition to that, they also share a lot of anatomy with the Hylian race. They have pointed ears, a human structure, and speak modern Hylian language. The main characteristics of a Rito that make them different are their beaks and wings. In place of a nose, Rito have a large orangish-yellow beak. This does not function as a mouth, however, as they have a mouth just below it. It appears to just be the shape their nose takes. This often extends all the way up between their eyebrows. Also Rito have wings which they use to fly. Most Rito let their wings dangle like "sleeves" out from under their clothes when they are not flying. However, Medli and the Rito Chieftain do not have this trait. When they do fly, their arms and "sleeves" transform into one set of wings. Their feet also turn into talons, which they use to carry things. This is made clear when Quill and Komali carry Link.

The Rito in have adopted a much more bird-like appearance, resembling.

Trivia

 * Willi and Obli, the two brothers that run the Bird-Man Contest on the Flight Control Platform, have such an unhealthy obsession with Rito that they dress themselves up as Rito.
 * Aside from the Rito Chieftain and possibly Koboli, all of the Rito have red eyes.
 * With the exception of Medli and the Rito Chieftain, all of the Rito's names in the French localization of The Wind Waker end with the letter "f."

Etymology
The name Rito is likely a play on the Japanese word "tori", which means "bird" ("Rito" is a reversal of the characters "to" and "ri"). The name may also be derived from Ruto, the Zora princess from, referring to the Rito's ancestry.

Most of the Rito's Japanese names describe their role or behavior, while most of the German names are derived from real-life bird species and genera.

See here for the names of each particular Rito in .