Kaepora Gaebora

"Hoo hoot! Link... Look up here! It appears that the time has finally come for you to start your adventure! You will encounter many hardships ahead... That is your fate. Don't feel discouraged, even during the toughest times!"

- Kaepora Gaebora

Kaepora Gaebora, also known as the Great Owl, is a large, brown-feathered, wise owl who guides Link throughout a few The Legend of Zelda games, the first being The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Like other owls, Kaepora Gaebora can rotate his head upside-down, although the markings at the bottom of his face appear to show a different face. Kaepora Gaebora has very long eyebrows.

The Owl from The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening could be the predecessor of Kaepora Gaebora, as it also gives advice to Link in parts of the game. Gaepora from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has a similar face and name to Kaepora Gaebora. According to Eiji Aonuma, the physical resemblance was coincidental, but when they realized it, they named him Gaepora. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Rito Kaneli also resembles him.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link encounters Kaepora Gaebora during various parts of his childhood. His first encounter with Kaepora Gaebora is when he first enters Hyrule Field. There, he instructs Link to go to Hyrule Castle and meet the princess. Every time after talking, Kaepora Gaebora asks if he should repeat himself again.

If Link approaches Kakariko Village first before the Market, Kaepora Gaebora advises him again to first go to Hyrule Castle. Similarly, if Link approaches either Lake Hylia or Gerudo Valley (either before or after going to Hyrule Castle), Kaepora Gaebora describes the respective location briefly. Link encounters Kaepora Gaebora again when first taking the path to Hyrule Castle. Kaepora Gaebora tells Link that time stops when he enters Lon Lon Ranch or towns, but flows normally outside those locations.

When Link first enters the Lost Woods, Kaepora Gaebora tells him that going through the Lost Woods leads to the Sacred Forest Meadow. Kaepora Gaebora then notices a melody playing in the background and tells Link to follow the sound to get through the Lost Woods. After Link learns to play the Lost Woods melody, Saria's Song, Kaepora Gaebora appears and tells Link that taking out the Ocarina of Time when required brings up an on-screen musical staff display. Kaepora Gaebora also suggests that he uses the Ocarina of Time even when it is not required.

When Link first visits the Death Mountain Trail, Kaepora Gaebora tells Link that the peak has surrounding clouds that reflect whether Death Mountain is at peace or not, and then tells him of a Great Fairy located on the mountaintop. After talking, Kaepora Gaebora perches on a signpost, waiting to take Link back down to Kakariko Village if he wants to. This also happens after Link has learned the Spin Attack from the Great Fairy of Power. If Kaepora Gaebora takes Link down to Kakariko Village, he drops Link on the roof of Impa's House.

At Zora's River, when Link first goes to the door of Zora's Domain, Kaepora Gaebora says that the Zoras only open the entrance for those with a connection to the Royal Family. At Lake Hylia, Kaepora Gaebora says he is on his way back to Hyrule Castle and offers transportation to Link again. If Link accepts, Kaepora Gaebora drops him off at the drawbridge outside the Market.

Kaepora Gaebora has a minor role during the time when Link is an adult. He appears at Desert Colossus, observing Link when he learns the Requiem of Spirit from Sheik. When Link visits Desert Colossus as a child, he encounters Kaepora Gaebora one last time. Kaepora Gaebora says that Link has matured into an adult who does not need his advice any longer. Before leaving, Kaepora Gaebora gives him a last hint, vaguely describing on how to defeat Koume and Kotake in the Spirit Temple, and says that he will continue observing Link's progress throughout his adventure.

According to a Gossip Stone in the Sacred Forest Meadow, Kaepora Gaebora is a reincarnation of an ancient Sage. In the book Hyrule Historia, the ancient Sage is revealed to be Rauru specifically.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, the Terminian version of Kaepora Gaebora appears. Unlike his Hyrulean counterpart, this Kaepora Gaebora appears much less, with his first appearance being on the way to the first dungeon, and his last appearance being before the second dungeon is accessible. He no longer flips his head over, now instead sticking his neck out. Additionally, he is far more cynical than the original, encouraging Link to give up if he feels his task is too hard. However, he sees Link still wants to continue, and teaches him the Song of Soaring to allow him to warp to any accessible owl statue. In Snowhead, he uses molting feathers to lead Link over a gap filled with invisible platforms, leading him to the Lens of Truth and allowing him to see Darmani III's ghost.

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, he appears and teaches Link the song much earlier, instead being at the opening to Southern Swamp. Additionally, he explains the new Feather Statues.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Kaepora Gaebora again appears as an advice giver. He flies in from offscreen on occasion to tell the Links about recent events and where they should go next, thereby making him even more similar to the Owl in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. In this game, he tilts his head back and forth every so often, though only rarely flips it over fully.

Link and the Portal of Doom
Kaepora Gaebora makes an appearance in the children's book, Link and the Portal of Doom.

Kaepora Gaebora first helps Link translate the Ancient Hylian script carved into the wall that has the Portal of Doom. Later at Zora's River, when Link is dragged underwater by an Octorok defenselessly, Kaepora Gaebora drops him his sword. He offers to give Link a lift, which he accepts, and hangs onto his talons as they fly to Kakariko Village.

Trivia

 * Although not officially confirmed, Kaepora Gaebora is very likely based on the . His physical appearance is similar, such as his long eyebrows corresponding to the owl's plumicorns. In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, Kaepora Gaebora's hooting is a stock sound effect of a great horned owl hooting.
 * Kaepora Gaebora's ability to turn his head upside-down is based on the fact that real life owls can turn their entire heads up to 270 degrees in order to see around them