But here is the twist that elevates the movie:
Margalo isn’t just a "bird." She is the emotional anchor of the first film’s second act, and her character adds a layer of surprising depth about found family, loyalty, and the courage to trust again. In the film, Margalo is a beautiful yellow canary who crashes (literally) into Stuart’s life. She is voiced with a gentle, ethereal softness by Melanie Griffith .
She has been sent by the villainous falcon (voiced by the late great James Woods) to case the Little household. The falcon is holding her against her will, forcing her to help him rob the family of Mrs. Little’s precious ring. Let’s be honest: For kids watching in 1999, the moment Margalo reveals she was lying to Stuart was devastating .
But for many fans of a certain age, the true scene-stealer wasn't a mammal at all. It was a tiny, golden-feathered canary named .
At first glance, she is polite, glamorous, and kind—immediately befriending Stuart when his own adoptive brother, George, is too cool to hang out with him.
So next time you watch Stuart Little , don't fast-forward through the falcon chase. Pay attention to Margalo. She’s proof that even the smallest wings can carry the heaviest guilt—and that it’s never too late to fly home. 🐭🐦
It’s a brutal lesson in trust. But it’s also where Margalo’s redemption arc begins. Unlike typical "bad guys," Margalo isn’t evil. She is a victim of circumstance. The falcon (whom she calls "the beast") has threatened to eat her if she doesn’t comply. She isn’t stealing for greed; she is stealing for survival.