No. 0016 · Generation I · Tiny Bird Pokémon
ポッポPoppo · Poppo is the Japanese sound of a pigeon cooing – Pidgey is named after the noise a pigeon makes.
The Tiny Bird Pokémon · Normal/Flying type · first seen in Pokémon Red & Green (1996)
01Overview
Meet Pidgey
Everything you need to know about the Tiny Bird Pokémon — the creature behind the number.
Every adventure in Kanto starts the same way: step off the path on Route 1, wade into the tall grass and, sooner or later, a plump little brown bird bursts out in a spray of sand. Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon, is the most familiar face in the Pokémon skies – the first Normal-type in the National Pokédex, a fixture of countless first teams and, for many players, the very first wild Pokémon they ever threw a Poké Ball at.
It is a compact, round-bodied bird, mostly brown with a cream face, belly and flight feathers. A neat three-tuft crest sits on its head – brown in the middle, cream on either side – above narrow eyes and sharp black markings that sweep back across its cheeks. Add a stubby greyish-pink beak, feet with two toes forward and one behind, and a short tail of three brown feathers, and you get a bird that looks rather more like a sparrow than the pigeon its name promises.
“Does not like to fight. It hides in tall grass and so on, foraging for food such as small bugs.”
Pokédex · Pokémon Red (Japan), Green (Japan) & FireRed · 1996
Pidgey is a gentle soul. Given the choice, it would much rather dodge a scrap, and its favourite trick is to flap furiously at ground level, kicking up a blinding cloud of sand and making its getaway. Push it too far, though, and this docile bird can strike back with surprising ferocity. The same frantic wing-beats double as a hunting tool: whipping up dust in the grass drives small bugs out into the open, ready to be snapped up. It keeps to meadows, grassland and temperate woods, always watching out for Ekans and Sneasel.
Its real superpower is navigation. Pidgey has an uncannily sharp sense of direction and can fly straight home to its nest, however far it has strayed – a homing instinct worthy of any carrier pigeon, and one the anime put to work when villagers trained flocks of Pidgey to deliver the post.
Because it is everywhere, Pidgey is easy to take for granted, yet it is stitched into Pokémon history. It was the very first wild Pokémon Ash tried to catch, and its evolution Pidgeotto became one of his first teammates. Rivals Blue and Trace both recruit one, Falkner opens Johto's Gym challenge with one, and in Pokémon GO it became a legend all over again as Trainers evolved Pidgey by the dozen for experience points. Raise it patiently and it grows into Pidgeotto at level 18 and the magnificent Pidgeot at 36.
How big is Pidgey?
At 0.3 m (1′00″) Pidgey is about as tall as a school ruler is long, and at 1.8 kg (4.0 lb) it weighs about the same as a big bag of flour – far chunkier than a real pigeon of the same size.
Evolution
02In the Pokédex's words
Pidgey's Pokédex entries
10 different entries across 36 games, from 1996 to 2006. Here is how the Pokédex has described Pidgey over the years, in the order the games came out.
Generation I
Does not like to fight. It hides in tall grass and so on, foraging for food such as small bugs.
Kanto Pokédex
A common sight in forests and woods. It flaps its wings at ground level to kick up blinding sand.
Kanto Pokédex
Very docile. If attacked, it will often kick up sand to protect itself rather than fight back.
Kanto Pokédex
If at all possible, it will try to avoid battles. Small or weak enemies are blown away by Whirlwind.
Kanto Pokédex
Generation II
It usually hides in tall grass. Because it dislikes fighting, it protects itself by kicking up sand.
Johto Pokédex
Common in grassy areas and forests, it is very docile and will chase off enemies by flapping up sand.
Johto Pokédex
It rapidly flaps its wings in the grass, stirring up a dust cloud that drives insect prey out into the open.
Johto Pokédex
Generation III
Pidgey has an extremely sharp sense of direction. It is capable of unerringly returning home to its nest, however far it may be removed from its familiar surroundings.
Hoenn Pokédex
It has an extremely sharp sense of direction. It can unerringly return home to its nest, however far it may be removed from its familiar surroundings.
Hoenn Pokédex
Generation IV
It is docile and prefers to avoid conflict. If disturbed, however, it can ferociously strike back.
Sinnoh Pokédex
03Stats, moves & where to find it
Pidgey in the video games
Base stat total 251 · 24 core-series games · 27 spin-offs · every move it learns, generation by generation.
Base stats
Pidgey's base stats have never changed: 40 HP, 45 Attack, 40 Defense, 35 Sp. Atk, 35 Sp. Def and 56 Speed, a total of 251 – a figure no other species shares. In Red, Green, Blue and Yellow it had a single Special stat of 35; when Gold and Silver split Special in two, both Sp. Atk and Sp. Def were set to 35. Speed has always been its best stat. Base friendship was 70 in Generations II–VII and has been 50 since Generation VIII; its base experience yield was 55 in Generations I–IV and has been 50 since Generation V. It reaches level 100 at 1,059,860 Exp. (Medium Slow), and its catch rate of 255 is the highest possible.
Abilities
- Keen Eyesince Gen III
Stops other Pokémon from lowering Pidgey's accuracy; since Sun & Moon it also ignores the target's raised evasiveness. - Tangled Feetsince Gen IV
Makes Pidgey harder to hit while it is confused, by raising its evasiveness. - Big PecksHidden abilitysince Gen V
Prevents other Pokémon from lowering Pidgey's Defense.
Type matchups
How hard each attacking type hits a Normal/Flying Pokémon.
These matchups have stayed the same since Red and Green. Its Flying type keeps it out of reach of Ground-type moves unless something grounds it (Gravity, Smack Down, Thousand Arrows or an Iron Ball), and its Normal type makes Ghost-type moves pass straight through it unless the attacker has Scrappy or has used Foresight or Odor Sleuth.
Training & breeding
- Catch rate
- 255
- Base friendship
- 50
- Base experience
- 50
- Growth rate
- Medium Slow
- EV yield
- 1 Speed
- Egg groups
- Flying
- Egg cycles
- 15
- Colour
- Brown
- Gender ratio
- 50% male
- Body shape
- wings
Where to find Pidgey
| Game | Year | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Red & Green | 1996 | Wild on Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 24 and 25 |
| Blue (Japan) | 1996 | Wild on Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 24 and 25 |
| Red & Blue | 1998 | Wild on Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 21, 24 and 25Your rival Blue has a Pidgey in the optional battle on Route 22; by your next meeting it has evolved into Pidgeotto. |
| Yellow | 1998 | Wild on Routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 21, 24 and 25 and in Viridian Forest |
| Gold & Silver | 1999 | Wild on Johto Routes 29, 30, 31, 35, 36 and 37 and in National Park (morning and day); in Kanto on Routes 1, 2, 5, 6 and 25Falkner, Johto's first Gym Leader, battles with a Pidgey at the Violet City Gym. |
| Crystal | 2000 | Wild on Johto Routes 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36 and 37, in National Park and Ilex Forest (morning and day); in Kanto on Routes 1, 2, 5 and 25 |
| Ruby & Sapphire | 2002 | Not found in Hoenn – trade only |
| FireRed & LeafGreen | 2004 | Wild on Routes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 24 and 25; on the Sevii Islands at Bond Bridge, Berry Forest and Five Isle MeadowBlue's Pidgey is back for the optional Route 22 rival battle. |
| Emerald | 2004 | Not found in Hoenn – trade only |
| Diamond & Pearl | 2006 | Route 229 during a mass outbreak (swarm)Or migrate one from a Game Boy Advance game via Pal Park, where it lives in the Field area. |
| Platinum | 2008 | Wild on Route 229 |
| HeartGold & SoulSilver | 2009 | Wild on Johto Routes 29, 30, 31, 35, 36 and 37, in National Park and the Johto Safari Zone's Forest area; in Kanto on Routes 1, 2, 5, 6 and 25 and in Viridian ForestFalkner still leads with Pidgey, and the Pokéwalker's Refreshing Field route has it too. |
| Black & White | 2010 | White: wild in White Forest; Black: trade or Poké Transfer onlyPokémon Dream World also offered it in the Windswept Sky. |
| Black 2 & White 2 | 2012 | Not found in the wild – trade or Poké Transfer only |
| X & Y | 2013 | Wild on Routes 2 and 3Also found in Flying-type Friend Safaris. |
| Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire | 2014 | Not found in the wild – hatch one by breeding a Pidgeotto |
| Sun & Moon | 2016 | Not found in Alola – trade or Pokémon Bank only |
| Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon | 2017 | Not found in the wild – hatch one by breeding a Pidgeot |
| Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee! | 2018 | Wild on Routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11–21, 24 and 25 and in Viridian ForestYour friendly rival Trace battles with a Pidgey on Route 22 and in Cerulean City, and it later evolves into Pidgeotto. |
| Sword & Shield | 2019 | Unobtainable |
| Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl | 2021 | Route 229 during a mass outbreak (swarm) |
| Legends: Arceus | 2022 | Unobtainable |
| Scarlet & Violet | 2022 | Unobtainable |
| Legends: Z-A | 2025 | Wild all over Lumiose City: Vernal and Hibernal Avenues, Wild Zones 1 and 5, and streets, plazas and sectors of the Vert, Bleu, Magenta, Rouge and Jaune DistrictsTaxi driver Zach sends out a Pidgey every time you battle him, and the Mega Dimension expansion adds it to Hyperspace Lumiose's Normal- and Flying-type wild zones. |
Sprites through the ages
Spin-offs & cameos
Super Smash Bros.
Pidgey has never been a fighter or a Poké Ball Pokémon, but it has been part of the Smash scenery from the very start. In the original Super Smash Bros. (1999), a flock of Pidgey flutters through the sky behind the Saffron City stage, high above the rooftop brawl. When Saffron City returned in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), the birds came back with it – and this time Pidgey got a spirit of its own. Its spirit battle is a clever nod to the little bird: you face a tiny Pit, Kid Icarus's winged angel, who loves nothing more than jumping, on Saffron City while high winds blow everyone around – Gust, Smash-style.
Pokémon GO
Pidgey has been flapping around Pokémon GO since launch day in July 2016 and quickly became the game's most famous experience engine: needing only 12 Candy to evolve, it was hoarded by the hundred so Trainers could pop a Lucky Egg and evolve a whole flock in one sitting for a huge pile of XP. It is everywhere in partly cloudy and windy weather, earns a Candy every kilometre as a buddy, and once hatched from 2 km Eggs too. Shiny Pidgey arrived on Pokémon Day, 27 February 2019 – exactly 23 years after Red and Green came out. The family went Mega on 18 September 2020, when Mega Pidgeot swooped into Mega Raids, with Shiny Pidgeot catchable from the same day. Pidgey Spotlight Hours keep the grinding tradition alive with double XP for evolving (most recently on 2 July 2026), and Team GO Rocket's Shadow Pidgey can be rescued and purified. Its moves are Quick Attack or Tackle, backed by Twister, Aerial Ace or Air Cutter.
Its Base Set card, Whirlwind and all, is part of the Evolution card set in the Game Boy adaptation.
A flock of Pidgey flutters through the background of the Saffron City stage.
Pidgey nest on the Beach, the very first course: some flap past while a Meowth chases them, and near the end two of them blast a Meowth with Gust – unless you hit both with Pester Balls first, which sets Meowth dancing for the camera.
Up for grabs at Pallet Town, Pewter City, Vermilion Seaside and Lavender Town on the Red Field, at Vermilion Streets, Celadon and Saffron on the Blue Field, and in Viridian Forest and Cerulean City on both.
Ready to battle in 3D, with a Pokédex entry noting that it blows small or weak foes away with Whirlwind.
Its Pokédex entry switches between the Gold and Silver texts depending on which Game Boy game you plug in.
Its Base Set card returns in the Japan-only Game Boy sequel.
A common piece in Endless Levels 14 and 33, Forever Level 14 and Mr. Who's Den.
Recruitable on floors 9–13 of Howling Forest, it settles in at Flyaway Forest and modestly promises: 'I'm not a good fighter, but I'll give you my best!'
A Pidgey and a Seedot form the exploration team Team Seedgey, and wild Pidgey can be recruited in Concealed Ruins and World Abyss.
Back on floors B1F–B10F of Concealed Ruins and World Abyss for the expanded Explorers adventure.
Found on floors 1–6 of Dubious Valley in this Japan-only WiiWare adventure.
Swoops around the Sky and the Forest Temple; once captured it can Cut through obstacles in the field, and its Browser entry is short and sweet: 'It launches twisters.'
Turns up in the Conductor Room's King of the Sky, Verdant Plaza's Green Hide-and-Seek and the Chill Battle The Forest of Memories.
A Flying-type puzzle piece found in Puerto Blanco (Stage 6) and Blau Salon (Stage 434), whose Opportunist skill rarely – but satisfyingly – boosts damage.
Joins your Connection Orb once you escort it on a hunt for its precious belonging – and it celebrates with a chirpy 'Flapping wings, pid-pidgey! Pipipipidgey!'
On the map since launch day and the undisputed king of evolution XP: at just 12 Candy a time, Trainers evolve Pidgey by the dozen under a Lucky Egg.
Back in the Saffron City background and now a spirit too: its spirit battle pits you against a tiny Pit who loves to jump, while high winds sweep across Saffron City.
One of the first toys you meet in the tutorial, and later found in several seas, including the Charizard, Dragonite, Snorlax, Aegislash, Lugia and Bulbasaur Seas.
Pidgey could hatch from Eggs during a Poison-, Dragon- and Flying-type Egg event, teaming up with your own player character as a sync pair.
One of the first wild Pokémon you meet, on floors 1–3 of Tiny Woods, and also found in Pitfall Valley, Purity Forest, Oddity Cave, Remains Island, Marvelous Sea and Fantasy Strait.
Entry #010 in the life-sim's Pokédex: its specialities are Fly and Search, it likes bright habitats such as elevated tall grass and pretty flower beds, and its favourite things include soft stuff, nice breezes and lots of nature.
Moves
Pidgey started out with a wonderfully simple kit. In Red and Green it flapped out a Normal-type Gust from level 1, kicked up Sand-Attack, darted in with Quick Attack and wrapped things up with Agility and a copycat Mirror Move at level 44. Gold and Silver made it a proper bird, turning Gust into a Flying-type move, beefing Wing Attack up from 35 to 60 power and adding its first egg moves, borrowed from fellow fliers such as Murkrow, Hoothoot and Spearow.
Diamond and Pearl then grew its level-up list to 13 moves with Twister, Roost, Tailwind and Air Slash, and Black and White crowned it all with Hurricane at level 53. More recently Pidgey has sat out Sword and Shield, Legends: Arceus and Scarlet and Violet, but Let's Go squeezed a slimmed-down list into just 29 levels, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl swapped Mirror Move for Aerial Ace, and Legends: Z-A ruffled the feathers again, trading Sand Attack for Growl, crowning the list with Brave Bird and adding TMs such as Dual Wingbeat and Heat Wave. Not bad for Route 1's most familiar face.
Signature moves
Pidgey's opening flap, known from level 1 in Red and Green, where it was still a Normal-type move. It turned Flying-type in Gold and Silver and has been a level-9 staple ever since (level 5 in Let's Go).
The cheeky face-full of dirt every Route 1 rookie remembers: learned at level 5 in all of its games from Red and Green to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl bar Let's Go (level 3), until Legends: Z-A swapped it for Growl.
A priority dash that usually lands before the opponent can move. Pidgey learns it by levelling up in every game it appears in, most often at level 13.
In Red and Blue, where Gust was still Normal-type, this was the only Flying-type attack Pidgey learned by levelling up, and a feeble 35 power at level 28. Gold and Silver bumped it to 60, and Let's Go hands it over as early as level 15.
The copycat finale of Red and Blue at level 44, shuffled all the way down to level 9 in Let's Go. Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl replaced it with Aerial Ace, and it is missing from Legends: Z-A too.
The big storm blew in with Black and White as a level-53 finale at 120 power; X and Y trimmed it to 110. Legends: Z-A teaches it at level 45 and as TM079.
A reckless 120-power dive that Pidgey first borrowed from Starly's family as an egg move in Diamond and Pearl. Legends: Z-A finally lets it learn the move on its own, as the level-50 finale.
Complete learnsets
Generation I · Red, Green, Blue & Yellow7 level-up · 15 TM/HM
Pidgey is one of the very first Pokémon most Trainers meet: it flutters through the grass of Route 1 and plenty of other Kanto routes in Red, Green and Blue, and Yellow adds Viridian Forest to its haunts. All four games share one level-up list. Gust is still a Normal-type move here, and because a move's category follows its type in the first three generations, every attack Pidgey knows is physical. Its one transfer move, Tackle, belongs to a Pidgey that learned it in Gold, Silver or Crystal and flew back through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| RGBY | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gust | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand-Attack | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 12 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 19 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 20 |
| 28 | Wing Attack | Physical | 35 | 100 | 35 | |
| 36 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 44 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM02 | Razor Wind | Normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 10 |
| TM04 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 20 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM09 | Take Down | Normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| TM10 | Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 100 | 100 | 15 |
| TM20 | Rage | Normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| TM31 | Mimic | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM33 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM34 | Bide | Normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| TM39 | Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM43 | Sky Attack | Physical | 140 | 90 | 5 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM50 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 70 | 95 | 15 |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Tackle | Gen II (level-up) |
Generation II · Gold, Silver & Crystal8 level-up · 20 TM/HM · 4 egg
Wild on routes right across Johto and Kanto in Gold, Silver and Crystal, starting with Route 29 just outside New Bark Town, and in the National Park. Tackle becomes the opening move, Sand-Attack turns Ground-type, Gust finally becomes a Flying-type attack and Wing Attack jumps from 35 to 60 power. Breeding arrives with four egg moves borrowed from other birds; Steel Wing, passed down by Skarmory, is a Crystal-only extra. There are no tutor moves for Pidgey. Categories still follow type, so the Dark-type Thief, Pursuit and Faint Attack are special, and Curse is the mysterious ???-type. Nine old TM moves from Red, Blue and Yellow can be carried over through the Time Capsule.
By level-up
| GSC | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 35 | 95 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand-Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 15 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 21 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 29 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 37 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 47 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM03 | Curse | ??? | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM13 | Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM20 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM31 | Mud-Slap | Ground | Physical | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM34 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM35 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM39 | Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 |
| TM43 | Detect | Fighting | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 70 | 95 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faint Attack | Dark | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Foresight | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Razor Wind | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Sky Attack | Gen I (TM) |
| Substitute | Gen I (TM) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Generation III · Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed & LeafGreen (plus Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness)9 level-up · 16 TM/HM · 5 egg · 10 tutor
FireRed and LeafGreen put Pidgey back on Route 1 and much of Kanto, plus Bond Bridge, Berry Forest and Five Isle Meadow in the Sevii Islands. Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald have no wild Pidgey, and Colosseum and XD have none of their own. One level-up list covers all five handheld games, with FeatherDance the new arrival at level 31. Tutor moves come from FireRed and LeafGreen, Emerald and XD, and XD's tutor is the only way to teach Sky Attack in this generation. Categories still follow type, so Air Cutter is physical while Thief, Faint Attack and Pursuit are special.
By level-up
| RSE/FRLG | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 35 | 95 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand-Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 19 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 31 | FeatherDance | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| 39 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 47 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Varies | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 70 | 95 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Physical | 55 | 95 | 25 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Skarmory | |
| Faint Attack | Dark | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Foresight | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 40 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Pursuit | Dark | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Wingull |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Edge | Normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Mimic | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Mud-Slap | Ground | Physical | 20 | 100 | 10 | Emerald |
| Sky Attack | Physical | 140 | 90 | 5 | XD | |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | Emerald |
| Snore | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 15 | Emerald |
| Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | FRLG, Emerald, XD |
| Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | Emerald, XD |
| Swift | Normal | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Emerald |
Generation IV · Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver13 level-up · 26 TM/HM · 8 egg · 9 tutor
Diamond and Pearl only offer Pidgey on Route 229 during swarms, and Platinum also keeps it on Route 229, while HeartGold and SoulSilver spread it all over Johto and Kanto again, the Johto Safari Zone included. In Pal Park it turns up in the Field area. The level-up list gets a big makeover: Twister, Roost, Tailwind and Air Slash join, and Wing Attack slides back to level 33. From this generation each move has its own physical or special category, so Gust and Air Slash are special. HM05 Defog can only be taught in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum. The tutors of Platinum, HeartGold and SoulSilver teach Air Cutter, Heat Wave, Twister and more, with Tailwind tutored only in HeartGold and SoulSilver. Double-Edge, Mimic and Sky Attack have to come from Generation III tutors.
By level-up
| DPPt/HGSS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 35 | 95 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand-Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 21 | Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | FeatherDance | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| 29 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 33 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 37 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| 41 | Tailwind | Status | — | — | 30 | |
| 45 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| 49 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 20 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 85 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | ||
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM43 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 | |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | |
| TM51 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | ||
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM78 | Captivate | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM83 | Natural Gift | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Pluck | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | ||
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | ||
| HM05 | Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | DPPt |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 55 | 95 | 25 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Skarmory | |
| Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Skarmory and 4 more | |
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Starly, Staravia, Staraptor | |
| Faint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Foresight | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Spearow, Fearow, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Doduo and 19 more |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 | Doduo, Dodrio, Chatot |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 55 | 95 | 25 | Pt, HGSS | |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 100 | 90 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Mud-Slap | Ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
| Ominous Wind | Ghost | Special | 60 | 100 | 5 | Pt, HGSS |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | Pt, HGSS |
| Swift | Normal | Special | 60 | — | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 30 | HGSS | |
| Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 | Pt, HGSS |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 10 | Pt, HGSS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Sky Attack | Gen III (tutor) |
Generation V · Black, White, Black 2 & White 214 level-up · 20 TM/HM · 9 egg · 6 tutor · 2 event
Unova is short on Pidgey: the only wild ones live in White Forest in White, and Black, Black 2 and White 2 have none. Hurricane (120 power, 70% accuracy) arrives as the new level-53 finale, and Tackle rises to 50 power with 100% accuracy. Black and White have no tutor moves for Pidgey; Black 2 and White 2's tutors teach Heat Wave, Roost, Sleep Talk, Snore, Tailwind and Uproar. A Pidgey from the Dream World's Windswept Sky could arrive knowing Secret Power or Steel Wing, and Defog becomes an egg move passed down from Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet or Braviary.
By level-up
| BW/B2W2 | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand-Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| 21 | Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | FeatherDance | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| 29 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 33 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 37 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| 41 | Tailwind | Status | — | — | 30 | |
| 45 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| 49 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 20 | |
| 53 | Hurricane | Special | 120 | 70 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 10 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM83 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 |
| TM88 | Pluck | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 55 | 95 | 25 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Skarmory, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat, Swoobat and 1 more | |
| Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 20 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Skarmory and 15 more | |
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Faint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Foresight | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull, Pelipper |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | Doduo, Dodrio, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Chatot |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 100 | 90 | 10 | B2W2 |
| Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 | |
| Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | B2W2 |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 | B2W2 |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 30 | B2W2 | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | B2W2 |
Event moves
| Move | Event |
|---|---|
| Secret Power | Dream World: Windswept Sky |
| Steel Wing | Dream World: Windswept Sky |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Sky Attack | Gen III (tutor) |
| Swift | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
Generation VI · X, Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire14 level-up · 23 TM/HM · 9 egg · 5 tutor
Wild on Routes 2 and 3 in X and Y, and in Flying-type Friend Safaris. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have no wild Pidgey; there it has to be hatched from an Egg with a Pidgeotto as parent. Old move names get their modern spellings (Sand Attack, Feather Dance, Feint Attack), and Hurricane drops to 110 power. Secret Power is TM94 only in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, whose tutors also teach Heat Wave, Sky Attack, Snore, Tailwind and Uproar; X and Y have no tutor moves for Pidgey.
By level-up
| XY/ORAS | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 50 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 21 | Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | Feather Dance | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| 29 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 33 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 37 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| 41 | Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| 45 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| 49 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| 53 | Hurricane | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 | |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 | |
| TM19 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | ||
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 | |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | ||
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 | |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 | |
| TM51 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 90 | 15 | |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM94 | Secret Power | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 | ORAS |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| HM02 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Skarmory, Wingull, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat and 4 more | |
| Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Xatu and 17 more | |
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Taillow, Swellow, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary and 1 more | |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Feint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Foresight | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 | Hoothoot, Noctowl |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory, Fletchling, Fletchinder, Talonflame |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | Doduo, Dodrio, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Chatot |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | ORAS |
| Sky Attack | Physical | 140 | 90 | 5 | ORAS | |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | ORAS |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | ORAS | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | ORAS |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Pluck | Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM) |
| Swift | Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Work Up | Gen V (TM) |
Generation VII · Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon14 level-up · 23 TM/HM · 9 egg · 6 tutor
Pidgey has no home in Alola: Sun and Moon offer no way to get one, and in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon it can only be hatched from an Egg with a Pidgeot as parent. One level-up list covers all four games, with Tackle settling at 40 power. With HMs gone, Fly becomes TM76. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's tutors teach Defog, Heat Wave, Sky Attack, Snore, Tailwind and Uproar; Sun and Moon have none for Pidgey. The transfer list grows to 16 moves, reaching all the way back to Red and Blue's Bide, Rage and Take Down.
By level-up
| SM/USUM | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 21 | Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | Feather Dance | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| 29 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 33 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 37 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| 41 | Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| 45 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| 49 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| 53 | Hurricane | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM06 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM19 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM21 | Frustration | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Return | Normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM48 | Round | Normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| TM51 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| TM76 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM100 | Confide | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Skarmory, Wingull, Pidove, Tranquill, Unfezant, Woobat and 5 more | |
| Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Xatu and 18 more | |
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Taillow, Swellow, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor, Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary and 4 more | |
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | Ducklett, Swanna, Rufflet, Braviary | |
| Feint Attack | Dark | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | Murkrow |
| Foresight | Normal | Status | — | — | 40 | Hoothoot, Noctowl, Rowlet, Dartrix, Decidueye |
| Pursuit | Dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 | Spearow, Fearow, Doduo, Dodrio, Murkrow, Honchkrow, Wingull |
| Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 | Skarmory, Fletchling, Fletchinder, Talonflame |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | Doduo, Dodrio, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Chatot |
By move tutor
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defog | Status | — | — | 15 | USUM | |
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | 90 | 10 | USUM |
| Sky Attack | Physical | 140 | 90 | 5 | USUM | |
| Snore | Normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 | USUM |
| Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | USUM | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | USUM |
By transfer
| Move | From |
|---|---|
| Bide | Gen I (TM) |
| Captivate | Gen IV (TM) |
| Curse | Gen II (TM) |
| Detect | Gen II (TM) |
| Double-Edge | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Endure | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (TM) |
| Mimic | Gen I (TM), Gen III (tutor) |
| Mud-Slap | Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Natural Gift | Gen IV (TM) |
| Ominous Wind | Gen IV (tutor) |
| Pluck | Gen IV (TM), Gen V (TM) |
| Rage | Gen I (TM) |
| Reflect | Gen I (TM) |
| Secret Power | Gen III (TM), Gen IV (TM), Gen V (Dream World: Windswept Sky), Gen VI (TM) |
| Swift | Gen I (TM), Gen II (TM), Gen III (tutor), Gen IV (tutor) |
| Take Down | Gen I (TM) |
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! · Let's Go, Pikachu! & Let's Go, Eevee!11 level-up · 10 TM/HM
Back on home turf: Pidgey is wild on Route 1, Route 2 and many more Kanto routes, and in Viridian Forest. Let's Go races through a trimmed-down list, with Mirror Move as early as level 9, Roost at 17 and Razor Wind as the finale at level 29. Its ten TMs include Headbutt and Reflect. There is no breeding in these games, and Pidgey has no tutor moves.
By level-up
| LGPE | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 3 | Sand Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 5 | Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 9 | Mirror Move | Status | — | — | 20 | |
| 11 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 15 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 17 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| 21 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 23 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 27 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| 29 | Razor Wind | Normal | Special | 80 | 100 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM01 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| TM05 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM07 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM08 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM09 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | 20 |
| TM12 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM14 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM18 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM27 | Toxic | Poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| TM50 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 |
Generation VIII · Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl14 level-up · 20 TM/HM · 4 egg
Pidgey is not in Sword and Shield (expansions included) or Legends: Arceus, so its only Generation VIII home is Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, where it appears in swarms on Route 229. Mirror Move is gone: Aerial Ace takes its slot at level 45. The old HMs are TMs now, so Fly is TM94 and Defog TM97. Only four egg moves remain (Air Cutter, Air Slash, Brave Bird and Uproar), and there are no tutor moves.
By level-up
| BDSP | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 35 |
| 5 | Sand Attack | Ground | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| 9 | Gust | Special | 40 | 100 | 35 | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| 17 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| 21 | Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| 25 | Feather Dance | Status | — | 100 | 15 | |
| 29 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | 30 |
| 33 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | 100 | 35 | |
| 37 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| 41 | Tailwind | Status | — | — | 15 | |
| 45 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| 49 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | |
| 53 | Hurricane | Special | 110 | 70 | 10 |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM10 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | 30 |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | Fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM17 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | Water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| TM32 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | 20 | |
| TM42 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM44 | Rest | Psychic | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM45 | Attract | Normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| TM46 | Thief | Dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| TM47 | Steel Wing | Steel | Physical | 70 | 90 | 25 |
| TM51 | Roost | Status | — | — | 10 | |
| TM58 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM82 | Sleep Talk | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM87 | Swagger | Normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| TM88 | Pluck | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 | |
| TM89 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| TM90 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| TM94 | Fly | Physical | 90 | 95 | 15 | |
| TM97 | Defog | Status | — | — | 15 |
By breeding (egg moves)
| Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Cutter | Special | 60 | 95 | 25 | Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Murkrow, Honchkrow | |
| Air Slash | Special | 75 | 95 | 15 | Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot, Zubat, Golbat, Crobat, Farfetch'd, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Xatu and 5 more | |
| Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 | Farfetch'd, Skarmory, Taillow, Swellow, Starly, Staravia, Staraptor | |
| Uproar | Normal | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 | Doduo, Dodrio, Hoothoot, Noctowl, Chatot |
Generation IX · Scarlet & Violet
Pidgey cannot be obtained in Scarlet and Violet, so it has no learnset there. Its Generation IX home is Legends: Z-A.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A · Legends: Z-A12 level-up · 16 TM/HM
Pidgey flutters all over Lumiose City in Legends: Z-A, from Vernal and Hibernal Avenues to the wild zones of Vert and Bleu Districts, and the Mega Dimension expansion adds it to several Normal- and Flying-type wild zones in Hyperspace Lumiose. Legends: Z-A lists moves with the level they are learned at, the level at which they become Plus Moves, power and cooldown, with no accuracy or PP. Growl replaces Sand Attack, Quick Attack hits for 30, and Brave Bird closes the list at level 50. Agility, Whirlwind and Hurricane can also be taught by TM, alongside newcomers such as Dual Wingbeat and Heat Wave. No breeding or tutors.
By level-up
| Learn | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tackle | Normal | Physical | 40 | — | — |
| 1 | Growl | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 9 | Gust | Special | 40 | — | — | |
| 13 | Quick Attack | Normal | Physical | 30 | — | — |
| 17 | Twister | Dragon | Special | 40 | — | — |
| 21 | Wing Attack | Physical | 60 | — | — | |
| 25 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| 29 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | — |
| 33 | Air Slash | Special | 75 | — | — | |
| 40 | Feather Dance | Status | — | — | — | |
| 45 | Hurricane | Special | 110 | — | — | |
| 50 | Brave Bird | Physical | 120 | — | — |
By TM / HM / TR
| No. | Move | Type | Cat. | Pwr. | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM001 | Headbutt | Normal | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| TM017 | Protect | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM022 | Aerial Ace | Physical | 60 | — | — | |
| TM031 | Reflect | Psychic | Status | — | — | — |
| TM032 | Double Team | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM035 | Endure | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM043 | Fly | Physical | 90 | — | — | |
| TM047 | Agility | Psychic | Status | — | — | — |
| TM068 | Heat Wave | Fire | Special | 95 | — | — |
| TM079 | Hurricane | Special | 110 | — | — | |
| TM082 | U-turn | Bug | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| TM085 | Substitute | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM094 | Whirlwind | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM103 | Work Up | Normal | Status | — | — | — |
| TM109 | Facade | Normal | Physical | 70 | — | — |
| TM134 | Dual Wingbeat | Physical | 45 | — | — |
04On screen
Pidgey in the anime
Debut EP001Pokémon – I Choose You! · Its appearances on screen, and 6 other trainers who raised one.
Pidgey has been in the anime since its very first morning. A wild one was the first Pokémon Ash ever tried to catch. It popped straight out of his Poké Ball, blasted him with Gust and Sand Attack, and indirectly led to the rock that hit a Spearow and started the greatest chase in Pokémon history. Ash never did catch one. Instead he got a Pidgeotto two episodes later, and as a Pidgeot it stayed behind to guard a flock of Pidgey for more than a thousand episodes before rejoining him in his final adventure.
Pidgey's best roles have come in episodes of their own. Orville, a Pidgey raised on an island of birds too plump to fly, dreamt of flying towards the sun, and Ken carries the post for a family courier service that very nearly closed. Casey led with one against Ash's Charizard (it did not go well), Professor Oak used his new Pidgey to send Team Rocket flying, and Goh netted one during a Pokémon Orienteering race. Red caught one in Pokémon Origins too.
Other trainers’ Pidgey
First seen: JN020Dreams Are Made of These!
Goh's first go at a Pidgey went badly. In Vermilion Forest one attacked him and flew off before he could catch it (JN006). He got one later, during Professor Cerise's Pokémon Orienteering race to Vermilion Harbor, where teams of children score by spotting as many Pokémon as they can on the way. In a park along the route Goh's eyes lit up at the sight of a Pidgey, and one Poké Ball was all it took (JN020). It was part of a huge haul that day, alongside both Nidoran, Oddish, Poliwag, Grimer, Ekans and, at the very end, a hard-won Farfetch'd. The Pidgey has never battled and has never been seen to evolve. When Goh added a Pidgeotto to his collection in Vermilion City later on, it was a brand-new catch (JN070).
First seen: PO01File 1: Red
Red's first brush with a wild Pidgey taught him a lesson. When he sent Charmander to battle one on the road, the bird's Gust buffeted them both and stopped Charmander's Ember. It then flew off, dodging the Poké Ball Red threw after it. Looking it up in his Pokédex afterwards, Red found that full data is only recorded for Pokémon that have actually been caught, so he set about catching some. After a Rattata, he added a Spearow, a Caterpie and a different Pidgey to his team, all in the same episode (File 1: Red).
First seen: EP211Fly Me to the Moon
Pudgy Pidgey Isle is ringed by whirlpools. With no predators to escape from, its Pidgey have grown so plump that most of them can't fly at all. Orville is the exception, at least in spirit. As a fledgling it fell in love with a painting by Wilbur's grandfather of Pidgey soaring towards the sun, and Wilbur has been training it to fly ever since, hang-glider tests included (EP211). With Ash, Misty and Brock on hand, a balloon carries Orville high into the sky. Pikachu's Thunderbolt knocks an attacking Fearow out of the air, and Orville climbs higher than ever before diving back down and crashing into the balloon, where a jolt from Pikachu brings it round. Its flight gets the rest of the island's Pidgey flapping their wings.
First seen: EP164Carrying On!
Near Ecruteak City, Ash's group came across a carrier Pidgey being attacked by a Fearow. Noctowl's Hypnosis made the Fearow think it was facing a Charizard, and a second Hypnosis let Noctowl pass itself off as a Pidgey and lift the exhausted bird off a cliff ledge. The Pidgey was Ken, and it belonged to young Malachi. His grandfather Denjirō runs the Pidgey Express, whose backpack-wearing Pidgey carry letters and newspapers to the nearby islands (EP164). Denjirō had planned to close the business when he retired, since aeroplanes and email were taking its trade. Then Team Rocket bagged the flock from their balloon just as a delivery of medicine for Wayaway Island went missing. Ken and Noctowl tore the bag open to free the Pidgey, the medicine got through, and Denjirō decided to keep the Express flying, with Malachi to take over one day.
- EP164Carrying On! · vs Jessie's Arbok Won
First seen: EP118The Double Trouble Header
When Casey burst into the Johto Journeys, she still had a beginner's team: Chikorita, Rattata and Pidgey. A row over her beloved Electabuzz baseball team led to a three-on-three battle with Ash, and the sight of her Pidgey reminded Ash of the one that escaped him on his very first day. Pidgey led off for Casey, but its Quick Attack bounced harmlessly off Charizard's belly, and one big breath from the Flame Pokémon was enough to finish it off (EP118). It came out again later in the episode alongside Rattata, but Casey's Pidgey has not been seen since.
- EP118The Double Trouble Header · vs Charizard Lost
First seen: EP245Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?
Even the world's most famous Pokémon Professor still catches the classics. Professor Oak picked up a Pidgey on his travels just in time for Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up? (EP245), in which Team Rocket's fake Professor Oak left a group of children doubting the real one. When the trio tried to float off with their stolen haul, Oak's new Pidgey cut the rope holding the loot with Quick Attack, and its Gust blew Team Rocket away. Afterwards the children apologised for ever doubting him.
- EP245Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up? · vs Team Rocket's getaway balloon Won
Ash & Pidgey
Ash has never owned a Pidgey, but one was the very first wild Pokémon he tried to catch. On his first day as a Trainer, his Poké Ball pulled a Pidgey inside for a split second before it burst free. A rock he then threw at what he thought was another Pidgey hit a Spearow instead, with famous consequences (EP001). Two episodes later he caught a Pidgeotto, Pidgey's evolved form (EP003). It became a Pidgeot while defending a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto from a Fearow and its Spearow gang, stayed behind as their guardian (EP081), and rejoined Ash in his very last adventure (JN147).
Featured episodes
- EP001Pokémon – I Choose You!Ash's very first capture attempt. His Poké Ball draws a wild Pidgey inside, but it breaks straight back out. Creeping up with his pyjama shirt earns him Gust and Sand Attack, and the rock he throws at what he thinks is another Pidgey hits a Spearow, which sets off the famous flock chase.
- EP081Pallet Party PanicNear Pallet Town, a Fearow and its Spearow gang terrorise a flock of Pidgey and Pidgeotto. Ash's Pidgeotto evolves into Pidgeot defending them, and the flock joins the counter-attack that drives Fearow away. At sunset Ash leaves Pidgeot behind as their protector.
- EP211Fly Me to the MoonThe giant, flightless Pidgey of Pudgy Pidgey Isle have never needed to fly, but Orville's daring flight sets them all flapping. Several of them even tackle a falling balloon basket to slow it down.
- JN147The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master!Ash's Pidgeot swoops in to slice open Team Rocket's net and free Pikachu. The flock it has protected since Pallet Party Panic has grown up, and with its blessing Pidgeot rejoins Ash.
More appearances
- EP015Battle Aboard the St. Anne A Pidgey is among the Pokémon aboard the S.S. Anne.
- EP062Clefairy Tales A Pidgey nods off when Jigglypuff sings.
- EP065Showdown at the Po-ké Corral Several Pidgey live in the grounds of Professor Oak's Laboratory.
- EP075Round One – Begin! Mandi, Ash's first opponent at the Indigo Plateau, uses several Pidgey in magic tricks before their battle.
- EP088In the Pink Pinkan Island's berries have turned its Pidgey pink.
- EP100Wherefore Art Thou, Pokémon? Ralph and Emily each have a Pidgey in a flashback.
- EP131Fighting Flyer with Fire Pidgey and Pidgeotto appear in Ash's flashback to his Pidgeot.
- EP133Tanks a Lot! Several Pidgey flee Team Rocket's rampaging Arbotank.
- EP153Love, Totodile Style Trixie of the circus sends her Pidgey to track down Team Rocket's balloon after they kidnap Azumarill and Totodile.
- EP179The Apple Corp! A gang of Pichu shocks some Pidgey that have been stealing apples from Charmaine's orchard.
- EP195The Poké Spokesman A talking Pidgey appears in Simon's version of events.
- AG015Gonna Rule The School! The Pokémon Trainer's School lends Pidgey to pupils too young to have Pokémon of their own.
- AG143The Saffron Con A Coordinator's Pidgey is among the Pokémon Team Rocket snatch.
- AG191Once More With Reeling! A Coordinator's Pidgey competes in the Terracotta Contest.
- DP013A Staravia Is Born! A Pidgey is among the Flying-type Pokémon Team Rocket capture.
- DP070The Bells Are Singing! Francesca uses a Pidgey in a magic trick.
- DP176Coming Full-Festival Circle! A group of Pidgey listen to Nando's music.
- XY089A Frolicking Find in the Flowers! Ash's Talonflame scares three Pidgey.
- SM042Alola, Kanto! Back in Kanto, a Trainer's Pidgey appears, and Rotom Dex snaps a photo of another.
- JN006Working My Way Back to Mew! In Vermilion Forest, Goh tries to catch a Pidgey, which attacks him and flies away.
- HZ001The Pendant That Starts It All (Part One) An Indigo Academy student has a Pidgey.
- HZ085The Pokémon Paradise of Laqua! Pidgey are among the Pokémon living in Laqua.
Anime gallery
Anime trivia
- Pidgey was the first wild Pokémon Ash ever tried to catch. His Poké Ball did pull it inside, but it broke straight out again because he hadn't weakened it in battle first (EP001).
- Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! (M20) restages that morning with a twist. Pikachu watches from a rock instead of a tree, and the Spearow hit by Ash's rock blames the giggling Pikachu.
- Pidgey has been the answer to three Japanese Who's That Pokémon? quizzes: Pallet Party Panic (EP081), Carrying On! (EP164, as Ken) and Fly Me to the Moon (EP211, as Orville). The English dub used Pidgeot, Mewtwo and Magmar instead.
- The Japanese title of Carrying On! is a pun on Poppoya (Railroad Man), a film starring Ken Takakura. The carrier Pidgey Ken is named after the actor, and grandfather Denjirō looks like him.
- Wilbur and his Pidgey Orville share their names with the Wright brothers – fitting company for a story about learning to fly. Fly Me to the Moon's working title was 'The Passionate Pidgey'.
- In Fighting Flyer with Fire (EP131), Ash tells Falkner that his Pidgeot is guarding a flock of Pidgeot, but the flashback shows Pidgey and Pidgeotto.
- The Pidgey Express birds in Carrying On! all use Peck, a move Pidgey can't learn in the games.
- Ash's Pidgeot was away for 1,151 episodes, from staying behind with the flock in Pallet Party Panic (EP081) to physically reappearing in The Rainbow and the Pokémon Master! (JN147). By then the Pidgey and Pidgeotto it had protected had grown up.
“Pidgey is a Flying Pokémon. Among all the Flying Pokémon, it is the gentlest and easiest to capture. A perfect target for the beginning Pokémon Trainer to test his Pokémon's skills.”
Ash's Pokédex (Dexter) · EP001
05On the big screen
Pidgey in the movies
4 films, 2 Pikachu shorts featuring Pidgey.
Pidgey is the films' favourite extra. Since Pokémon the Movie 2000 (1999), when flocks sense the chaos Lawrence III unleashes, it has flapped through the backgrounds of film after film. Every so often, though, it gets a real job. A flock mobs the Iron-Masked Marauder so Ash can climb his machine in Celebi: Voice of the Forest, three Pidgey need a Chansey's Aromatherapy after an explosion of Effect Spore in The Power of Us, and in I Choose You! (2017) a Pidgey is once again the first Pokémon Ash tries to catch. His rock still hits a Spearow instead. In the shorts, a wild Pidgey braves a storm to save Exeggcute nests in Pikachu's Rescue Adventure, and in the POKÉTOON Blossom's Dream one escapes a would-be Trainer, and Pidgey even turns up as a cuckoo clock.
Pokémon the Movie 2000: The Power of One
M02 · 1999
Wild Pidgey (multiple)
Pidgey's big-screen debut is a crowd scene with a purpose. When the collector Lawrence III starts snatching the legendary birds, the balance of nature is thrown off, and flocks of Pidgey are among the wild Pokémon that sense something is badly wrong.
Pokémon 4Ever: Celebi – Voice of the Forest
M04 · 2001
A flock of wild Pidgey
Here the little birds actually join the fight. In the showdown with the Iron-Masked Marauder, Ash tries to scramble up the leg of the villain's machine, where Celebi is trapped in a Dark Ball, and a flock of Pidgey swarms around the Marauder so Ash can make the climb.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!
M20 · 2017
A wild Pidgey (Ash's first catch attempt); wild Pidgey controlled by Marshadow
The retelling of Ash's first day keeps Pidgey's famous role. Ash spots one and tries to catch it, then realises he has to weaken it in battle first. So he hurls a rock at it instead, and hits a Spearow, which sets off the furious flock chase. This time Pikachu watches from a rock rather than up a tree, and the flock is far bigger. Later, several Pidgey are among the Pokémon that fall under Marshadow's control.
Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us
M21 · 2018
Six Pidgey: one Trainer's, five wild
Six Pidgey turn up in Fula City, one of them with a Trainer. When the Effect Spore essence that Team Rocket stole from the researcher Toren explodes into a huge purple cloud, three Pidgey are caught up in it, and Toren's Chansey nurses them back to health with Aromatherapy.
Pikachu shorts
- PK04Pikachu's Rescue Adventure (1999) · Two wild Pidgey
Two wild Pidgey appear in this short, and when a storm rolls in, one of them pitches in with the Trainers' Pokémon and Elekid to save the Exeggcute nests and Misty's Togepi. It opened in Japanese cinemas with The Power of One. - PT03Blossom's Dream (POKÉTOON) (2021) · A wild Pidgey; a Pidgey cuckoo clock
Blossom's first attempts at catching Pokémon don't go well: a Pikachu, a Pidgey, a Victreebel, a Pinsir and a Slowpoke all get away. Pidgey also turns up as a cuckoo clock, whose noon call tells her it's time to feed Char-ly the Charizard. The short was animated by Studio Colorido.
06Trading Card Game · every card
Pidgey in the Pokémon TCG
30 cards since 1999, oldest first. Tap any card to see it full size.
Pidgey has been fluttering out of booster packs since day one. Ken Sugimori's little bird was in Japan's first Expansion Pack in October 1996 and landed in Base Set in January 1999, a 40 HP Basic whose Whirlwind could blow a rival back to the Bench. Since then it has nested in almost every era: two Koga's Pidgey cards in Gym Challenge, an e-Reader card in Expedition, EX FireRed & LeafGreen, a Lightning-type Pidgey δ in Holon Phantoms, Secret Wonders, Triumphant, Call of Legends, Flashfire and a pair in Team Up, before the Scarlet & Violet trio of Obsidian Flames, 151 and Paldean Fates. It has never had an ex, V or any other rule-box card, yet the designers keep finding fun jobs for it. Messenger, first seen on Koga's Pidgey, sends it home like a carrier pigeon to fetch a better Pokémon, and 151's Call for Family flies two Basic friends straight onto your Bench.
The art has grown from simple portraits into whole scenes. Sugimori's original was reprinted in Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection, while Japan added Aya Kusube's vending-machine Pidgey, later playable in Pokémon Card GB2. The 2000s brought Tomokazu Komiya, Midori Harada, Mitsuhiro Arita, Hisao Nakamura and Hironobu Yoshida, and Suwama Chiaki drew it twice in a row, giving Call of Legends a completely fresh picture rather than recycling the Triumphant one. Atsuko Nishida, Shigenori Negishi, Sumiyoshi Kizuki, Naoyo Kimura and Oswaldo KATO carried it into the modern day, then Jerky's Illustration Rare in Obsidian Flames gave Pidgey its first big showpiece and sowsow painted a Shiny Pidgey for Paldean Fates. TCG Pocket keeps the flock growing, with a Genetic Apex card whose art joins up with Pidgeotto and Pidgeot, a Shiny Pidgey and a promo that revives Komiya's 2002 Expedition art.
Cards to know
- Base Set 57/102 — Ken Sugimori's original 40 HP bird, whose Whirlwind could blow your opponent's Active Pokémon straight back to the Bench.
- Gym Challenge 49/132 (Koga's Pidgey) — The first Messenger attack: a carrier pigeon on a card, flying home to your deck to fetch you a better Pokémon. Triumphant brought the idea back ten years later.
- EX FireRed & LeafGreen 73/112 — The humble Common that turned up in four World Championships decks in 2005 and 2006.
- EX Holon Phantoms 77/110 (Pidgey δ) — Mitsuhiro Arita's Delta Species Pidgey, the only Pidgey card that isn't Colorless: it's a Lightning type.
- Obsidian Flames 207/197 — Jerky's Illustration Rare finally gave Pidgey a whole scene to itself, and was the first English Pidgey printed above Uncommon.
- Genetic Apex 186/226 (TCG Pocket) — Scav's art links up with Pidgeotto's and Pidgeot's cards to make one panoramic picture of the whole family.
Every English-language card
Promo cards
Japan-exclusive cards
Other regional releases
Pokémon TCG Pocket
Digital card games
- Pokémon Trading Card Game (Game Boy Color): Pidgey from Base Set (Ken Sugimori), card 1 B38, found in the Evolution booster pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): the same Base Set Pidgey, card 2 D38, in the Psychic Battle pack.
- Pokémon Card GB2 (Japan only): Aya Kusube's vending-machine Pidgey, card 2 F42, in the Sky Flying Pokémon pack.
The artists behind the cards
- Ken Sugimori — 2 artworks (Base Set 57, reprinted in Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection, and Koga's Pidgey Gym Challenge 80); his Base Set Pidgey is also the one in both Game Boy TCG games
- Atsuko Nishida — 2 artworks (Koga's Pidgey Gym Challenge 49 and Flashfire 75, the latter reprinted twice in the Wigglytuff Half Deck)
- Suwama Chiaki — 2 artworks (Triumphant 71 and a new piece for Call of Legends 67)
- Shigenori Negishi — 1 paper card (Team Up 121), whose art returned in TCG Pocket's Mythical Island and Deluxe Pack: ex
- Tomokazu Komiya — 1 paper card (Expedition 123), whose art returned on TCG Pocket's Promo-B 005
- One artwork each: Aya Kusube (Vending Expansion Sheet 1), Midori Harada, Mitsuhiro Arita, Hisao Nakamura, Hironobu Yoshida, Sumiyoshi Kizuki, Naoyo Kimura, Jerky, Oswaldo KATO and sowsow; Scav, Misa Tsutsui and kodama drew new Pidgey art for TCG Pocket
07On the page & beyond
Pidgey in manga, books & other media
From the earliest manga to story books and songs.
Pidgey has been in manga since the opening chapter of Kosaku Anakubo's Pocket Monsters in March 1996, and print has given it plenty of comedy since. In Pokémon Adventures, Professor Oak's Pidgey scores a direct hit on the professor's face, the Safari Zone is run by robot Pidgebots, and in Yeah! I Got Pokémon! a flock mistakes Shu, still in his Caterpie costume, for lunch. Its best story belongs to The Golden Boys, where Gold's first Pokémon is a weak Pidgey his rival threw away, which repays him by stepping in to protect him and winning with Gust. On the bookshelf, Scholastic's very first chapter book has Ash throw rocks at a 'Pidgey' that turns out to be a Spearow, and Pidgey has its own lesson in Ron Zalme's How to Draw Pokémon. In music, it is rapped in the opening lines of the Pokérap and joins Weird Al's Polkamon.
Manga
Books
Other media
More from the page
08Did you know?
Pidgey trivia
Name origins, design secrets and the facts that make Pidgey such a fan favourite.
What’s in a name?
Pidgey's English name is a cuddly spin on 'pigeon' – a pidge with a friendly -y on the end – and early development files of Red and Green really did call it 'Pidge'. It may also borrow from budgie, chickadee and pudgy, which sums up its plump little frame rather well. Its Japanese name, Poppo (ポッポ), is simply the sound of a pigeon cooing in Japanese. That same coo flies around the world: Korean calls it Gugu (구구), while French makes it Roucool, from roucouler, 'to coo', with a dash of 'cool'.
Design origins
For a Pokémon named after a pigeon, Pidgey takes most of its looks from smaller perching birds: its stocky build and brown-and-cream plumage are a close match for a female house sparrow. The pigeon shows through in its behaviour instead – that unerring homing instinct is pure carrier pigeon, a link the anime spelled out with 'Pidgey Mail' in Carrying On!. The bold black markings that frame its eyes have been compared with those of Ra and Horus, the falcon-headed sun and sky gods of ancient Egypt, giving the humblest bird in Kanto a surprisingly regal touch. Like the rest of the original 151, its official artwork was drawn by Ken Sugimori, who also illustrated its very first trading card.
Names around the world
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ポッポ Poppo | Imitates a pigeon's coo |
| French | Roucool | From roucouler (to coo) and cool |
| Spanish | Pidgey | Same as the English name |
| German | Taubsi | From Taube (pigeon) |
| Italian | Pidgey | Same as the English name |
| Korean | 구구 Gugu | Imitates a pigeon's coo |
| Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) | 波波 Bōbō | Transliteration of the Japanese name |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Pidgey | Same as the English name |
| Hebrew | פידג'י Pidji | Transliteration of the English name |
| Hindi | पिजी Pidgey | Transliteration of the English name |
| Lithuanian | Pidžis | From the English name |
| Russian | Пиджи Pidzhi | Transliteration of the English name |
| Thai | ป็อปโปะ Poppo | Transliteration of the Japanese name |
Did you know?
- Pidgey is the only Pokémon with a base stat total of exactly 251 – the same as the number of Pokémon in Gold and Silver's Pokédex.
- It has the shortest cry of any Pokémon: a chirp lasting just 0.181 seconds.
- Pidgey was the first Pokémon ever to get a Pokédex entry in the anime, when Ash's Pokédex called it the gentlest and easiest Flying Pokémon to catch – though the original Japanese version labelled it the 'Sky Pokémon' instead of the Tiny Bird Pokémon.
- Ash's first ever capture attempt was a Pidgey: the Poké Ball wobbled, Pidgey burst out, and he got a face full of Gust and Sand Attack. Moments later he threw a rock at what he thought was another Pidgey – and hit a Spearow.
- In Generation III, Feather Dance was the Pidgey family's signature move; other Pokémon could only pick it up through breeding.
- Pidgey shares the Tiny Bird Pokémon category with Spearow, Natu and Rookidee.
- Early development files of Red and Green list its English name as 'Pidge'.
- Pidgey has three toes on each foot, but the anime has often drawn it with four – Casey's Pidgey included.
- In Carrying On!, a village relies on 'Pidgey Mail', training Pidgey as carrier birds – a nod to real homing pigeons – and Ash and friends rescue one called Ken from a wild Fearow.
- Fly Me to the Moon introduces Orville, a Pidgey who can't fly, and Wilbur, the guardian of Pudgy Pidgey Isle who helps him take to the air – names that will ring a bell with anyone who knows their aviation history.
- Shiny Pidgey arrived in Pokémon GO on Pokémon Day 2019 – 23 years to the day after Red and Green launched with Pidgey on Route 1.
- Rivals love it: Blue has a Pidgey in the optional Route 22 battle in Red, Blue, FireRed and LeafGreen, and Trace leads with one in Let's Go – both evolve theirs into Pidgeotto.
- Falkner, the first Gym Leader in Johto, flies into battle with a Pidgey in every Johto adventure.
- In Pokémon Snap, two Pidgey near the end of the Beach blast a Meowth with Gust – hit both with Pester Balls first and Meowth breaks into a dance instead.
- Before Base Set was even released, Pidgey's card appeared in the prototype Trainer Deck B for Pokémon League use, with a red border and 'Trainer Deck B' printed on the back.
- Pidgey caught in Red or Blue and traded forward to Gold or Silver turn up holding a Berry.
09Quizzes, archive & further reading
More Pidgey
Test yourself
Professor Oak's Kanto Quiz: BeginnerProfessor Oak has a few questions before you set foot in the tall grass. How well do you know the region where it all began?Take the quiz →
Who's That Pokémon? Kanto: BeginnerIt's the classic challenge! Can you name these original 151 Pokémon from their silhouettes alone?Take the quiz →
Indigo League Anime: IntermediateGrab your cap and set off on Ash's very first adventure. How much do you remember from the Indigo League days?Take the quiz →
Pokémon Horizons Anime: BeginnerAll aboard for a brand-new adventure! See how well you know Liko, Roy and the crew of Pokémon Horizons: The Series.Take the quiz →
Pokémon Movies: IntermediateFrom a mysterious island showdown to a city where people and Pokémon live side by side, how well do you know Pokémon on the big screen?Take the quiz →
Professor Elm's Johto Quiz: BeginnerProfessor Elm needs a helping hand with his latest research. Can you answer these questions about Gold, Silver, Crystal and the HeartGold and SoulSilver remakes?Take the quiz →From the archive: Gengar’s Online Pokédex
Before this page, Pokémon Dungeon was home to Gengar’s Online Pokédex, the classic fan Pokédex for Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver & Crystal by Curtis Alumbaugh (Gengar) with Ian Alumbaugh (Haunter). Its Pidgey entry is preserved in full, with its original art, moves and locations.
Further reading
Pokémon and all related names, artwork, sprites, screenshots and card images are © Nintendo, Creatures Inc., GAME FREAK inc. and The Pokémon Company, used here for fan commentary. Images via the Bulbagarden Archives. Page updated 24 October 2026.