#0016 · Kanto · Generation 1

Pidgey

Tiny Bird Pokémon · Normal/Flying-type

Pidgey is a Normal/Flying-type Pokémon, the Tiny Bird Pokémon, number 16 (#0016) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 1 and comes from the Kanto region. It is 0.3 m tall and weighs 1.8 kg.

Pidgey is the Tiny Bird Pokémon, a docile Normal and Flying type whose sense of direction is so sharp that the Pokédex says it finds its nest again from any distance. Rather than fight, it kicks up clouds of blinding sand.

How to pronounce Pidgey

Pidgey is pronounced PIJ-ee. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Pidgey said out loud:

In Japanese it is ポッポ (Poppo).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Pidgey is a small, plump bird, 0.3 m tall and 1.8 kg, mostly brown with a cream face and underside, a crest of three tufts, black markings that run back from its eyes and down its cheeks, and a short tail of three feathers. Flapping its wings low to the ground whips up sand and dust.

Behaviour

Pidgey avoids conflict and hides in tall grass, though the Pokédex says it can strike back ferociously if disturbed. Bulbapedia names Ekans and Sneasel as natural predators.

Habitat

The Pokédex says it is a common sight in grassy areas and forests, and Bulbapedia mentions meadows and temperate forests. In Legends: Z-A it is found across Lumiose City's districts.

Diet

Small bugs, according to the FireRed Pokédex; the Crystal entry says its dust clouds drive insect prey out into the open.

Powers

Keen Eye stops its accuracy being lowered and Tangled Feet doubles its evasion when confused, while the hidden Ability Big Pecks protects against Defense drops. It learns Sand Attack, Gust and Quick Attack early, then Wing Attack and, much later, Hurricane. Feather Dance was its signature move in Generation III. Its best base stat is only 56 Speed.

Name origin

Pidgey may be a corruption of 'pigeon', or a blend of 'budgie', 'chickadee' and 'pudgy'. The Japanese name is Poppo (ポッポ), which may come from the sound of a pigeon's coo.

Design inspiration

Despite its name, Pidgey looks more like a passerine bird, especially a female house sparrow, than a pigeon. The black markings round its eyes may recall Ra and Horus, the falcon-headed Egyptian gods. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto at level 18, with no branches or regional forms.

In the games

Rival Blue uses a Pidgey on Route 22 in Red, Blue and their remakes, and Falkner uses one in his Gym. It first appeared in Red and Green (Red and Blue outside Japan). In Legends: Z-A it is in the base game (Lumiose Pokédex number 21), where a Trainer named Zach uses one in every battle, and the Mega Dimension DLC adds it to Hyperspace Lumiose. Bulbapedia lists it as unobtainable in Scarlet and Violet.

In the anime

Pidgey debuted in 'Pokémon - I Choose You!', where Ash tried to catch one but Pikachu would not obey him. In 'Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?', Professor Oak turned out to have caught one.

Fun facts

• In the Red and Green beta its English name was Pidge.
• Bulbapedia lists Pidgey's cry as the shortest of any Pokémon, at 0.181 seconds.
• Bulbapedia says the anime's very first Pokédex entry was for Pidgey.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Pidgey (Pokémon) · Serebii: Pidgey (Scarlet/Violet and Legends: Z-A Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 40
• Attack: 45
• Defense: 40
• Sp. Atk: 35
• Sp. Def: 35
• Speed: 56

Pidgey’s base stat total is 251. Its highest stat is Speed.

Type matchups

What is Pidgey weak to?

Pidgey takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Ice (2×), Rock (2×) moves.

It resists Grass (½×), Bug (½×).

It is immune to Ground, Ghost moves.

Evolution

How does Pidgey evolve?

Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto at level 18.

The whole family: Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Pidgeot.

• Pidgeotto evolves into Pidgeot at level 36.

Abilities

• Keen Eye: Prevents accuracy from being lowered.
• Tangled Feet: Doubles evasion when confused.
• Big Pecks (hidden ability): Protects against Defense drops.

Moves

Moves Pidgey learns by level up in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon

TM moves (23)

Pidgey can learn 23 moves from TMs in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon: Work Up, Toxic, Hidden Power, Sunny Day, Protect, Rain Dance, Roost, Frustration, Return, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Facade, Rest, Attract, Thief, Round, Steel Wing, Fly, Swagger, Sleep Talk, U-turn, Substitute, Confide.

Egg moves (9):Air Cutter, Air Slash, Brave Bird, Defog, Feint Attack, Foresight, Pursuit, Steel Wing, Uproar.

Move tutor moves (6): Defog, Heat Wave, Sky Attack, Snore, Tailwind, Uproar.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Flying.
• Egg cycles: 15 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,920).
• Catch rate: 255 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 1 Speed effort value.
• Base experience yield: 50.

Pokédex entries

Very docile. If attacked, it will often kick up sand to protect itself rather than fight back. (Yellow, Let’s Go, Pikachu!, Let’s Go, Eevee!)

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. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

It is docile and prefers to avoid conflict. If disturbed, however, it can ferociously strike back. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White, Black 2, White 2, Y)

A common sight in forests and woods. It flaps its wings at ground level to kick up blinding sand. (Red, Blue, LeafGreen, X)

Common in grassy areas and forests, it is very docile and will chase off enemies by flapping up sand. (Silver, SoulSilver)

It usually hides in tall grass. Because it dislikes fighting, it protects itself by kicking up sand. (Gold, HeartGold)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Lightest Normal type in Gen 1: 1.8 kg.
• Lowest base stat total among Normal types in Gen 1: 251.
• Lightest Flying type in Gen 1: 1.8 kg.
• Shortest Flying type in Gen 1: 0.3 m, shared with 1 other.
• Taller than 4% of all Pokémon (0.3 m).
• Heavier than 6% of all Pokémon (1.8 kg).
• Base stat total 251, ranked #966 of 1,025.
• One of 27 Pokémon that are both Normal and Flying.
• One of 147 brown Pokémon.
• Number 16 of 151 Pokémon introduced in Generation 1 (Kanto).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 46 different moves in Ultra Sun / Ultra Moon.
• Catch rate 255: about 33.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Appears in 9 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Pidgey (Pokémon), Serebii: Pidgey (Scarlet/Violet and Legends: Z-A Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (PIJ-ee): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Normal-type Pokémon · Flying-type Pokémon · Normal/Flying weaknesses and matchups · Kanto region guide · Keen Eye ability · Tangled Feet ability · Big Pecks ability · Compare Pidgey · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

Browse similar Pokémon

Gen 1 Normal-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Flying-type Pokémon · Gen 1 Pokémon list · Brown Pokémon list · Flying egg group · Pokémon that start with P · Bird Pokémon

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