Grab your binoculars, because it’s time once again for another edition of Pokemon Bird Watch. For this week I’ll be covering another common yet powerful line of birds from Generation One. Presenting Pidgey, Pidgeotto, and Pidgeot.
While Pidgey is about as common as the Spearow in Kanto and Johto, they are also Spearow’s polar opposite. While Spearow are known for being very territorial and warlike, Pidgey are quite passive and prefer to run rather than fight. This trait probably makes them a better choice for young trainers who’re only just starting out. In fact given the levels that this bird evolves, Pidgey could almost be another Starter Pokemon. Pidgeotto on the other hand are a little more aggressive than their pre-evolved form. While not quite as aggressive as Spearow and Fearow they can get pretty ticked off, but getting a little ahead of myself though.
In the Games: Pidgey are a very common sight on the routes of Kanto and Johto. So common in fact that the routes are a bit too numerous to name (I mean I could but it’d be a pretty long and boring paragraph). Pidgey are far more rare in the other regions of the Pokemon world however. They can’t be found at all in the Hoenn Region, and their only locations in Sinnoh and Unova are Route 229 and White Forest respectively. Pidgeotto are a tad harder to find on the shared continent of Kanto and Johto but are found in almost as many locations as their pre-evolved form. As for Pidgeot though, the only way to get that bird in any game is to evolve Pidgeotto.
Evolution: Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto at level eighteen. At which point they not only become a little larger and better at flying, they also gain a more vibrant head crest and tail feathers. Pidgeotto also become more aggressive and predatory. At level thirty-six, the level at which most Starter Pokemon reach their final forms, Pidgeotto becomes Pidgeot. The head crest becomes longer and much more vibrant and they become so powerful at flying that a beat of their wings can bend trees. Regretfully I never seemed to have the patience to evolve Pidgeotto into Pidgeot, at least not until after the Elite Four. I’d usually just keep Pidgeotto around until I could get my hands on one of the Legendary Birds (or Ho-Oh and Lugia).
Ash’s Pidgeot: Those of us who have seen the anime from the very first episode probably remember the Pidgeotto that Ash captured in Viridian Forest. It was the third Pokemon Ash ever had and the second one he captured. Unfortunately, Pidgeotto did not have a good track record. While it played a helpful role in helping Ash win the Viridian City gym badge it has suffered numerous defeats. Before long Ash started using Pokemon such as Bulbasaur and Squirtle far more in battle. Pidgeotto’s role on Ash’s team was to blow away smokescreens, punch holes in Team Rocket’s balloon, and act as Ash’s eye in the sky.
Despite its lack luster battle though, Pidgeotto was shown to be one of Ash’s most loyal Pokemon. Then just as Ash and his companions were leaving for the Orange Islands they came across of flock of Spearow that were terrorizing a flock of Pidgey. A Fearow that evolved from the very Spearow Ash ended up ticking off on the first day of his journey was the leader of this infamous flock. And Fearow was by no means at all happy to see Ash again. In the process of battling Fearow, Ash’s Pidgeotto evolved into Pidgeot. The Spearow flock was defeated, but there was a very good chance of them returning to cause trouble again. So to protect the Pidgey, Ash left Pidgeot behind, vowing to return for it one day. But considering how much time has passed in the anime since that episode, I don’t think it’s going to happen.
That covers it for this week’s post. Next week I’ll be jumping ahead to cover a bird from Generation Three. Until then, stay tuned.
