Introduced in generation one, with the original Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green games, Pidgey is a dual type normal and flying type. It is the base evolution of Pidgeot and evolves into Pidgeotto once it reaches the level threshold. Pidgey is classified by the Pokedex as the “Tiny Bird Pokemon” which is a nod to its general design. This guide will showcase Pidgey’s capabilities in battle, its appearances in the anime, as well as other general facts about Pidgey.
About Pidgey
As one of the original Pokemon, Pidgey first appeared in the original series in the episode Pokemon - I Choose You!. It is fairly unique as this was the pilot episode of the Pokemon anime. The Pokedex indicates its ability to migrate across long distances, correlating its design to other migrating birds in real life.
| First appearance in anime | Pokemon the Original Series: Pokemon - I Choose You! |
| First appearance in game | Red/Green (Japan) Red/Blue (International) |
| Region | Kanto |
| Evolution | Base evolution of Pidgeot, evolves into Pidgeotto |
| 1st Evo level | 18 |
| 2nd Evo level | 36 |
| Pokedex Entry | 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. |
Pidgey Base Stats
| HP | 40 |
| ATTACK | 45 |
| DEFENCE | 40 |
| SP. ATTACK | 35 |
| SP. DEFENCE | 35 |
| SPEED | 56 |
| TOTAL | 251 |
Appearance
Pidgey is a small, bird-like Pokemon with two wings and two pairs of bird talons. It is mostly brown with cream tipped wings and underbelly while its beak and talons are colored pink. It has two black eyes with white pupils that have pointed eyebrows to give the impression of focus or determination. It is a very small bird at only 1 foot, or 0.3 meters, tall and while Pidgey’s name might imply its real-life counterpart are pigeons, it more closely resembles chickadees or wrens.
Behavior
Pidgey is meant to be a run of the mill bird in the Pokemon universe as they are incredibly common and will appear in forests or in tall grass. The Pokedex mentions that they dislike fighting and will kick up sand to protect itself which can explain its proficiency of using Sand Attack in casual play. It is also implied that Pidgey is a migratory bird and is capable of returning to its nest no matter how much distance or unfamiliar territory separates the bird from its home.
Strengths and Weaknesses
As a base evolution, there are not many strengths to be considered with Pidgey. It has relatively balanced stat distributions although it does have a higher speed stat than normal. As one of the first Pokemon you will encounter in the original games, Pidgey is very straightforward. As a dual normal and flying type Pokemon, Pidgey is 2x weak to rock, electric, and ice type moves. It is immune to ground and ghost types, and resistant to bug and grass type moves.
Shiny Pidgey
Shiny Pidgey is not a very distinct shiny variant as the colors from regular Pidgey get replaced to give Shiny Pidgey a more golden theme. The color palette of Shiny Pidgey stays similar although it gets a brighter hue with more yellowed wings and exterior. This theme continues throughout Shiny Pidgey’s evolution line and like all shiny Pokemon, Shiny Pidgey gains a starry animation upon entering battle.
Best Moveset
As a base evolution, Pidgey is exclusively limited to LC (Little Cup) brackets of competitive play. In this bracket, every Pokemon must be their base evolution which evens the playing field for some of the weaker Pokemon in the game. Thanks to its high base speed, Pidgey finds success in this bracket as an offensive flying type Pokemon. Consider running Brave Bird, U-Turn, Feint Attack/Pursuit, and Return/Steel Wing. Brave Bird and Return will benefit from STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), U-Turn can offer you an efficient switch while Feint Attack and Pursuit are interchangeable as a guaranteed hit or an outplay option. Finally, Steel Wing can be used for type coverage.
| Brave Bird | U-Turn |
| Feint Attack/Pursuit | Return/Steel Wing |
How to Catch Pidgey in Pokemon Go
If you would like to obtain a Pidgey in Pokemon Go, the easiest way is to encounter one in the wild. As a common Pokemon as well as the base evolution in its line, it is very easy to find a wild Pidgey without much effort. While it is a common Pokemon, you cannot hatch a Pidgey from any type of egg and thus you will need to find it in the wild. You could also find its final evolution Pidgeot in tier three and tier four Pokemon Gym raids. However, Pidgey is so common it might be easier to obtain enough Pidgeys for evolution than it is to take on a tier three/four raid battle. You will need 12 Pidgey candies to evolve into Pidgeotto, and another 50 to evolve into Pidgeot.
Trivia
- Of all the Pokemon in the franchise, Pidgey is the only Pokemon to have a total base stat value of 251.
- The name Pidgey is a combination of the words pigeon, budgie, and chickadee.
- The inspiration for Pidgey’s design likely comes from chickadees, wrens, or even sparrows.
Video
FAQ
What Level does Pidgey Evolve at?
A Pidgey will evolve upon hitting level 18 and once it reaches the level threshold, it will evolve into Pidgeotto. To evolve Pidgeotto, you will need to reach level 36. For each of these evolutions, you just need to allow the evolution animation to play without pressing the “B” button. Each time you reach the level thresholds, your Pidgey will evolve into the next evolution.
Is Pidgey a good Pokemon?
Pidgey is straightforward and balanced, but it is not particularly powerful. However, eventually, it will give you access to Pidgeot and potentially Mega Pidgeot depending on which generation you are playing on. Pidgey eventually turns into a powerful special attacker with reliable speed and thus allowing you to utilize the evolution line as an offensive flying type Pokemon.
What is Pidgey good against?
Pidgey grants you access to a powerful and fast special attacking Pokemon. While its stat distributions are good, it has a difficult time taking advantage of normal type moves. Instead, you will want to utilize it against bug, fighting, and grass type Pokemon as a Pidgey with enough investment can cover these three types without a problem.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you now know just about everything there is to know about this “Tiny Bird Pokemon”. While Pidgey’s impact on competitive play is limited, it is a reliable Pokemon that can eventually become a powerful offensive threat. For a generation one Pokemon to remain relevant even 25 years later is a feat of itself. Reserve a slot on your team for Pidgey if you want to have a reliable and balanced flying type Pokemon on your team.
