Pidgey

Pidgey in the anime: the one that got away

Pidgey appears in the anime's first episode, "Pokémon - I Choose You!", as the first wild Pokémon Ash tries to catch; it gets away because his new Pikachu refuses to battle for him. In "Pallet Party Panic", a flock of Pidgey in Viridian Forest is harassed by Spearow led by a Fearow, the same bird Ash angered on his first day. Ash's Pidgeotto evolves into Pidgeot defending them, and Ash releases it to guard the flock. In "Fly Me to the Moon", a Pidgey nicknamed Orville learns to fly with help from Wilbur, guardian of Pudgy Pidgey Isle, where nearly all the other Pidgey have grown too heavy to fly.

Pidgey on cards: from Base Set to a Delta Species detour

Pidgey's first card is Base Set #57 from January 1999, a Common by Ken Sugimori whose art returned in Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection. Gym Challenge (2000) printed two different Koga's Pidgey cards, an Uncommon by Atsuko Nishida and a Common by Sugimori. Holon Phantoms (2006) printed Pidgey δ, a Delta Species card: that EX-era mechanic gave Pokémon unusual types, and this Pidgey, drawn by Mitsuhiro Arita, is a Lightning type rather than Colorless.

In the Scarlet & Violet era, Obsidian Flames (2023) gave Pidgey an Illustration Rare by Jerky, and Paldean Fates (2024) a Shiny Rare by sowsow.

Cards to know

• Pidgey (Base Set #57)

  Pidgey's first card, a 1999 Common illustrated by Ken Sugimori.

• Koga's Pidgey (Gym Challenge #49)

  The Uncommon of Gym Challenge's two Koga's Pidgey cards, illustrated by Atsuko Nishida.

• Pidgey δ (Holon Phantoms #77)

  A Lightning type Delta Species Pidgey from 2006, illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita.

• Pidgey (Obsidian Flames #207)

  An Illustration Rare by Jerky from 2023.

• Pidgey (Paldean Fates #196)

  A Shiny Rare Pidgey by sowsow from Paldean Fates (2024).