Pokemon: Every Regional Bird, Ranked

Summary

• The strongest Flying-type Pokemon are some of the most powerful creatures in the game, with unique abilities and stats.
• Some regional birds like Swellow and Staraptor stand out for their high attack stats and useful abilities like Guts and Intimidate.
• Pokemon like Pidgeot and Corviknight offer solid options for a Flying-type on your team, each bringing their own strengths and weaknesses.

Most trainers are eager to discuss which starter from every generation of Pokemon is the best. Is it poor Charizard, who hasn't been able to rest for decades? Is it Incineroar, who terrorizes competitive play? But there is another constant besides the starters, and that means turning toward the Flying-Type Pokemon of each mainline game.

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You can most likely recall catching your first regional bird. It could have been in the good 'ol days with Pidgey or much more recently with birds like Corviknight and Kilowattrel. Which of these Pokemon dominates the sky? And which ones get left in the PC?

This list focuses on each regional bird's final evolution and does not consider alternate forms, such as Mega Pidgeot. Unfortunately, there's also just too much debate about Pelipper to include it here.

9 Noctowl

Gen Two, Normal And Flying Type

Noctowl is, unfortunately, at the bottom of the pecking order. Originating from Pokemon Gold & Silver, Noctowl has two evolution stages, starting as a little Hoothoot. While they grow into a big, strong owl-based Pokemon, they have the lowest total stats when compared to the other regional birds.

They aren't without their strengths though. Differing from most of the regional birds, they have access to a great deal of special attacks, leaning heavily into Psychic moves. And, if you've gone up against one, you're probably familiar with the fear of their Hypnosis. But the strongest bird? They are not.

8 Unfezant

Gen Five, Normal And Flying Type

Poor Unfezant doesn't get a lot of love. Some of it is appearance-based, but stat-wise they suffer. Their physical attack is their highest stat naturally, but they instead learn more special attack moves, which is their second-worst stat.

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If this were to be reversed, they might be a much bigger threat, whether people thought they were cute or not. Instead, trainers have either needed to rely on TMs (Technical Machines) or, more likely than not, have decided to leave them behind in the PC for safe-keeping.

7 Toucannon

Gen Seven, Normal And Flying Type

Toucannon very much reflects the tropical setting they hail from. Unlike Unfezant, they have their stat and move set working in their favor. Their physical attacks are going to get a boost thanks to that being their best stat. Plus, with Skill Link, you can focus on multi-hitting attacks, like their learned Bullet Seed and Fury Attack.

However, the rest of their stats are very average. That's not to say they are a bad Pokemon at all. It is to say, however, that there are better options if you are looking for a Pokemon who is a strong physical attacker. Though, among the regional birds, they tie with Staraptor for first place regarding their attack stat.

6 Pidgeot

Gen One, Normal And Flying Type

For plenty of trainers, this is the first-ever regional bird they have encountered. Whether that's your journey or not could change your view on where Pidgeot belongs on the list. They're all around a solid option if you want a Flying-Type on your team. But stat-wise, they've been a bit outpaced by some of the later bird mons.

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They are a speedy option, as speed is their best stat. And they have access to an impressive list of moves they can learn, both naturally and through TMs. Maybe things would be different if they hadn't been absent from generations seven, eight, and nine. But here we are. All a bird lover can hope for is that they make a triumphant return sooner rather than later. One day, Pokemon Company makes a Mega out of you, the next, you've been missing for years.

5 Swellow

Gen Two, Normal And Flying Type

There's a pattern with these Normal and Flying-Types. Swellow is beloved by mainline Pokemon trainers, as well as the Nuzlocke community. Guts Swellow was a powerful foe that made many an NPC shudder. And they are one of the quickest birds around.

When it comes to their speed stat, they are tied for second with Kilowattrel. On paper through, the rest of their stats are average, with their special defense being less than average. But, going back to Guts, they can at least make up for it by raising their attack stat with some good pain and suffering (aka, a status problem).

4 Staraptor

Gen Four, Normal And Flying Type

Not only does this bird look tough, but they also have a very high attack stat, making them a unit on a Pokemon team. They also come with Intimidate as their ability, which is one of the most sought-after abilities in competitive play, giving you and your Pokemon a slight edge over the opponent from the jump.

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And, unlike some of the other regional birds, their other stats don't all take a nose dive. Staraptor's speed is pretty darn good. And, if they have their hidden ability, Reckless, you can hit even harder with the popular Brave Bird option.

3 Kilowattrel

Gen Nine, Electric And Flying Type

Unlike in past games, you may not encounter a Wattrel or Kilowattrel until much later in your journey to become a Pokemon Champion. But they are a strong mon to have, especially against other Electric and/or Flying-Types. That's thanks to their two different abilities; Wind Power and Volt Absorb.

Add to the mix that they are one of the fastest regional birds as well as the best special attacker. They can shut down Electric-Type teams, like you find in Iono's gym. They've also seen use in the competitive scene, meaning that some of the best real-world trainers have seen and made use of their value.

2 Corviknight

Gen Eight, Steel And Flying Type

If you ask a Tinkaton, they will tell you Corviknight ain't (expletive). But this Steel and Flying bird has the second-highest HP stat of the regional birds and the highest defense. And, while they are weak to Fire and Electric-Type moves, they have a screaming ten resistances, two of those being full immunity from Poison and Ground moves.

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Two of those resistances are to Dragon and Fairy-Type moves, two types of Pokemon that reign at the top of competitive play. Plus, if they have the hidden ability, Mirror Armor, they can dish out what they take in terms of stat-lowering moves. This is one impressive specimen, to say the least.

1 Talonflame

Gen Six, Fire And Flying Type

This is the fastest regional bird to do it. And has been popular in the competitive scene. You have to be mindful, they are weak to Water-Type moves, and Rock-Type moves do four times the damage to this fast flyer. To the latter, at least there aren't nearly as many Rock-Type Pokemon you may be facing down. But the chance is never zero.

Along with their fast and hard-hitting attacks, this Pokemon has Flame Body. If you are a Pokemon Breeder, you know its strength at the picnic table. As a trainer though, this has a chance to burn any Pokemon that comes into physical contact with it, and a burned Pokemon is a weaker Pokemon, who also happens to lose health each turn.

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