After Ash returned to Pallet Town following the Indigo League, Ash encountered an old enemy. The Spearow Ash had tried to catch the first day of his journey had evolved into Fearow and was leading other wild Spearow in harassing the local Pidgey flock. After being injured trying to lead the wild Pidgey to safety, Pidgeotto evolved into Pidgeot and lead the other Pidgey and Pidgeotto to defeat Fearow, and Ash left it behind to guard the wild Pidgey. He promised to return for it after he was finished in the Orange Islands, a sentiment that he still hoped he could do in Fighting Flyer with Fire. However, Ash has yet to fulfill that promise, with its role as his Flying-type being filled by such new Pokémon as Noctowl, Swellow, Staraptor and Mamepato.
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
Moves Improvised
Gust Counter Attack a variation of Gust, used to force the foe to evade. This technique was used only once by Ash's Pidgeotto in Ash Catches a Pokémon. Pidgeotto slams its wings together, creating a small air flow around his wings forcing Jessie's Ekans to jump away.
Pidgeotto's capture is not shown, it is first seen when Ash is writing home to May Oak describing the Pokémon he has captured on his journey so far. Later, he tries to use it in his Gym battle against Misty, but it has disappeared from its Poké Ball, leaving a note saying "I'm beat! Off to get some R&R. Don't forget to write! -Pidgeotto".
It is unknown if Pidgeotto has permanently left Ash's party following this. It does not appear in the manga since then, including when Ash brings his entire party out of their Poké Balls in You Gotta Have Friends.
Trivia
Pidgeot debuted long before the episode in which it evolved. Since the first episode of the series, Ash is shown throwing a Poké Ball containing Pidgeot and battling a Fearow in the opening Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.
Pidgeot is one of three Pokémon owned by a main character that evolved before being released in the same episode. The other Pokémon to do so were Togetic and Victreebel.
Togetic and Pidgeot are both dual-type Normal/Flying Pokémon that evolved to protect their pre-evolved forms.
Pidgeot is one of a few Pokémon that was caught by Ash when it was in its second evolutionary form. The other Pokémon that he caught at this stage are Noctowl, Muk, and Primeape. Of these, it is the only Pokémon capable of evolving further, as it eventually did.
Pidgeot has since appeared in the tenth opening for the anime, Spurt!. However, it did not return in any episodes aired with the opening.
Pidgeot also appeared in the Battle Frontier opening along with Tyranitar. The other scenes with Ash's old Pokémon were not included.
Pidgeot was the first one of Ash's Pokémon to have learned all of its moves in the evolution stage that he caught it in, and evolved later, the other one being Glalie.
Pidgeot is the only Pokémon that is a member of a three part evolutionary family that was caught by Ash in its middle stage.
Pidgeot is one of only two Pokémon owned by Ash that has not at one point evolved in the presence or due to the presence of Team Rocket, the other being Kingler.
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Pidgeotto and Pidgeot.
