Deerling is a deer or fawn-like Pokémon, most resembling a fallow deer, with facial similarities to Shaymin’s Sky Forme. The upper side of its body is colored pink, and is rimmed and dappled with yellow patterns, with the underside of its body being a lighter beige shade. It sports a yellowish-colored, floral tuft on its head, and similar yellow coloration on the ear insides of its tapering ears. The tips of its limbs are colored black and its pink tail is small.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Deerling changes in appearance with the changing of the seasons: in the spring it is pink, in the summer it is green, in the fall it is orange, and in the winter it is brown.
Behavior
Deerling hide in tall grass when they sense animosity. Deerling tend to move in herds due to their timidity towards humans.
Habitat
Can be found almost anywhere throughout the Unova region. It seems as if this Pokémon can adapt according to the season and temperature. This Pokémon dwells in sparsely populated areas, away from humans.
A herd of Deerling appeared in In The Shadow of Zekrom!. Another herd appeared in Enter Iris and Axew!, where Ash attempted to catch one; however, as he had not weakened it, the Deerling was able to deflect the Poké Ball and fled with the rest of the herd.
A Deerling appeared in BW012 under the ownership of Yuri.
Minor appearances
Multiple Deerling made a brief cameo in BW003 with multiple Pidove and Patrat where they needed help from Ash and his friends.
Another Deerling appeared in a flashback in BW004, where it was seen to have defeated Tepig before it was caught by Ash.
A wild Deerling made an appearance in BW018 when Ash's Sewaddle accidentally latched onto it with String Shot, startling the Deerling and causing it to buck and thrash around wildly through the forest to get Sewaddle off.
Deerling is likely a combination of deer and yearling, referencing both its young age and its ties to the year's four seasons. It may also be derived from the suffix -ling, meaning a younger form. It could also represent a mix of dear and darling, both common terms of endearment. Shikijika is a combination of 四季 shiki, four seasons, and 鹿 shika, deer.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.