Natu is a tiny, mostly green bird Pokémon with a nearly spherical body, and accents of red, yellow and black. It possesses brightly colored, yellow-and-red wings with thick black stripes. The wings are small and not fully-grown, thus making it unable to fly. However, it can hop and climb tree trunks. Natu has a red crest on the top of its head, and its three-toed feet and three tail feathers are red as well. Natu also has almond-shaped eyes and a yellow beak.
Natu is believed to be native to South America, although it can be found near ruins and in forests in other areas of the world. Natu usually forages for food on the ground. However, on rare occasions, it will hop onto branches to peck at the tree's new shoots. It also picks food from cactus plants, easily avoiding the buds and spines. Due to its prophetic abilities, Natu is a very cautious Pokémon that is easily spooked. It has the quirky behavior of staring at something until the thing moves.
Natu, the Little Bird Pokémon. Natu evolves into Xatu and skillfully picks food from cactus plants, avoiding bugs and spines. It appears to skip about to move.
Crystal owns a Natu, whose Psychic attacks allow it to hold its own despite its size. Crystal also uses Natu to provide flight transport over short distances. Sometime between the GSC and Emerald arcs, it evolved into a Xatu, and with it came increased speed and flight stamina, though it isn't seen battling much.
In Volume 22, Will is seen to have a Natu during Silver's flashback of his escape from the Masked Man, probably a pre-evolution of the Xatu he used many volumes earlier.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Natu is Falkner's only known Pokémon. During his Gym battle with Red in PM070, he sends it out to have a battle with Clefairy.
Natu cannot fly because its wings are not yet fully grown. If your eyes meet with this Pokémon's eyes, it will stare back intently at you. But if you move even slightly, it will hop away to safety.
Natu has a highly developed jumping ability. The Pokémon flaps and leaps onto tree branches that are taller than grown-up people to pick at the tree's new shoots.
Natu shares its species name with Pidgey and Spearow. They are all known as the Tiny Bird Pokémon (though Natu was known as the Little Bird Pokémon in Generation II).
Origin
Natu appears to be based on a parrot. It also resembles a quail.
Name origin
Natu may be derived from native and Atu (the first man of Samoan mythology). Natu is also Latin for birth.
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.