Zapdos is a dual type Electric and Flying Legendary Pokemon introduced in Generation I. It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokemon. Along with Articuno and Moltres, it is one of the three Legendary birds of Kanto. Take a look below for 27 fascinating and interesting facts about Zapdos.

1. Zapdos is a large, avian Pokemon with predominantly yellow plumage.

2. It has small, triangular eyes with black around them and a long, thin, light orange beak.

3. Its wings and tail are a mass of spiky feathers and there are black feathers covering the back of its wings and inner tail feathers.

4. A large crest of spiked feathers surrounds its head.

5. Its thighs are tan, and it has thin, light orange legs.

6. It has feet with three forward facing toes and one backward facing toe; each toe has a short talon.

7. When Zapdos flaps its glittering wings, it releases electricity that can potentially cause thunderstorms.

8. It produces massive crackling and snapping sounds when it flies; these are attributed to the lightning bolts it sheds when airborne.

9. Zapdos reportedly appears only during thunderstorms and gains power when struck by lightning.

10. It is said to live among thunderclouds, but it is rarely seen.

11. Of all Legendary Pokémon with fixed in-game locations, Zapdos can be obtained with the fewest number of Badges: 2. The player can catch Zapdos with only the Boulder Badge and the Cascade Badge.

12. Zapdos shares its category with Elekid and Electabuzz. They are all known as the Electric Pokémon.

13. Zapdos and Jolteon‘s Japanese names are almost exactly the same as each other’s, with a final s being the only difference.

14. Zapdos possesses a type advantage over all other members of its trio, as well as its trio master, Lugia.

15. In the anime episode The Bridge Bike Gang, Chopper’s bike was decorated to look like a Zapdos.

16. Zapdos may be based on the Native American legend of the thunderbird, a spirit of thunder, lightning, and rain that took the form of a giant bird.

17. The beating of the wings was said to create thunder. It may also have been based on the lightning bird, a bird created from wherever lightning hits the earth.

18. Aesthetically, it may also be based on hummingbirds, due to the long beak, the rather simple wings, and described violent behavior.

19. Zapdos is a combination of zap and dos (Spanish for two, indicating that it is the second in the series of Kanto Legendary birds).

20. Zapdos debuted in The Power of One. Lawrence III wanted to capture the three Legendary birds, as well as their master Lugia, for his own personal collection.

21. Zapdos made its main series debut in As Clear As Crystal. When Team Rocket made an attempt to steal a crystal that gave a lake the ability to heal Electric-type Pokémon, they were sidetracked when Zapdos showed up and they changed their objective to capture Zapdos instead.

22. The Mirage Master briefly wielded the power of a Mirage Zapdos in The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon.

23. A Zapdos appeared in An Electrifying Rage!. It was first seen flying across the sky by Ash and his friends. Team Rocket later made an attempt to capture Zapdos, which infuriated it, forcing Ash to battle it with Talonflame, Hawlucha, and newly-evolved Noivern. When Team Rocket continued their attempt, Noivern and Pikachu helped save Zapdos and calm it down.

24. A Zapdos appeared in Team Rocket’s fantasy in An EGG-sighting Adventure!.

25. A Zapdos appeared in the ending credits of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. Jackie captured it with a Capture Styler and flew away on its back.

26. A Zapdos made a cameo appearance in Doc Brock!. This may have been taken from Pokémon Platinum, where a Zapdos could be seen roaming throughout Sinnoh.

27. A Zapdos made a cameo appearance in a flashback in Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!, and both of Narissa’s Ditto transformed into it.