Thunder

Zapdos is a large, avian Pokémon with predominantly yellow plumage. It has small, triangular eyes with black around them and a long, thin, light orange beak. 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. A large crest of spiked feathers surrounds its head. Its thighs are tan, and it has thin, light orange legs. It has feet with three forward-facing toes and one backward-facing toe; each toe has a short talon.

Rarely seen, in An Illustrated Book of POCKET MONSTERS, Zapdos is said to be a divine bird that presides over the heavens, spending millennia among thunderclouds, before descending with lightning bolts. When Zapdos flaps its glittering wings, it releases electricity that can potentially cause thunderstorms. Naturally, it produces massive crackling and snapping sounds when it flies; these are attributed to the lightning bolts it sheds when airborne. Zapdos reportedly appears only during thunderstorms and gains power when struck by lightning. When attacking, Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards shows that Zapdos can electrify its talons. In The Power of One (M02), Zapdos is said to regulate the ocean's currents, and when captured, they become catastrophically unstable. It is also shown to communicate with other Electric-type Pokémon through exchanging lightning bolts. Furthermore, it is exceptionally territorial, immediately conquering and terraforming Fire Island after is captured in the interests of controlling the Orange Islands with thunder. It is said to be capable of defeating a lone when battling alongside and Moltres.

As seen in Pokémon Horizons, like other Legendary Pokémon, Zapdos can be found in the Pokémon paradise Laqua. Zapdos loves Zapdos Treats made by Snacksworth, who once saw it fly right by him in the past.

Forms

Zapdos has a regional form: Galarian Zapdos.

In Galar, Zapdos has a different appearance. Its body is red-orange with black plumage. Its head features yellow eyes with more pronounced, mask-like black coloration around them, a shorter black beak, and a longer, more visible neck. Its legs are black, longer, and more muscular, its thigh feathers are also black, and its talons are yellow with red rings at their bases. Its red-orange wings are smaller, with small black markings that appear to be remnants of its Kantonian counterpart's black plumage. Finally, it has a row of spiky feathers along its chest, and a similar row of black feathers on its back.

Belligerent by nature and ever thirsting for battle, Galarian Zapdos seeks out opponents stronger than itself so it could test its might. Its powerful legs allow it to perform devastating kicks capable of destroying a dump truck, and it can run across mountains at up to 180 mph (300 km/h). Its wings have atrophied to the point that it can barely fly, but its movements are so swift that they have been compared to a lightning strike. This Pokémon earned the name of its Kantonian counterpart due to the electric-like crackling sounds that come from its feathers rubbing together. It is constantly migrating around the world but can be found in the Crown Tundra once every few decades congregating with the other birds at the Dyna Tree to eat its fruits.

(Source: Bulbapedia)