Zapdos (Sandā, Thunder) is one of the three winged mirages along with Articuno and Moltres Pokemon.
It was originally conceived by Game Freak's character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori. Its English name is a combination of "zap" and "dos", the Spanish word for two.
Its first appearance was in Pokémon Red and Blue, where it acts as one of the rarest Pokémon, appearing only once in the entire game. It has made several appearances since, including in the video game Super Smash Bros. Melee, and it was prominently featured in the theatrical anime film Pokémon The Movie 2000 as a central character to the plot.
In terms of abilities, Zapdos has the power to control electricity, which it can harness to unleash powerful electric attacks. As per the game's lore, Zapdos is often associated with thunderstorms and can be found in areas where there is a high amount of electrical activity.
Zapdos, like the other Legendary birds, has had various appearances throughout the Pokémon video game series, as well as in the anime series, trading card game, and movies. In the games, Zapdos is often presented as a challenging Pokémon to capture due to its rarity and power.
Zapdos appeared in the Galarian form in Pokémon Sword and Shield’s expansion, The Crown Tundra. The Galarian Zapdos is a Fighting/Flying-type Pokémon, and its appearance is reminiscent of a roadrunner, a fast-running bird, with more earth-toned colors compared to its original form's bright yellow.