Hoothoot is anavianPokémon that resembles anowl with a round body. Most of its feathers are brown, but its belly is cream-colored. It has large, red eyes; a small, pinkish beak; stubby wings; and a fan-like tail with three feathers. Encircling its eyes are black rings; the lower rims of each ring have three protrusions that resemble the teeth on a gear, while the upper rims have extensions that resemble the hands of a clock. As seen in thePokémon Journeys: The Series episodeFinding a Legend!, Hoothoot's feathers can grow to be shaggy, and the protrusions on its head droop. It has two pinkish feet, each with five clawed toes. However, it will typically only stand on one foot at a time and alternates between the two at speeds too difficult to track with the naked eye.
Hoothoot begins crying at the same time every day and always tilts its head in the same rhythm. This ability is due to a special internal organ that senses theworld's rotation, allowing it to keep track of time. As a result, Hoothoot was once considered a divine messenger sent to tell the time. Some countries see Hoothoot as a deity of wisdom. Historically, people raised Hoothoot to serve as clocks — a practice still done by someTrainers today. Hoothoot is most commonly found nesting intrees in temperate and boreal forests. Hoothoot isnocturnal, and during the day, it sleeps in holes carved into tree trunks. Hoothoot preys onGrubbin.
It always stands on one foot. It changes feet so fast, the movement can rarely be seen.(Pokémon Red, Silver, or Crystal inserted) It has a perfect sense of time. Whatever happens, it keeps rhythm by precisely tilting its head in time.(Pokémon Blue, Gold, or Yellow inserted)
Hoothoot has an internal organ that senses and tracks the earth's rotation. Using this special organ, thisPokémon begins hooting at precisely the same time every day.
Hoothoot has an internal organ that senses and tracks the earth's rotation. Using this special organ, this Pokémon begins hooting at precisely the same time every day.
Hoothoot are said to be more accurate timekeepers than any clock. As nocturnal Pokémon, they’re not big fans of light, so they spend the daylight hours sleeping in holes in tree trunks.
Multiple Hoothoot made their animated series debut inIllusion Confusion!, under the ownership ofHagatha and Nagatha. The two rented their Hoothoot toTrainers, includingGary Oak, so they can get through a haunted forest.
InA Staravia is Born!, a Hoothoot teamed up withAsh's Starly to hypnotizeMeowth into helping the otherFlying-type Pokémon escape. It was later seen flying away with them, waving goodbye to Ash's newly evolvedStaravia in the process.
InThe Legend of Thunder!, a Hoothoot was perched in the hollow of a tree outside thePokémon Center. Another Hoothoot was inside the Center with its Trainer.
InThe Legend, two Hoothoot were hanging under some tree branches whenGreen had finished her message toSilver in Johto.
InMurkrow Row, a Hoothoot was flying at night while Gold was playing cue balls in his room. It was later seen again whenGold asksJoey if he recorded theDJ Mary's song.
InWho Gives a Hoothoot?, a trickster claimed to use a Hoothoot as an accurate timekeeper to regulate a prize-winning game he was hosting, when in fact he was prompting Hoothoot to declare the time limit whenever a participant was on the verge of winning, thus preventing anyone from winning his game. He was busted however, byGold and hisAipom. The same man and his Hoothoot are seen inReally Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 1) andThe Last Battle XIII.
InGligar Glide, two Hoothoot were seen at night near the forest Gold was sleeping in.
InFighting Flyer with Fire,Falkner's Hoothoot stands on both legs, even though Hoothoot supposedly only ever stands on one leg at a time.
Hoothoot was designed byKen Sugimori. InNintendo Power Vol. 134, Sugimori stated in an interview that Hoothoot is his favoritePokémon because he had a pet bird as a child that would stand on one foot.[1]
Hoothoot has a unique fade-in animation that is programmed intoPokémon Gold and Silver but goes unused.
Hoothoot seems to be based on a younghorned owl, particularly theEurasian eagle-owl due to its red eyes, combined with aclock. Its round body is the shape of a clock face, the two prongs of its crest resemble clock hands, the markings around its eyes resemblegears, and it has the ability to keep track of time. Its tilting movement while standing on one leg makes it resemble apendulum clock.
Hoothoot's behavior of standing on one leg at any given time was inspired by Ken Sugimori's childhood pet bird, who had shown a similar behavior.[1]
Name origin
Hoothoot is derived fromhoot (the sound an owl makes).[2] It may also involvecuckoo, as in acuckoo clock.
Hoho is derived from ホーhō (the sound an owl makes).[3]
↑PokéQuiz: Today’s Pokémon is Hoothoot! What is it called in Japanese? Here’s a big hint! In Japanese, the sound it makes is “hoo”! [...] The correct answer is Hoho! Ho-o ho-o!
This Pokémon article is part ofProject Pokédex, aBulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please seeHoothoot images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
