Hoothoot is an avianPokémon that resembles an owl 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 the Pokémon Journeys: The Series episode Finding 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 the world'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 some Trainers today. Hoothoot is most commonly found nesting in trees in temperate and boreal forests. Hoothoot is nocturnal, and during the day, it sleeps in holes carved into tree trunks. Hoothoot preys on Grubbin.
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, this Pokémon 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 in Illusion Confusion!, under the ownership of Hagatha and Nagatha. The two rented their Hoothoot to Trainers, including Gary Oak, so they can get through a haunted forest.
In A Staravia is Born!, a Hoothoot teamed up with Ash's Starly to hypnotize Meowth into helping the other Flying-type Pokémon escape. It was later seen flying away with them, waving goodbye to Ash's newly evolved Staravia in the process.
In The Legend of Thunder!, a Hoothoot was perched in the hollow of a tree outside the Pokémon Center. Another Hoothoot was inside the Center with its Trainer.
In The Legend, two Hoothoot were hanging under some tree branches when Green had finished her message to Silver in Johto.
In Murkrow Row, a Hoothoot was flying at night while Gold was playing cue balls in his room. It was later seen again when Gold asks Joey if he recorded the DJ Mary's song.
In Who 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, by Gold and his Aipom. The same man and his Hoothoot are seen in Really Raikou & Entirely Entei (Part 1) and The Last Battle XIII.
In Gligar Glide, two Hoothoot were seen at night near the forest Gold was sleeping in.
In Fighting 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 by Ken Sugimori. In Nintendo Power Vol. 134, Sugimori stated in an interview that Hoothoot is his favorite Pokémon 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 into Pokémon Gold and Silver but goes unused.
Hoothoot seems to be based on a young horned owl, particularly the Eurasian eagle-owl due to its red eyes, combined with a clock. Its round body is the shape of a clock face, the two prongs of its crest resemble clock hands, the markings around its eyes resemble gears, and it has the ability to keep track of time. Its tilting movement while standing on one leg makes it resemble a pendulum 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 from hoot (the sound an owl makes).[2] It may also involve cuckoo, as in a cuckoo 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 of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Hoothoot images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
