There are many different appearances that Flying-type Pokemon can take, and secondary types that they have. There are only a few Flying-types that don't have a secondary type, and as such, most of them have extra abilities unlike more common Pokemon types, including Fire-type and Water-type.
Flying-type Pokemon often are very weird, both in terms of appearance and because of their type. There are many creatures that aren't even able to fly that have been classified as Flying-types, which doesn't make any sense when compared to bird-themed Flying-types such as Pidgey.
Updated on May 14th, 2022 by Michael Caruso: although Flying-types seem like one of the most normal Pokemon types on the surface, they are consistently home to some of the strangest creatures in the Pokemon world. A lot of Flying-types are simply birds or other variations of real world animals, but there are also some like floating clouds and wrestling birds. If you want to know about even more Flying-types that make very little sense in concept or design, then keep reading for a few more that we originally left out.
15 Fan Rotom
Fan Rotom is the Flying-type version of Rotom, and it's technically a transformation of this Pokemon instead of a new species. Rotom is an Electric-type by default and capable of taking on new forms using various pieces of technology, such as fans.
Even though Rotom uses electricity, it doesn't make much sense that it can possess objects like fans, especially considering that these objects have no way of moving around during a battle. This should be a problem during Pokemon battles, but it never seems to come up in the franchise. Rotom's technology-possession ability is really strange and lacks any type of logic, which is why it deserves a spot.
14 Sigilyph
Sigilyph is a fascinating Pokemon. Its Flying-and-Psychic typing is incredibly unique, and its body is filled with beautiful colors. However, although it's a pretty creature, it's design is also very weird. Judging by Sigilyph's strange wings it shouldn't be capable of flight in the first place, due to how separated the different parts of its wings are from each other.
Sigilyph flying in the first place makes little sense, and it's even weirder considering that it weighs 30 pounds. This is incredibly heavy for a bird, especially with strange spread-out wings that already don't look capable of flying.
13 Hawlucha
Hawlucha has an interesting concept. This bird is a wrestler, which allows for some very unique combinations in terms of moveset and typing. Many fans love this creature for its concept, although at its core, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Flying and wrestling are two powerful skills by themselves, so putting them together creates an unfair advantage for other fighters. Although flying would be extremely useful to use in a wrestling match, it would also defeat the purpose of the sport, since one wrestler would too easily be capable of dodging others' attacks. Also, there wouldn't be nearly as much hand-to-hand combat. Additionally, Hawlucha is too small to compete with larger Pokemon in a wrestling match, such as Machamp, so perhaps a larger creature would fit this concept better.
12 Oricorio
Oricorio is an Alolan Pokemon with four different forms. Each of the forms are available in different sections of the Alola region, but each form is significantly different from each other. For this reason, it's strange that the Pokemon world classifies them as the same species.
The separate Oricorio forms range from different colors to entirely different shapes, so they're not quite close enough to feel related. It would make more sense to consider them counterparts of each other and give them separate names, like Plusle and Minun, but for some strange reason, that isn't the case.
11 Landorus
Landorus is one of three legendary Pokemon from the Unova region that controls the skies in the region. Landorus also happens to be a Ground-type Pokemon, which is strange considering that its two types are complete opposites.
It doesn't make much sense that Landorus would rule over the land while being a Flying-type, especially considering that its two counterparts focus on sky-based weather effects. It would make more sense if Landorus took the theme of rain or hurricanes since it would better match its legendary trio.
10 Dodrio
Dodrio is a bird that has three heads; however, what it lacks is any form of wings. Dodrio has powerful legs that are said to propel it into the air, which is similar to flying; however, these two actions are much different.
It seems that Dodrio doesn't have any way to actually fly and stay in the air for a long time consecutively, which is why it is weird that the developers decided to give it the Flying-type. It would make much more sense if Dodrio was a Fighting-type because of its powerful legs that it can use for kicking.
9 Shaymin Sky Forme
Shaymin Sky Forme is able to transform from a tiny land animal into a dog-shaped creature. Many Pokemon fans wonder how it is possible for Shaymin to make this transformation, especially since they are of two different types.
Shaymin is weird both because it can transform into a differently shaped creature and because it doesn't have any traditional way of flying, unlike birds such as Pidgeot and Staraptor. Shaymin can only enter this form when it comes into contact with a rare item called the Gracidea Flower.
8 Drifblim
Drifblim is a Flying-and-Ghost type, which allows it to have a diverse moveset and defeat Pokemon of all different varieties during trainer battles. Drifblim was first seen in the Sinnoh region, and it is known to be common throughout the skies of the Pokemon world.
Trainers often consider Drifblim to be one of the weirdest Pokemon in existence because it is a giant balloon that has a Pokemon ghost trapped inside of it. Drifblim is not only unusual; the fact that a balloon can be possessed also doesn't make any sense at all since it doesn't have any way of controlling where it floats in the air. Perhaps the ghost should possess a Pidgey instead.
7 Hoppip
Hoppip is one of the most adorable Pokemon to come out of generation two, and fans absolutely adore it.
However, Hoppip is also very weak, and all of its evolutions generally share this trait. The one advantage that Hoppip does have is its dual Flying-and-Grass-type unique combination; however, this typing doesn't make any sense considering that Hoppip can't actually fly and is only capable of floating a few feet off of the ground.
6 Skarmory
Skarmory is a dual Steel-and-Flying-type that has been a fan favorite since generation two because of its unique typing and interesting appearance. Many Pokemon fans carry nostalgia for this creature because it was one of the most beloved Pokemon in the Johto region.
Skarmory is not only one of the most powerful Pokemon in the Johto region; its Steel-typing also allows it to have a higher than average defense, which makes it very durable. This heavy steel casing would realistically make Skarmory drop out of the sky; however, in the Pokemon world, it seems that Skarmory is able to stay in the air despite its heavy weight, which doesn't make sense.
5 Mega Pinsir
Mega Pinsir was introduced in Generation 6 as the the mega evolution for Pinsir. Pinsir is usually only a Bug-type; however, when it mega evolves, it gains the Flying-type as well.
Fans wonder how Pinsir could have the Flying-type considering that it only has small wings and can barely lift itself a few feet off of the ground. It seems that Mega Pinsir definitely wouldn't be able to perform powerful Flying-type abilities, including flying high up in the air, which is why this mega evolution would make more sense if it had a secondary Normal-type or Fighting-type instead.
4 Mantyke
Mantyke is a Pokemon that lives in the ocean; however, it is commonly seen hopping out of the water to gain some fresh air.
Mantyke doesn't seem to possess any abilities of flying, and even if it is able to hop out of the ocean from time to time, it still shouldn't be classified as a Flying-type since it can't actually fly and only has the ability to swim. This Flying-type is one of the most unusual around.
3 Tropius
Tropius is a very cool Pokemon, and it has one of the most unique appearances that fans got a chance to see in the Hoenn region. This Pokemon resembles a tropical tree, and it also has wings in the shape of leaves.
Fans often consider Tropius to be one of the best generation three Pokemon because of its Grass-and-Flying type, but also because it has such an interesting appearance. Although Tropius may have wings, they shouldn't be able to hold up its large body since it is very heavy, and it has uneven proportions.
2 Minior
Minior is often sitting in the ozone layer and will fall to the ground if a predator comes near it and tries to attack it.
Minior is a bland-looking Pokemon as it appears to look similar to nothing more than a rock most of the time; however, what is so strange about this Pokemon is how it is even able to float since it doesn't have any type of wings. Minior is definitely one of the strangest Flying-type Pokemon in appearance, and it seems to have no logic behind how it stays adrift in the sky.
1 Gyarados
Gyarados has always been weird in terms of typing because most fans think that it should be a Dragon-type instead of a Flying-type. Gyarados isn't often seen flying, and it seems to have more qualities of an aquatic creature than a creature bound to the sky.
This point is furthered by the fact that Gyarados gained a mega evolution in generation six, and it had the Dragon-type. Gyarados definitely doesn't make sense in terms of typing, and most trainers realize this immediately after seeing it for the first time.