Pokémon Sword & Shield: 10 Predictions Based On Galar’s Map

10. Regional Bird Is A Canary Or Budgie

Each region gets its own regional bird, sometimes two, encountered early on to help fill your party before better ones buff them up. Although there are exceptions to this (like Staraptor, who’s worth keeping around), they generally serve their purpose then retire gracefully.

With pigeons and pheasants both associated with the UK but already having Pokémon, a canary or budgie could be possible. Though they might not immediately spring to mind for Britain, the fact there’s a coal mine in the trailer means there’s definitely a chance.

Coal mining is a huge part of British history, so its inclusion definitely makes thematic sense. As for the canary or budgie, both of these were frequently taken down the mines in cages to warn the miners. If the gas became too toxic, the bird would suffocate, the the miners would know it was time to evacuate.

The mines seem to be fairly early on the map, though not as early as Route 1, so if they are the regional bird we’ll see them outside their thematically suitable habitat first for sure.

Then again, Alola’s regional bird was a woodpecker (Pikipek) which has nothing to do with Hawaii, so really it could be anything.