Just like with the penguin, the ostrich, and the kiwi, there are Pokémon that have wings but do not use them primarily for flight, and are therefore not categorized as Flying-Type. Some have Flying-Type moves, although they have other characteristics that are more prominent and make them a different type.
This can be a big advantage, as these Pokémon get the benefits of flying alongside their main type(s), increasing the scope of their movesets. Even so, there are Pokémon capable of taking to the air that don't fully utilize their wings and learn hardly any Flying-Type moves, favoring their actual type instead.
10 Sirfetch'd Is A Bird That's Weak Against Flying-Type Moves
Even though it has wings and can learn Flying-Type moves such as Peck and Brave Bird, Sirfetch'd is a Fighting-Type Pokémon, and is actually weak to Flying-Type moves. It might prove too difficult for Sirfetch'd to fly, given its penchant for carrying around a large leek. That's if it were inclined to take flight to begin with. Perhaps, owing to its noble nature, it feels it must remain on the ground and not flee battle when it could easily do so.
9 Flygon Isn't A Flying-Type Even Though It Has 'Fly' In Its Name
The Ground/Dragon-Type Pokémon Flygon uses its wings to kick up sandstorms in order to hide itself, and when flapped, they create a singing sound. It is capable of learning only a couple of Flying-Type moves, the rest being a combination of mostly Ground, Dragon, and Normal moves. In fact there are only 4 types of move that Flygon can't learn: Fairy, Poison, Ice, and Water, making it an extremely versatile Pokémon.
8 Latios & Latias Look Like Planes But Aren't Flying-Types
Given that Latios and Latias's bodies resemble planes, it's strange that neither of their types is Flying. Instead, they are Dragon/Psychic Pokémon. Their appearance belies their aerial prowess; they can only learn a few Flying moves. True to their type, their moveset comprises mainly Psychic moves along with a variety across most other move types. Despite their ability to fly, given that they aren't Flying-Types, Latios and Latias are actually resistant to Electric-Type moves.
7 Decidueye Is A Grass/Ghost Robin Hood Lookalike
The awkwardly-named Arrow Wing Pokémon has large, sweeping wings and looks like Robin Hood mixed with an owl. Decidueye is a Grass/Ghost-Type, which is strange because Flying-Types are usually strong against Grass-Types.
One of its attacks is plucking and firing arrow quills from its wings with remarkable speed and accuracy, so precise even that they can pierce a pebble at distances over a hundred yards. Decidueye evolves from Dartrix who, interestingly, is a Grass/Flying-Type.
6 Empoleon Uses Its Wings To Slice Through Icebergs
Based on a flightless bird, the emperor penguin, Empoleon cannot fly, despite the fact it has wings. The Water/Steel-Type Pokémon utilizes its razor-sharp wings in battle and to slice through icebergs. Introduced in Generation IV, Empoleon featured in the 157th episode of the Diamond and Pearl series as one of Ash's rival Barry's Pokémon. As did Piplup, the first of Empoleon's evolutionary predecessors, who belonged to Dawn. Ash pitted his newly-caught Gible against Barry's Empoleon with Piplup getting caught in the crossfire after Empoleon deflected Gible's Meteor.
5 Scizor Has An Alternative Use For Its Wings
Bug/Steel Pokémon Scizor's wings aren't big or strong enough to enable it to fly very far. Instead, it uses its wings to regulate its body temperature by flapping them at high speeds. Scizor cannot maintain its Mega Scizor form as it causes itself to overflow with excess energy; if not for its wings it wouldn't be able to cool itself down and its metal body would melt. While not as fast as Scyther, which evolves into Scizor via trade while holding a Metal Coat, changing its color from green to red, it still possesses great agility with the addition of being stronger and more powerful.
4 Naganadel Is A Winged Hypodermic Needle Full Of Poison
One of the Ultra Beasts, Naganadel is a Poison/Dragon-Type that resembles a cross between a dragon and a wasp, with a hypodermic needle in place of a stinger. When Naganadel evolves from Poipol, the Pokémon flips upside-down so that the needle goes from the top of Poipol's head to the bottom of Naganadel's abdomen, which houses its brain, and it develops wings.
In Z-Move Showdown!, the 14oth episode of Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, Ash's Poipole evolves into Naganadel after entering through a wormhole, having returned to its home in episode 90 of Sun & Moon, "Securing the Future!."
3 Reshiram Is A Fiery, Feathery Flier That Somehow Isn't A Flying-Type
The yin to Zekrom's yang, Reshiram represents light and femininity. The mascot of Pokémon Black is a wyvern-like Dragon/Fire Legendary that has an all-white body and vast, feathery wings. It also has what's essentially a jet engine for a tail, which is conducive to flying at high speeds. All the more curious then as to why Reshiram is not a Flying-Type. It also doesn't actually learn any other Flying moves than Fly.
2 Lunala Uses Its Wings To Make It Look Like The Moon
Lunala has bat-like wings and is based on the Moon, hence the name. A Psychic/Ghost Pokémon, its wings have blades attached to them that resemble crescent moons. While in Ultra Space or using its signature move Moongeist Beam, Lanala enters its Full Moon Phase, spreading its wings and turning them from purple to light blue, taking on the appearance of a full moon. Lunala is the mascot of Pokémon Moon, and it can fuse with Necrozma to become Dawn Wings Necrozma.
1 Eternatus Is A Poisonous Dragon With Skeletal Wings
Eternatus is a gigantic, alien-looking draconic Pokémon with a skeletal body and 2 long, narrow wings. It is only the third Pokémon to have a Poison/Dragon typing after Dragalge and Naganadel, and the first Legendary to be a Poison-Type. The skeletal structure of Eternatus's body means that its wings don't have membranes, only the top part, or propatagium. When in its Eternamax Form, Eternatus's body becomes serpent-like, with its wings becoming tendrils that coil around its body.