A female Pikachu can be identified by a distinct feature: its tail. Unlike male Pikachu, which have pointed tails with straight ends, female Pikachu possess tails that curve at the end, forming the upper half of a heart shape. This characteristic is a key visual difference between the genders in the Pokémon franchise12.
In terms of overall appearance, both male and female Pikachu share the same body structure, characterized by their round bodies, large ears with black tips, and bright yellow fur. The primary distinction lies in the tail shape, making it relatively easy to differentiate between the two genders when observing them in games or animations34.
While Ash's Pikachu is confirmed to be male due to its tail shape and other references in the series, female Pikachu are less commonly depicted in merchandise and media. However, female Pikachu can be found in various Pokémon games and are often featured in plush toy collections13.