Flicky

Flickies are a kind of colourful bird that live almost exlusively on the atoll called Flicky Island. Peaceful and friendly, Flicky birds feed on the strange the bejeweled plants of their home. When they gather into flocks, it is said they can create Warp Rings to other Zones. Consequentially, they don't fear strangers, and are thought to be mere fools.

They were roboticized by the evil Dr. Robotnik and restored by Sonic the Hedgehog.

Robotnik's slaves
Flickies are first seen after Sonic the Hedgehog responded to a distress call on an atoll called Flickies' Island. Dr. Ivo Robotnik had enslaved the island, roboticized the Flickies and was looking for the Chaos Emeralds. Sonic soon found out that the Robot Flickies were weak to seawater, when hit by saltwater they reverted to their flesh and blood forms. While Tails and Rotor sprayed the robots, Sonic then tracked Robotnik to the Flicky Zone. Though Robotnik managed to trap Sonic and locate the Chaos Emerald (on the forehead of a giant Flicky statue), Sonic had trashed Robotnik's newest exo-battlesuit, and the emerald was booby trapped. Removing the emerald caused the giant Flicky statue to come to life, and roar loudly enough to collapse the whole Zone. Sonic and Robotnik barely made it out of the Zone. Robotnik tried to keep his hand on the emerald, but a pink Flicky bit Robotnik's hand. By then, the Flicky robots had all been deroboticized, the roboticer was destroyed, and all of the Flickies had apparently flown back into the Zone, except for one pink Flicky that watched Robotnik throw a temper tantrum for having no way off the island. (SBS)

Pursued by Eggman
During the Chaos Crisis, a green Flicky was pursued by two of Dr. Eggman's newest robots, including E-102 Gamma. The Flicky eventually followed Amy Rose around, who had come to the bird's aid when it was injured. Both Amy and the Flicky were brought on board the Egg Carrier as prisoners, but were subsequently let free by Gamma, who when observing the Flicky and Amy's willingness to help each other, decided to go against his programming. Later, Amy helped the Flicky reunite with its own kind. (StH: #80, #81, #82, #83, #84)

Background information
Flicky was one of few Sonic characters to actually predate Sonic himself, appearing in an 80's arcade game Flicky, in which a blue Flicky would rescue its children Chirps from Tiger cats and Iggy lizards. Flicky made numerous appearances in numerous later games. Flicky's original role in the Sonic franchise is as a small animal rescued from numerous robots in Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and Sonic Spinball among others. The Flickies in this article were more closely based on the Flickies from the Genesis and Sega Saturn game Sonic 3D Blast, and the Dreamcast game Sonic Adventure. Those Flickies are often following those who pass close by, like the Chirps did in the original Flicky game.