What do feral pigeons eat?
The preferred choice to feast on is seeds, berries, grains and even small insects. However, they are opportunist feeders and an increase in urban areas means they now rely mainly on humans to feed them, either by choice in parks and gardens or indirectly by the food and refuse we leave behind. Unlike other birds that sip water, the pigeon actually uses its beak as a straw to draw up water. This plentiful food source provides all the sustenance the birds require for growth, health and good conditioning. With a regular food supply, pigeons can live as long as 15 years and sustain flocks of up to 400 birds!
Do pigeons have natural predators?
Although the wild pigeon does have natural predators such as sparrowhawks and falcons, the cause of early death in urban pigeons is far more likely to be humans as we try to control their ever-increasing population.
How often do pigeons lay eggs?
As a species, pigeons love to breed, they are also monogamous so the first step is to find a mate for life. The male bird will find a good-looking stick, offer it to the female and if she accepts, it will become the foundation of their nest and long life together. She is not particularly fussy, the nest is not well constructed; a couple of sticks and a bit of refuse usually does the trick.
Pigeons lay 2 eggs at a time and with a good food source and ideal location, the mated pair can lay eggs up to 8 times a year. Peak breeding season is in the spring and summer. The eggs laid don't take long to incubate either, taking an average time of 17-19 days to hatch. A male chick or squab will hatch first followed by a female squab.
What does a baby pigeon look like?
A baby pigeon or squab as they are known are not good-looking chicks. They are covered in scraggly yellow down, big black eyes and a large pink beak. They are also sometimes known as squeakers as when they are hungry they flap their wings and squeak a lot.
Why don’t you ever see a baby pigeon?
Squabs don’t leave the nest for at least 30 days, during which time they are fed crop milk by both their parents. A substance that they delightfully regurgitate for their young. By the time they leave the nest, they are pretty much indistinguishable from their parents. At 6 months old they can start breeding themselves!
Are pigeons smart?
Never underestimate the pigeon. Although they may look straggly and a bit rough around the edges, they are incredibly intelligent. They are thought to be one of only 6 species in the world to be able to recognise themselves in a mirror, as well as all 26 letters of the alphabet. They can also see in full colour as we can but they also see the ultraviolet spectrum too.
How far can a pigeon fly?
Pigeons are fast flyers and can average a speed of over 75 mph with the fastest speed ever recorded being 92.5 mph. They can climb to heights of over 6000 feet and cover up to 700 miles a day. No wonder they have been used for thousands of years as messenger carriers.
In fact so suited are pigeons to this, they were relied upon in our world wars to deliver life-saving messages. In WWII, 32 Dickin Medals were presented to pigeons for displaying conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while delivering vital messages from the front lines and from behind enemy lines.
How do pigeons navigate?
They are great navigators described as having an internal magnetic compass potentially using the earth’s magnetic field. They will also use the sun or manmade landmarks and roads to guide them.
Why do pigeons bob their heads?
They have eyes on the sides of their heads and have monocular vision so bob their heads for depth of perception. They function better with stationary images, so as it steps forward, the head is ‘left behind’, the next step jerks it forward and so on, allowing the bird to orient itself.