Pigeon

Pigeons are very widely distributed, with over 300 species worldwide.

Pigeons are part of the family Columbidae and scientifically they are even the same as doves, although doves normally refer to smaller species of pigeon in layman’s terms.

5 Amazing Pigeon Facts!

• Some colorful species of these birds are bred in captivity, many with a wide variety of plumage.
• In scientific nomenclature, “pigeon” and “dove” are interchangeable. Some species, such as rock pigeons, are also known as rock doves.
• These birds get their names from the Latin word for “peeping chick,” pipio.
• If displaced, these birds can fly up to 1300 miles to return home.
• Pigeons are considered one of the world’s smartest animals! In addition, they have unique “infrasounds” adaptations that make them an animal with the best hearing in the world.

You can read more incredible facts about pigeons.

Where To Find Pigeons

Pigeons are birds that are found everywhere, save for Antarctic ice and the Sahara Desert. They inhabit a wide variety of biomes, including grasslands, forests, and cities. The most widely distributed species is the rock dove, otherwise known as the common pigeon. This species is feral in cities around the world.

Scientific Name

The family Columbidae comes from the Old Irish word for dove, which is Columb. St. Columba of Iona, or the “dove of the church,” may be the influence for the name of this family.

Evolution And Origin

Although the earliest known pigeon, known as Gerandia calcaria, came from the Miocene era, about 23 million years ago, and was found in what is now France, it is believed that the little pigeon is actually a descendant of the fierce velociraptor. During the Jurassic period, there were some instances where both the velociraptor and the tyrannosaurus rex began to evolve into birds. Over the course of millions of years, this eventually gave way to a multitude of new species, one of which was the rock pigeon, or rock dove, which is the oldest common ancestor of the pigeon.

Types Of

There are over 300 species of pigeons found throughout the world. Belonging to the genus Columba, they are in the same family as the dove. The pigeon was even a relative of the flightless Dodo bird. Here are just a few of the many species of pigeons:

• Egyptian Swift Pigeon
• Oriental Roller
• Ice Pigeon
• Brunner Pouter
• Carneau

Appearance

Depending on the species, pigeons are birds that come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They can be as small as 6 inches to over 2 feet long. The crowned pigeon is the largest of the species and is about the size of a turkey.

The pigeon’s flight muscles make them a bulky bird, and they have a small beak with two fleshy ceres near the face. They have a ring of skin around their eyes. They have short beaks, short legs, and tiny heads on long necks. They come in an incredible variety of colors and patterns.

Many of these birds have crests and iridescence on their bodies, and some domestic varieties, such as the white ice pigeon, have feathers on their feet. Many colorful forms of domestic species are descended from the humble gray rock pigeon.

Pigeon Vs Dove

Scientifically speaking, pigeons and doves are interchangeable. Linguistically, smaller members of the Columbidae family tend to be known as doves, while larger members are called pigeons. However, this is not a hard rule and there are exceptions, as well as birds that are called both of these terms. For example, the species Columba livia is known as both the rock dove, the rock, and the common pigeon.

Behavior

Depending on the species, these birds can either live solitarily or form large social groups. Most species roost at night. They spend most of their day preening and sunning themselves. They also bathe in water or dust.

These birds have been used extensively in history as navigators, as they have an excellent sense of place and can travel very easily.

During the breeding season, most species become territorial and defend their nests.

Diet

These birds eat berries, nuts, seeds, and fruits. They may also consume insects and other invertebrates. In populated areas, feral birds will scavenge for food scraps.

Young birds consume a product called “pigeon milk,” which is produced by their parents. This is regurgitated food that comes out in a liquid form.

They are one of the very few bird species with the ability to suck water through their beaks. For a complete list of foods pigeons eat, check out our “What Do Pigeons Eat?” page.

Predators And Threats

Snakes and birds of prey are these birds’ most abundant predators. Because they are an easy target, they have developed methods, such as flocking in large groups and having a short nesting cycle, to avoid being preyed upon.

Reproduction, Babies, And Lifespan

These birds are monogamous. Males perform elaborate displays in order to attract the attention of females. The birds build flimsy nests at the top of trees or along rocky cliffs. Both parents care for the eggs and baby pigeons.

Females may lay up to 5 nests during the breeding season. Most nests consist of 2 eggs, though may have either 1 or 3 depending on the abundance of available food. Because they are fed nutritious pigeon milk, they grow rapidly. Some species are fed this until they leave the nest, while others will switch to solid foods.

Population

As a family, these birds are extremely abundant. There are over 400 million birds worldwide.

However, some species are endangered, critically endangered, or even extinct. According to the IUCN Red List 2012, 30% of species are threatened or near-threatened. The best way to preserve endangered species is to protect their habitats from habitat destruction.

However, due to the introduction by humans, some species have drastically expanded their population sizes.

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