ExploreBird

Pigeon

Columba livia

Pigeons are friendly birds found in cities and parks. They have colorful feathers and can fly high in the sky. Pigeons make soft cooing sounds that are soothing to hear.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Pigeon has a mostly grey body with iridescent green and purple feathers on its neck, catching the light like a rainbow. It often features two distinct black bars on each wing and reddish-pink feet, distinguishing it from other city birds.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderColumbiformesFamilyColumbidaeGenusColumba

Pigeon

Interesting facts

Pigeons can hear very low-frequency sounds that humans cannot detect.

Pigeons have been awarded medals for their bravery delivering messages in wars!

These clever birds can even learn to count and tell different pictures apart.

They can recognize individual human faces, even after a long time apart.

Special abilities

Pigeon can find its way home from far away, even hundreds of miles, because of a special internal compass.

Pigeon parents produce a nutritious 'crop milk' to feed their chicks, unique among most birds.

Pigeon can drink water by sucking it up like a straw, unlike most birds who must tilt their heads back.

Pigeon has special eyes that can see ultraviolet light, which helps them navigate and find food.

Measurements & details

Length: 30-35 cm
Wingspan: 60-70 cm
Weight: 0.25-0.4 kg
Lifespan: 3-5 years
Top Speed: 90 km/h
Clutch Size: 1-2
Incubation: 17-19 days

Diet & Feeding

Pigeons are adaptable eaters, munching on seeds, grains, fruit, and even discarded human food.

Primary Foods

Seeds
Grains
Berries
Discarded food scraps
Small insects

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

A fast predator, it hunts pigeons in cities.

eaten by

Domestic Cat

Felis catus

Urban cats often prey on unwary pigeons.

parasitizes

Pigeon Feather Louse

Columbicola columbae

Tiny insects that live in pigeon feathers.

depends on

Human

Homo sapiens

Many urban pigeons rely on human activity for food.

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Tool Use

Discover amazing animals that cleverly use objects from their environment to help them find food, build homes, or protect themselves. They're nature's clever inventors!

Diurnal

Wake up with creatures that are most active during the day! They love the sunshine for finding food, playing, and exploring.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.

Migratory

Follow incredible journeys across the world! These animals travel far and wide at different times of the year, often to find better food or warmer places.