# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 80 - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** City Pigeon, Feral Pigeon ![Pigeon](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426012/objects/6307.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Columbiformes - **Family:** Columbidae - **Genus:** Columba ## 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 - **Super Navigator:** Pigeon can find its way home from far away, even hundreds of miles, because of a special internal compass. - **Milk Maker:** Pigeon parents produce a nutritious 'crop milk' to feed their chicks, unique among most birds. - **Rapid Drinker:** Pigeon can drink water by sucking it up like a straw, unlike most birds who must tilt their heads back. - **UV Vision:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — A fast predator, it hunts pigeons in cities. - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Many urban pigeons rely on human activity for food. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Approach pigeons calmly and avoid sudden movements to not scare them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pigeon? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Pigeon? 30-35 cm ### What is Pigeon's wingspan? 60-70 cm ### How much does Pigeon weigh? 0.25-0.4 kg ### How long does Pigeon live? 3-5 years ### How fast can Pigeon move? 90 km/h ### What does Pigeon eat? Pigeons are adaptable eaters, munching on seeds, grains, fruit, and even discarded human food. ### Where is Pigeon usually found? Urban areas ## Where to spot - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bloomingdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloomingdale) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Canal Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canal-park) — District of Columbia, US · Park - [Central Park West Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/central-park-west-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District [View all places to see Pigeon](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pigeon) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Pigeon: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pigeon)