Pigeons we often see in our garden or city center
The Columbidae is the bird family consisting of doves and pigeons. Worldwide, there are about 1100 pigeon breeds, counting all varieties and crossovers. These are the pigeon types that we mostly encounter:
- The feral pigeon, also known as the city pigeon, is the pigeon we see flocking around in urban areas and can be found all over the world. They are descendant of the domestic type but were released and have returned to the 'wild', or city jungle because of food and prey reasons.
They have a cyan-purple neck (no white spot) and a quite slim build. We call these pigeons 'the rats of the sky'. It's about 30-35cm high and weighs between 270-550 grams. - Domestic pigeons such as the racing or homing pigeon are kept for sports such as long-distance races and were used for communication purposes. They can fly longer distances and have excellent orientation skills. You can distinguish them by the ring around their paw.
- White doves are often used at events such as weddings, where they are released and later return to their pigeonry. They are white, quite slim, have a pink beak and shiny black eyes.
- Wood pigeons are wild pigeons that are fatter, heavier built and bigger than other European pigeons. They prefer to nest in quiet, green environments and you can find them waddling around your garden or in parks. They can be distinguished by their pinkish gray chest, red-orange beak and white neck.
Development & breeding of pigeons
Urban or city pigeons often nest on, in & around buildings and other structures, usually on reefs, under eaves or on support beams. The nests are made of grass and twigs, as well as rubbish such as pieces of plastic or textile. Wood pigeons often build their nest in dense foliage or big trees.
Their breeding season is usually between March and July, but many pigeons can breed all year round. The brood usually consists of 2 eggs, off-white in color, laid on consecutive days.
The incubation period lasts about 18 days, and the hatched birds grow feathers after about 30 days. Curiously enough, the city pigeon can lay another nest of eggs when the first youngsters are only 20 days old. This means that a maximum of 9 nests can be produced per pair per year.
What do pigeons eat?
Pigeons prefer seeds, grains, fruits and crops, although they have a wide variety of food. They eat an average of about 450gr of food per week.
Why are pigeons often seen in large numbers?
Pigeons like to gather in large flocks. Flocking provides them safety, better chances of finding food, and helps protect against predators.
Over the years, pigeons have adjusted their cooing to be heard better over the noise of busy urban environments.
So that’s why their cooing can be easily heard from afar and become annoying.
Are all birds we find in urban areas considered pests?
WHICH BIRDS ARE PROTECTED AND WHICH ARE NOT
Urban areas are home to a rich biodiversity that needs to be promoted and conserved. However, the availability of wasted food in the urban environment allows some species, such as pigeons and seagulls, to experience very high population growth.
This overpopulation often causes social and environmental problems like noise, pollution, deterioration of buildings, transmission of diseases, etc. For this reason, it is very important to maintain bird control under municipal authorization.
DIY tips to keep pigeons and other birds away
Pigeons are persistent, adaptable birds, and a combination of deterrent methods is often more effective than relying on a single approach. Some tips include:
- Sealing off any openings or gaps where pigeons might shelter
- Ensuring that all garbage bins are tightly sealed
- Removing bird feeders
- Hanging reflective objects like aluminum foil strips, CDs, or reflective tape near areas frequented by pigeons