Pigeon Fact Sheet

Pigeons: Members of the bird family Columbidae, which includes doves and pigeons.

Kingdom: | Animalia
Phylum: | Chordata
Class: | Aves
Order: | Columbiformes
Family: | Columbidae
Genus: | Columba
Species: | C. livia

The pigeon family includes over 300 species worldwide, ranging from familiar city dwellers to rare tropical birds. Notable members include:

• Rock pigeon (Columba livia) — Also known as the common pigeon or rock dove, they are ancestors of most domestic and feral pigeons found in cities worldwide.
• Passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) — Once one of North America’s most abundant birds, now extinct.
• Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) — A colorful island species and the closest living relative of the extinct dodo.
• Victoria crowned pigeon (Goura victoria) — The largest pigeon species, known for its striking blue crest.
• Band-tailed pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) — A forest-dwelling North American species.

Size and Weight:

Pigeons vary widely in size, depending on the species. The rock pigeon typically measures 12–15 inches long and weighs 9–13 ounces, whereas the Victoria crowned pigeon can reach over two feet in length and weigh up to five pounds — nearly turkey-sized!

Appearance:

Pigeons have compact bodies, short legs, and small heads with soft feathers and strong wings for sustained flight. Rock pigeons commonly display a mix of iridescent purple and green feathers around the neck, gray wings with dark bands, and orange-red eyes. But their coloration can vary dramatically depending on the species, location, and domestication status. Domesticated breeds exhibit hundreds of patterns, from pure white to speckled or bronze.

All pigeons share the characteristic fleshy cere at the base of the beak and a distinctive, gentle cooing call.

Diet:

Pigeons are omnivorous, eating mainly seeds, grains, and small fruits. Urban pigeons adapt to city life by foraging for crumbs and food scraps, but they prefer natural diets when available.

They swallow seeds whole and rely on a muscular gizzard to grind food. Like other birds, they need access to grit or small pebbles to aid digestion.

Habitat:

Pigeons are incredibly adaptable and thrive in nearly every environment — from cliff faces and farmland to urban skyscrapers and parks. Rock pigeons are especially common in cities, where tall buildings mimic the cliffs of their natural habitats.

Geography:

Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia, rock pigeons have been introduced worldwide and now inhabit every continent except Antarctica. Depending on the species, they occupy a diverse range of ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, arid savannas, and isolated oceanic islands.

Adaptations:

• Exceptional navigation: Pigeons can find their way home from unfamiliar locations, a skill that for centuries made them useful to humans as messengers.
• Urban resilience: They have learned to nest on buildings and adapt to human activity.
• Fast flyers: They can reach speeds over 60 mph in short bursts.
• Visual acuity: Pigeons see ultraviolet light and have excellent motion detection, allowing them to spot predators quickly.

Breeding:

Pigeons can breed year-round in warm climates, producing up to six broods in a year. The female lays two white eggs, which both parents incubate for about 18 days. They feed their young a special substance called “pigeon milk,” a nutrient-rich fluid produced in the crop by both sexes. The fledglings leave the nest after four to six weeks.

Social Structure:

Pigeons are social and intelligent birds, often found in flocks that roost and feed together. They are famous for their homing ability, navigating hundreds of miles back to their nests using Earth’s magnetic fields, the sun, and landmarks.

Pigeons form strong monogamous pairs, with both parents sharing incubation and chick-rearing duties.

Lifespan:

In the wild, pigeons live 3-6 years. City pigeons often face more hazards and may not live as long, normally 2-3 years.

Threats:

Natural predators include hawks, falcons, and cats. Urban pigeons also face hazards from traffic, disease, and poisoning or culling programs.

Habitat loss and hunting have caused severe declines in some wild species. Deforestation and illegal wildlife trade endanger tropical species like the Nicobar and crowned pigeons. The extinction of the passenger pigeon in the late 1800s is one of the most striking examples of human impact on wildlife.

Conservation Status:

According to the IUCN Red List, the rock pigeon is widespread and classified as Least Concern (LC). However, many wild pigeon species face serious threats. For example, the Nicobar pigeon and the Victoria crowned pigeon are classified as Near Threatened, and the pink pigeon is classified as Vulnerable.

Conservation Efforts:

Conservation groups such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and BirdLife International protect key habitats and promote captive breeding programs for rare island species. Several citizen science initiatives help track pigeon populations and monitor disease in urban environments.

Sources: Cornell Lab and NATURE’s The Pigeon Hustle.