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Call for questions: PIGEONS (Patreon)

Published:
2024-03-16 00:19:03
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Think pigeons are a joy or a nuisance? Pretty birds or sky rats? Either way, we should learn more about the plump-bodied head-bobbers. What questions should I ask a pigeon expert on Wednesday? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

Deadline: Tuesday, March 19 at 5pm PST

Comments

Mie [me-ay]

why did we abandon them :(

Tyler J Poeti

What’s a pigeon? What’s a dove? Why don’t we release pigeons when we get married?

Talia Dunyak

If you had a pigeon what would you name it?

Isabelle Newman

What’s the process of teaching a pigeon to carry messages

Aubrey Nelson

Is there any way we can help pigeons? We bred them for service and domestication then let them be in the wild. Can we provide them with shelter or anything?

Abraham Livingston

So what’s up with carrier pigeons? Did they really exist sending messages or is that just in movies?

Tatiana Olazabal

Why do these precious babies make very wimpy nests? 🪺 is the theory about us being the reason true?

Isabelle Newman

What is it about pigeons brains that helps them direct where to fly and how to get there

louva-bug

What is the best way to get a pigeon to come home with me and be my best friend?

Robin Kuehn

What's your favorite little-known species of pigeon? Most under-appreciated?

Charlotte Parkinson

Why do they seem to takeover towns? I'm in England, and any town or city, they are EVERYWHERE. I don't mind, but follow up question, why do they get so much hate?

Fybreglass

Hello! So excited for this episode! Is it possible / is it in the works to bring back the extinct passenger pigeon?

Kayla Simpson

Do pigeons make good house pets?

Olivia Coppin

What are the logics regarding the action of grabbing a pigeon, putting a little hat and bowtie on it, calling it Fredwina and hugging it? Will it give me a disease? Will it enjoy my hugs and company? Is it true that we once loved them but set them free and now they are seen as sad and dirty when we once loved those domesticated little beady eyes?

Tara Jay

Why are pigeons so ubiquitous in cities?

Deli Dames

thoughts on the Good Feathers from Animaniacs?

Cassidy McKee

Rats with wings, more fact than fiction?!

Rachel A

YES - I love pigeons! My question is: how were messenger pigeons so good at what they do? How did they get trained to deliver messages?

Joshua Brumley

Do pigeons, like crows, form lasting impressions of people?

Alexandra Rambo

Pidgeon videos makes me sob…WE JUST ABANDONED THEM, DAD WARD. What can we do as regular people to help the pigeons? 😭

Hope

why do they make their nests like that and why were they the birds used as couriers/how did that even start?

Molly Geisler

What’s the difference between a pigeon and a dove?? Is a mourning dove just a sweet singin’ pigeon?

Lizzie R

Why don't we see many baby pigeons and why are they so scrunkly and weird looking whenever they are seen?

Will Clark

What are (if any) variety of pigeons?

Ben Beardiac Fiore

I need to know about the lackluster nest-building efforts

Spicy Native

First time question asker! I would like to own pigeons one day, any advice or tips on owning a flock of pigeons? Also my wife wants to know; why do they use Doritos bags as nests? Why are they so bad at making a nest? Thank you.

Carlos Alvarez

Why are there no baby pigeons that we can see and how does this feed into the conspiracy theory that birds are not real?

E

Why is squab such a funny word?

Meagan Walker

Fuck yes, PIGEONS!!! 👏👏👏

Deli Dames

are there any famous pigeons like Cher Ami you can highlight?

Rebecca Roehm

Are they as dirty as my grandma led me to believe? She was insistent that they were dirtier than every other bird a live.

Mimz

What's with their colours? Almost like an oil slick on their wings. And how do they know how to find their way back? And what's with the bump thing on their beak??

Meagan Walker

Why do they clap their wings when they fly?

Alexandra Hardy

I can not WAIT a for this episode I am a fellow pigeon lover and advocate

Ayla B

Is it true that they live around people because it’s all they know? 😰

Meagan Walker

Why do they do that thing with their heads when they walk?

Rachel A

Another question: when did the stereotype that pigeons are dirty and diseased arise?

Aleah Cefalu

Do pigeons have the magnetic navigation senses that other birds have? ( question from boyfriend, Justin johnson was curious!)

Carlos Alvarez

Yes, doves are pigeons with a better PR team.

Fybreglass

I think a lot of people are gonna ask about pigeons with stringfeet, so I’ll switch it up by asking if there’s any way we can stop this from happening? It’s really sad!

CoffeeLeaf90

How did they become THE bird to deliver messages?

Morgan

Are pigeons real? 🤔

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

I think pigeons are so funny, but also really social at train stations, like 30th street station in Philly. Why do cities put up those spikes to keep away the birds, especially pigeons, even though the pigeons kind of act like scavengers and are just living their lives? Where do pigeons originate? Were they brought over from Europe or a colony? How did they become one of the most common city bird in the US? How many species of pigeons are there in the US compared to worldwide? Love the particular photo used in the post!

Jenny Loome

What other birds are pigeons closely related to? They seem...different than other birds I've encountered. Also, are pigeons nice to each other?

Yuri

Bread is bad for ducks. Is it bad for pigeons too? (Yuri is pronounced like beauty without the b)

Mimz

What place in the world has the most pigeon asks my 11 year old son who LOVES you and Ologies!

Annalise De Young

Why are they so bad at nests? Also why are their feathers so pretty? Were carrier pigeons actually pigeons or something else? And if they were pigeons, HOW DID THEY WORK?

Meagan Walker

What makes some of them such unique colour patterns? Is the number of unique ones increasing at all?

Alexandra Hardy

What’s your favourite type of pigeon? (mine is the humble and clumsy wood pigeon)

Cyntia B

Lots of pigeons have iridescent feathers. Do we know how they perceive the color of one another? I have read that starlings seem to see themselves as very colorful, since they can see a different spectrum of colors than us.

Ashley Bray

My fiancé Joe wants to know: Why do their wings make that noise when they fly away?

Cyntia B

Why have we mostly stopped to eat pigeons?

Verena Runstadler

Why is the carrier pigeon extinct?? Could it be brought back?

Cate Muenker

So when did people started using pigeons to send messages? What’s a Dovecote? And where did all the passenger pigeons go?

fulltimesnake

How can I make friends with them?

Andrea Devlin

Can you please tell people that there is no reason to be afraid of pigeons?? As a wildlife rehabilitator, I never understand why people think that they are "rats with wings." They're actually much smarter than people think!

Dani C

Have you heard the song “Pigeonometry” by Aesop Rock, and do you love it?

Fybreglass

I live in the UK and we have wood pigeons. They like to hoover up the birdseed we throw out on the lawn, and knock the little songbirds aside like bulldozers. My question is, do all pigeons have the personality trait of being super greedy like this?

Cassidy McKee

Can pigeon poo rot out concrete, and cause a bridge to collapse?

Juliet Petrencs

Same question about deformed feet. I have also seen this on brewers blackbirds. Also why don’t we eat them any more? It seems like a prolific form of protein.

Meagan Walker

Are they really any filthier than the beloved songbirds?

Tori Lefrançois

Where are the babies and why do we never see them? I bet they’re adorable

Raja

I love how you explain your name's pronunciation!!

Between Dumplings

I love the Mourning Doves on my balcony. Are they pigeons? Why do people hate pigeons? Are our pigeons indigenous or did they come with some of those sneaky Colonizers (*shakes fist at English Sparrows*)

Tori Baggot

Does every pigeon in the US come from the original group brought over by early settlers? If so does that give them the "quirks" that make them so charismatic?

Anna Thompson

Why don't we see baby or adolescent pigeons? Where do they nest?

Diana Teeter

OMG PIGEONS EPISODE!!! I adore pigeons. I’ve had wonderful opportunities to interact with baby pigeons as part of my volunteer work so I know they exist but why is there so much myth surrounding baby pigeons? Why does it seem like so few people have seen them? Seriously, last time I posted a picture of a baby pigeon I was transporting to a rehabber minds were BLOWN.

Joey Zweig

How can I befriend one. Should I befriend one. Do they want to be my friend.

Cecelia Morales

OKAY!!!! This is my first question 🥲!! I love you and this show so much - I recommend it to ALL! I listen at work and am convinced the plants enjoy this show too! The millipedes were THRILLED with their episode!!! HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT PIGEONS SENT (AND MAYBE STILL SEND?) MESSAGES?!?! I hear and read about it, but still can’t wrap my head around HOW !!!!

Mark McPhillips

Are all pigeons doves? Are all doves pigeons? Are they just different names for the same thing?

Fybreglass

I love this question! I’ve always wondered this too.

Jeri Webb

Love the pigeons! I’d see loads of them on my way to my office in downtown Chicago, and would silently award one the honor of the pigeon of the day to the most spectacular individual bird. Can we talk about why unlike other bird species they have such a variety of markings?

Lauren Hurlburt

Does the scientist have a pigeon tattoo? I got one in New York as they were my favorite thing about the city. There is so much diversity in their coloring there. Beautiful birds.

Meagan Walker

Do they have different coos that mean different things? I’ve never really noticed a variety of sounds like in other birds, like an alarm call.

T Noz

Do they carry more Salmonella than other species?

Kasey Crouse

I learned in college that pigeons can hear subsonically, has there been more research regarding their navigation abilities?

Meagan Walker

Where does the name pigeon come from? Why are there other things like “pigeon English?”

Hope J 🏳️‍🌈

Related to pigeons, I have to shoutout the company Pigeon Post ( www.pigeonpost.cafe ) whose mascot is a pigeon and makes amazing bird art

Kinkaid Designs

I love pigeons. How many species are there?

Raja

Other than Wigeon, what rhymes with pigeon?

Mckaylia Marshall

What happened to carrier pigeons? Why don’t we eat them if they’re so abundant?

Natasha Bharj

Yes! I have the same question, how do they know where to go??? Also, are there any famous carrier pigeons?

Dave Cannon

Have you heard the Aesop Rock song Pigeonometry?

Jacob Paul

Why have pigeons adapted so well to urban environments and why don’t I see any in the wild?

K8 Rouse

Can you eat pigeon eggs? What makes them so good at adapting to living in cities? Are they a good food source for peregrine falcons (my favorite animal)? Are they smart? Do they migrate? Do they mate for life? Are they the same species as doves, and if so, please tell us about the cute little doves who nest in cacti. 💕

Vero Tavares

Did they evolve to ignore all sense of danger? If there is food involved they will not care if a car or a crocodile is coming their way.

JdubyaS

I’ve always been told by my elders that pigeons are just urbanized doves. Is there truth to that? If so, I’m assuming Mourning Doves came first and, if this is the case, what specific traits did Pigeons develop to adapt to the streetz? Related but unrelated… why do I - every so often - see a pigeon in a random ass place?

Erin Erskine

Good point! Are they like…a hybrid or something, or just smarter-than-average regular pigeons?

Fybreglass

Pigeon nests look so silly - why do they give up 1/8th of the way when making a nest?

On the Brize

Despite their cuteness, why all the hate? What's the most unique thing about pigeons and should other birds really be jealous? What is the scientist's favorite type of pigeon or favorite thing about pigeons? How exactly do they find their nests as far as 1,300 miles away??

Chandler Witherington

What’s up with certain cities throughout a country having certain color schemes of pigeons? I traveled to several cities around Spain a couple years ago and noticed every city had its own unique pigeon colors that were more common, like one had a lot more white pigeons, another more gray pigeons, etc.

the ren you know

Is it true that pigeons and chickens are the only birds you can pet without sexually arousing them? (excuse me while I go delete my search history) p.s. I named my cat Pigeon

Gigi Owen

Pigeons are so commonplace, I feel like I know everything about them. But I don't. What is the coolest little known fact about pigeons that I can wow my friends with?

Austin Thompson

How many countries are American pigeons (rock doves?) in? I feel like they are in every country I visit and even saw some in sub Saharan Africa, but maybe they were a different species

Erin Erskine

Wait wait! I know this one! “Pidgin” comes from another word; I think maybe the Chinese word for “business” or something similar. So “pidgin” basically just means, “any words we can figure out together to make things work.”

Liv

(first time question asker) i recently saw a video that said pigeons were domesticated by humans and then abandoned and now they barely know how to build a nest and that’s why they’re commonly found in urban settings because all they really know are humans :(( pls tell me if they’re okay!! this made me so sad!!

Sarah Railey King

Is there really a pigeon that may be a genetic revival of the passenger pigeon?

Derek Peloquin

Do pigeons live anywhere besides cities?

Mark Payton

What's with people thinking birds are fake? Why are pigeons use to train bird dogs over other birds? What's the dealio with pigeon racing?

Erin Erskine

Because they are all Calvinists?

Avery Rogers

How did pigeons learn to understand mirrors?

Mia G

What region are pigeons native to? Also, will pigeons eat until they nearly burst? They are so plump in big cities.

Avery Rogers

Why do they have such crappy nest placement?

Jet

How does the "homing" part work for homing pigeons? Magneto-reception? (Where did the beak-iron theory of magento-reception start?) Olfactory cues? Infrasounds? All of the above? Why does it vary across breeds? Just what is going on here?

Handrea

Why do their necks look like the most beautiful sunsets? And why are they so kool and so chill around humans yet very underappreciated for that fact?

Lauren Goudy

Please tell me about baby pigeons

Tiane Scott

First time question asker here!! What is the function of the iridescent feathers around their necks? Is it just to be the most beautiful birds on the block or is it for mating or what

Cat Baklarz

Wait is this the person who wrote the pigeon book and makes the pigeon cartoons? I LOVE their stuff! 1. Please talk about how pigeons poo sitting down and seagulls poo while flying so pigeons are clearly superior 2. I work on the Santa Monica Pier and in addition to storm drain outlets, I've been told one reason the pier gets an F grade on Heal the Bay's annual Beach Report Card is because of the birds living underneath the pier (we talked about pooping in the previous comment!) Is this a common problem? Are we putting too much blame on them? 3. If pigeons are feral, why does LA have mostly grey pigeons and NY has more brown/white/mottled pigeons? 4. Can you speak on the human responsibility part of the human-pest relationship? 5. We have TNR for feral cats. Why not a similar program for feral pigeons? Is there less demand? 6. I see seagulls eating pigeons all the time. Is this opportunistic or part of their regular diet. (Also look up seagulls eating starfish and squirrels, even though this is not their episode.)

Erin Erskine

I think they are referred to that way because there are so many of them in large cities. I’m not afraid of them, nor rats, in the subway, but I wouldn’t want them in my house.

Julisa Gordon

How are pigeons able to dodge cars so fast? It amazes me that they can wait until the very last second to fly away as I have a melt down screaming to avoid the bird!

Julisa Gordon

What other qualities besides the holes in their hips can you link back to Dinosaurs?

Erin Erskine

Do they REALLY eat cigarette butts, or just smoke them?

Max G

How did they know where to go when they were used for mail?

Bratimus Prime

A lot of questions, but they all boil down to “How are humans affecting pigeon populations?” Are there more pigeons with people than there would be if people weren’t influencing things? Is human junk food (fries, chips, bread etc) as bad/worse for them as it is for us?

Patience P.

Why are there sooo many of them but we never see the babies?! Where are the baby pigeons????

Peregrine

Yay, pigeons! I’ve always had a soft spot for them and felt bad for how little respect they’re given. Do they deserve any of their bad rap? Are they invasive or just introduced? Have there ever been any attempt to remove or reduce their populations across North America?

Becky Wilkinson

My 8 year old said Wild Kratts taught her pigeons make milk. Not that I doubt the Kratt brothers, but WTF? Please explain.

Amy Zucker Morgenstern

Why do you suppose so many people dislike pigeons--is it just a case of familiarity breeding contempt? I think they are beautiful! (Handle: Amy Z M. Easier to pronounce. I am not a first-timer.)

Bratimus Prime

This is a way better question than any of mine lol

Katrina

I have SOOO MANY QUESTIONS! 1) I've read that they mate for life, but I live near a pigeon-rich area. Multiple gents seem very persistent about impressing all the single ladies. Are they really all about the OTP or are they a bit more flexible? (Note: I live in Ireland and I believe these are 'rock pigeons'. Definitely different from the less common wood pigeons in the area.) 2) How smart are they? I hear they are smarter than we give them credit for, but as much as I admire their sleek form and aerobatic abilities, they've never seemed super sharp. 3) A travel guide for Venice, Italy (hello, Rick Steves!), once claimed that the food you can buy in St. Mark's Square contained birdie birth control. It's the only place I've heard of such a thing. Is that even possible? Are there other birdie meds that can be given out in bulk via food? I understand a lot of the wild pigies around here have mites and chlamydia, among other things. 4) Finally, I have a small dog and we frequently walk through the environs shared with a large local pigeon population. I've asked the vet about infections my pup could pick up, but they aren't concerned. I definitely am, though, because he's getting older and has started to have some unexplained tummy troubles (we play fetch in areas where people feed the birds and they, of course, leave bits of guano as a thank you). What are the chances of columbiforme crud creeping up on my cuddly canine companion? Thank you!

Archietedeli

Are they okay out there? Do they really need people taking care of them?

Amy Zucker Morgenstern

What is going on with the adorable head bob? Is this a dance move, or just a natural result of their body mechanics?

Fybreglass

Seagulls are wild! There’s a very well known video of one swallowing a rabbit whole on YouTube 😬😮‍💨

Cris

Why are pigeon nests so pathetic?

Hannah Smith

Y E S why do they give negative fucks about their houses?

Amy Zucker Morgenstern

Males (I assume they are the males) puffing up and chasing the females (I assume they are the females) look like feathered stalkers who will not take no for an answer. Do the females enjoy this, or do they mean it when they seem to be saying, "Back OFF, you creeper?"

Feather Evans

🐦 I was visiting a city in my state and among the little flocks of pigeons on the sidewalk was this bright pink and i mean BRIGHT PINK FLAMINGO LOOKING PIGEON. My friend and i were stunned, and confused? But we love him and still think about him to this day. Why? Why was this pigeon boy posing as a flamingo? 🦩

Haley K.

HOW DO THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO???? Also: how are they so freaking adaptable? And how have they gotten such a bad reputation? They’re objectively kind of pretty and clearly smart.

Gage Caro

First time question asker!!! Can you ask/speak about passenger pigeons and how they helped establish conservation efforts in the USA?

Rachel Guthrie

How does their stomach handle eating literal garbage all day?? Do their diets differ outside of major cities?

Wren

Seconded!!

Kaffeine

Do Inca doves actually stack on top of each other to stay warm? Please say yes 🤞

Wren

Are they technically considered feral, or are they wild? Are all pigeons in the US descended from tamed pigeons?

Hands.to.yourself

Why/how do some show pigeons have curly feathers?? (Follow up: why do we not have a westminster pigeon show?)

Fybreglass

When I lived in London I used to find a lot of baby pigeons - they often suffered from broken wings and didn’t make it because their nests were so close to the main road. Should we / how should we be changing our infrastructure/architecture to accommodate wildlife that relies on close proximity to people?

Amelia Heins

Pigeons just seem... clueless. How are they surviving? Are they smarter than they appear?

Wren

First time question asker here!

Mr. Weevil

oh man i’ve loved pigeons for so long. why did we ditch them in after we stopped using them to carry messages?

Miranda Panda

Are they at risk of going extinct? Which species have already gone extinct?

Pup E. Dog

from what I've heard from pigeon rescue orgs, it seemslike pigeons make much more chill pets than other birds - why is that?

Miranda Panda

Where would pigeons live if humans hadn't interfered?

Craig and Cats

Hi, I literally saw the pigeon exhibit at the field museum. There are so many phenotypes but it seems I only ever see the shiny kind. Why aren’t there more varieties running around the city?

Craig and Cats

Follow up question from my partner “are they really government drones?”

evenllamaslovepajamas

Pigeons and deception: Has this been studied? Was the con-pigeon who used to hang out at my bus stop and pretend to be injured until someone fed him and then left an outlier? Or are they all pretty capable of such deception? Has this been studied?

Lisa Gorman

First time question asker, long time listener: I live in a suburb where I never see pigeons, except for this one spot under a highway overpass where there are literally always pigeons. How did pigeons find this one spot of habitat they like and are nowhere else in the area? Are city pigeons striking out from their nests when they are old enough and just flying until they find somewhere vaguely cliff-like to live?

Sydonie S.

Can we talk about their nests? How are they seemingly thriving as a species with such lazy nests?

Ashley Stroup

Why don’t we call them doves? Where did “pigeon” come from and they’re so looked down upon compared to their pearly white cousins?

Jay Miraldi

Why does it seem like pigeons only live in cities? 🏙️

GhoulNextDoor

Do they recognize faces? I know of people feeding them and having them land on them. Do the pigeons grow to know these people and see them as a friend or are they just honing in on a snack?

Kristen Fuller

Why don't we eat them more? Do they really produce milk?

Gaelicpearl

I have a related question. I've always lived in places with pigeons and NEVER saw baby pigeons. Are they especially elusive if uninjured? Why are they seen in some places and not others.

Jadine Lannon

Are pigeons still being culled in cities to control their population? Is there a better way to control their population or are we just stuck with the large scale, er...eliminations?

GhoulNextDoor

Do they carry disease in a way that could be harmful to humans? I’ve seen them walk around in some pretty gnarly looking stuff. But they’re also cute and I don’t want to make unjust assumptions about them. I wish to be a friend to them but not to their (potential) diseases. If they do have diseases I won’t think they’re less cute, I’ll just admire from afar.

Bethany Clayton

Hi, Alie! First time question asker here. My kid and I want to know: Can you take in a stray pigeon? And if so, how would you go about making it your bestie? Do they like cheez-its?

Chris Moore

Can pigeons walk backwards? And if they can, does their head still Bob?

Gaelicpearl

Once as a child at a seaside market I saw an enormous seagull walking around with a pigeon in its mouth. To be clear, the pigeon was alive, and seemed to be very chill about the whole situation. My family has always maintained the story that they were friends just hanging out, but I'm curious how likely that was. Was the pigeon going to be dinner? Do seagulls prey on pigeons? Please resolve my childhood conundrum

Alie Ward

Was this in NY? I'm not sure if bright pink pigeons naturally exist but last year someone dyed a pigeon pink in New York City -- presumably for a gender reveal party. It was rescued and named "Flamingo" but died during rehabilitation, likely from the chemicals.

Laura McLean

Is it true pigeons were once white and our pollution dyed them over time?

Swisscheese Jess

Hyyyy!! I work I new construction, and apparently pigeons LOVE nesting within the nooks and crannies of new houses while their still in the framing stage.. what the safest and best way to relocate pigeons? Thanks from the great white north ❄️

Nicole S

How big do they get? I usually see rock/feral pigeons and see a wood pigeon irl and I forgot they could get so big...

Feather Evans

My friend and i saw the pigeon in Cincinnati ohio! About two years ago now.

Francesca Huggins

The way I RAN HERE. We have this mourning dove at my job that is determined to nest on our patio. We put up chicken wire to keep it off the ledges and it came back and built on top of the tv. Now we just make sure there are no tables for her to poop on below the nest and adapt. It’s been FIVE YEARS. Do they live that long, or is this other generations coming back to the same place they were raised?

Lynn Rowicki

I was wondering the same thing. Do we not give them enough credit as smart? Are they the street wise bird compared to their book smart cousin, the crow?

Hex

I know pigeons are domesticated. I would like to know more about what domestication means for the original groups of pigeons. And how if at all each subsequent generation stays domesticated or becomes less domesticated. Is there a chance we get feral pigeons? Or are pigeons feral?

GhoulNextDoor

What is their courting/breeding behavior like? I recently saw two approach each other doing what seemed like a head-bobing dance looking thing and then put their beaks together (I think they were kinda far) did I witness a pigeon flirt?

Kaffeine

Should we “de-extinct” passenger pigeons? How do rock doves/pigeons prevent their little toes from freezing in winter? I’ve seen them sitting on metal fences in 15 degree (Fahrenheit) weather!

Rachel M

Can I pick up a pigeon outside, would it like that? I want to pick up a pigeon so bad. If the outside ones wouldn’t like being picked up where can I get a pigeon that wants to be held?

Amy Johnson

How fast can they fly? I’ve heard some stories of pigeons in war service doing extraordinary things but sometimes the math on the reported speeds seems stretched….

Amy Johnson

Also why have I seen pigeons use the crosswalk and wait for the walk signal?

Wetland Warrior

1. How are introduced pigeon populations affecting native bird populations? 2. Did people really used to keep pigeons on leashes? 3. Could you theoretically catch a pigeon and train/domesticate it? 4. Please explain their weird nesting habits?

Dane Camacho

Did pigeons evolve their plumage to suit urban environments? or are they so prevalent there because that’s the way they are?

Erin Ryan

My colleague and friend Nadia did her thesis on the use of birth control for pigeons, to help reduce conflicts with our local transit system. Not a question, just women hyping other women. ✊🏽https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0398509 (and being jazzed about pigeons)

Sienna

What makes pigeons so good at homing? Is it just that they were the birds we trained for this or is there something about their natural behavior that predisposed them to excel?

Abby Sellers

Are pigeons really chaotic nest builders? Or do we just keep catching the stressed new moms with poor house keeping skills on camera? (Hi Alie! First time question, new patron! 😘)

AB

Why don’t they ever have all of their toes? 🐦🦶

Sienna

I have been noticing way more leucistic pigeons (and other species) in Portland, OR. Do you think this is confirmation bias or is there a reason for this?

Sienna

Are they vulnerable to the bird flu that's hitting water fowl so badly?

Sienna

Can you say anything that argues against the cultural view that pigeons as dumb? What are they GREAT at?

Elaine Wong

I'm catching up on old episodes of the great podcast "Let's Learn Everything", and one episode featured pigeons! The hosts explained that pigeons will lay eggs when they feel stressed, which might explain the hurried and barely-together nests. Is this true? How on earth is this a helpful evolutionary advantage to lay an egg when stressed??

Sienna

What is the source of public disdain for pigeons? Is it founded or no?

Sienna

Great question!

Sam Y

Are pigeons and doves the same kind of bird?

Mimz

Also being asked to ask if there are pigeons in the wild ir are they just where people are? 🤔

Jen O

How did they train passenger pigeons to do their job?

Sienna

Ok so this is a weird one, but... for how many pigeons we see in the city why don't we see more dead pigeons and pigeon bones?? Same question for city birds in general. I feel like we should see dead birds all over the place but it's super rare.

Sienna

Can you talk about how the nest features in their daily life? Do they sleep in the nest or use nests strictly for hatching? How do they sleep? Where do they sleep? Do they cuddle?

Sienna

Also just want to say I love pigeons and I think they're beautiful

Pidgey koto

First time question asker & I'm so excited. How exactly did people go from treating pigeons like symbols of status to "rats with wings"? What is their favorite kind of pigeon? Is their weird nesting habits because pigeons lived in areas where they could find natural areas for their babies or because domestication bred it out of them?

Lizzy Carr

Are pigeons happy as pets?? I love them so much and I want to kiss each one on their tiny little heads but I’m worried that their quality of life is bad if they’re kept as pets :(

Pidgey koto

Also my mother has called me Pigeon since I was very young so I've always loved and identified with these wonderful birds.

Valerie Bertha

I have heard the pigeon head bob is actually an illusion. True or false?

Adrielle Baumgart

Are pigeons born with in innate affinity with humans or do they kinda learn to love them (to a fault) because they live in such heavily populated areas? Side note just binged watch a pigeon documentary on instagram in 2 minutes bits. I cried and laughed and now I’m frantically looking up how to be a pigeon mom at 2 am.

Valerie Bertha

Pigeons appear to thrive in cities. Is this because they are so adaptable or do they have lots and lots and lots of well camouflaged babies?

James Jakes

Why have Rock Doves adapted so well to urban environments compared to other birds/animals?

Valerie Bertha

The biggest pigeon species is? Will we ever find a way to bring back the passenger pigeon?😢

Cynthia Z

Oh my gosh this is the episode I’ve been waiting for!! I’ve adopted three domestic pigeons and they are the greatest loves of my life. My question for the experts is: Is there a way to redeem pigeons in popular culture? By that, I mean… pigeons used to be a symbol of status, were abandoned, and are now treated like trash. How could we encourage people to be slightly more compassionate toward them, if not love them outright? How do we take responsibility for our role in their presence in our cities? I’m so fascinated by the ways that people see and treat urban animals. I do my best at outreach events and by volunteering with Palomacy, the first pigeon-specific rescue in the US, but it often feels hopeless and exhausting to constantly face that stigma. How do humans change their perspectives on commonly reviled animals? (This may be more of a psychology question than a pigeon-specific one, but their history with humans is very unique among the trash animals)

Nick worth

Not a question, more an anecdote.. I was the architect on a project where the contractor called me because some pigeons had landed on the hot tar roof and had gotten stuck. I told him that my years at architecture school had provided no guidance for how to deal with this and he should just figure something out. He called back a bit later and told me not to worry, it was dealt with. I casually asked how it had been dealt with and he equally casually replied that he had just snipped their legs off with bolt cutters. I have never been able to look a pigeon in the eye ever since. I’m also pretty sure it voided the warranty on the roof assembly…

Kristen Alberty

FTQA (she/her) why have I never seen a baby pigeon? Do they not exist? Are pigeons even real?

Nick worth

And an actual question: where do pigeons go to die? I’ve lived in cities my whole life, I’ve seen billions of pigeons, but probably only 3 dead ones.. what’s up with that?

Sage Agee

Are pigeons monogamous with partners or do they have more than one at a time?

Kbooty

Hi Allie! First off, your show rocks, thank you sooo much. Ok so pigeons - how long do pigeons live on average in cities? I live in NYC and a few weeks ago I met a pigeon roaming around grand central who I will refer to as Mr.pigeon for the rest of this story. Mr.pigeon’s right wing was dragging a bit on the floor. There were some children following him around and when they got to close he was able to flap his wings and fly into the air about 4 feet off the ground. He was really cute and I followed him around for a bit. I thought he was stuck in grand central so I asked one of the workers if they had an extra box. My idea was to secure him and bring him to a bird sanctuary. When I approached the grand central work, the worker and a conductor explained mr.pigeon has been living in grand central for months now. In December he fell off one of the beams in the concourse and hurt his wing. The workers at GC put him in a box with food and water. On the third day he had hopped out of the box. They stated since then him and apparently a few other pigeons have been living there. When I contacted the bird sanctuary they were a bit unsure what to do because his wing had likely healed already and his quality of life seemed to be good where he is. So my follow up question is what does your expert think about this situation and if it’s too long can we please ask what we should do when we see pigeons in public areas in the city like subways, trains and parking garages. Can they get out on their own or are they stuck?? Thanks Allie !!!!

Caro Young

A bit of a sad question: why are pigeons so rarely healthy? I live by the ocean in a big city and all the seagulls look beautifully plum and glossy and the poor pigeons look like they’ve been through war and back. Are they more prone to disease?

Caro Young

And why are there so many of them? Do they have natural predators?

Boreal Becca

Should I kidnap a (non native) pigeon and keep it as a pet?

Sleepy Frog Lauren

How intelligent are they? They have such dopey lil faces and don't APPEAR to be very smart. Are they just vibing through life?

Kbooty

One more question- how unhealthy is it for people to feed pigeons? What is this doing to their bodies and overall health?

winn

If i adopted a pigeon as a pet could I train it to send mail to people?

Elie Zwiebel

Are doves just white pigeons?

Silvia Triverio

What’s the difference between a pigeon and a dove?

Kaelyn Iglesias

Can I just pick one up and take it home?

Olivier Calas

How do they rank on a bird scale in terms of intelligence?

BeckytheSassySeagrassScientist

What has let pigeons become the bird overlords of urban centers? Why not like catbirds or something?

Christine, Banana Split Lady

I've seen injured pigeons in cities while traveling and I've wanted to help. Some wildlife centers don't rehabilitate pigeons. What can I do to help? Should I take on it's care myself? Do I need to be overly cautious of disease or is that just flimflam?

chino

Do the bigger, thicker necks on some pigeons indicate gender or social status?

Mary Long

I mean this with the most love, are they the rats of the sky? I’m thinking about their adaptability to city life and intelligence to thrive living so closely with humans?

Deacon Raid

I’m excited to hear about how they were domesticated and then abandoned and now we call them vermin. Such a sad story! Are they still raised for fertilizer anywhere?

Catherine

Have humans changed the pigeons' evolution in a similar way to what we did with dogs? Or did the pigeon just integrate our society like rats did kind of? Does that make sense?

Rabia Sadiq

Aren't pigeons fake and only used to spy on us? I doubt pigeons existed in 1776.

Average_pi

Why are they iridescent? What color schemes do they come in?

Caro Young

Can we talk about the pigeon project? Why did it get so much traction? And why the poor pigeons? It could have just as easily been the seagull project!

Caro Young

Are there pigeon species that make good pets?

Sara Crocker

what's the deal with homing pigeons? Are they a special species of pigeon? Who discovered their ability to be sent off and then return to same place? Also, were they used to carry messages in WW1 or WW2?

Stephanie Coombes

Why are they so successful in urban settings? Is their habitat restricted by temperature?

Lee L

I have frequently seen pigeons with string or hair wrapped around their foot and leg. It looks damaged and they are limping. Why does that happen?

Sam Nelson

Is it fair to call pigeons rats with wings? Rats are so cool. Are they as cool as rats?

Erica Periandri

Why have I never seen a baby pigeon or a pigeon's nest?

Bel Jensen-Hill

How can I give them more kisses? Also, real question, what was the primary reason pigeons were domesticated?

Erica Periandri

What is the worst food to feed a pigeon? What is the best (or least worst?)?

Courtney van Stolk

Has anybody studied what ends up in pigeon stomachs? I feel like the pigeon crew by my bus stop does an awful lot of pecking at non-food items.

Emmett

Is there any evolutionary advantage to their wings making noise as they fly? (That loud clapping noise when they take off?) How/why does that happen?

Catherine

Are they social? Do they nest with others?

Kristin Zimmerman

How much of the globe do pigeons span? How did they get to super remote areas?

Richard

Charles Darwin used to raise show pigeons with crazy plumage. What happened to those breeds? Are they still around? Why don't I ever see a Pigeon Show on ESPN-8 (THE OCHO)?

Sienna

What do pigeons like look to pigeons? -->do they have UV sensitive opsins and do they have UV specific coloration used in sexual selection?

Sienna

How is pigeon data used in scientific analysis for things like ecosystem stability, diversity, conservation and public health?

Sienna

Please talk at length about pigeon social behavior and communication. Just go all out

Teresa & David

I heard that pigeons are just doves with a different coloration, so if you like one but not the other, you're just racist/speciesist. Is that true?

Sienna

I asked the same thing! Are they being sneaky with their bones? Are other animals nabbing them? Do they hide when they are sick ?

Teresa & David

Why are there SO MANY pigeons in urban areas? Are they just a really successful species in general, particularly adapted to urban environments, or because they are the midsize-sedan-toyota-corolla of birds, or is it just observation bias?

Jordan Irons

I love pigeons, but a lot of people call them sky rats. Do you have one specific fact I could tell people to help sway their opinion?

Jordan Irons

Is there a type of food we should avoid giving pigeons? Do they have a preferred food?

Sarah Williamson

Why do pigeons bob their heads when they walk?

Jordan Irons

Do you think that the pigeons that hop on the L know how to find their way back home?

Sienna

Can you talk about the Anatomy and Physiology of their sense of direction? How do they orient themselves and how do they cope with disruptions to landmarks?

Jordan Irons

Will I get sick if I scoop one up in a warm embrace

Lucy Antonelli

truthfully how come you never see baby pigeons? are they just well hidden/protected? do they grow up quick and just look like a slightly smaller pigeon? ps i think they’re super pretty and also cute and make nice little “brbrrbbrb” noises sometimes. thanks

Scott Hanley

Who else liked to read the alternative comic strip Phoebe and the Pigeon People? And are the ones bred for squab any better than “free range”, ones?

Keely Chavez

Right? Panic flap! Doves too. If you hadn’t done that I wouldn’t have known you were there!

Kent Durvin

They were brought here as food animals. Are they good to eat?

Kieran H

Why are pigeon nests so often just one stick and a piece of gum? Do they even try???

Kent Durvin

I remember hearing that you can't teach a pigeon to associate food with a sound. Is that true or a myth?

Amber McIntyre

It’s been a few decades since I lived in NYC, but there was a subculture of pigeon flyers and races. Is this still a thing - and if so, how popular is pigeon breeding and racing today?

Keely Chavez

YES! Why did my friend have to replace his entire roof after they used the underside of his solar panels as nests/toilet! Why does the inner structure of my hospital look like a pigeon toilet/pornhub/toilet?!

Ayshia Yaeger

It's been a while since I've asked a question! Why are so many pigeons missing toes?? It's been stressing me out for ages! "Asia" they/them

Marina Li

Are they actually good with directions? I heard they used to be messengers - how did people tell them where to go? How do they know where to go? HOW?!?!?!?!

Keely Chavez

Raptors enjoy pigeon kabobs. Seen it

Waylo

I’ve heard that pigeons don’t migrate, though I live in mid-Michigan and every spring I have a pigeon couple show up for the spring /summer (I assume they are a couple). And do they mate for life? How do homing pigeons navigate? Are birds real (joke)?

Annabelle

Where are they native? Why do they thrive in cities? Do they only live in urban environments or is that just the only place I’ve seen them?

Jessi

Squeee! I’m so excited! My dad raised homing pigeons as a kid and I’ve alway been fascinated. So, I saw at a zoo in Hamburg, Germany, that homing pigeons sometimes wore whistles and I was fascinated by this and want to know more. Can you ask what the deal was with pigeons wearing cool, fashionable whistles?!

Jessi

P.S. forgot my pronouns. She/her.

Jessi

Me too! I’m so glad you asked.

Jessi

Also, can we talk about the noise they make? That cooing! Why does it make me so happy? (Jessi, she/her)

Keely Chavez

Why is every white wing-dove the same, every mourning dove the same, every collard dove, etc but pigeons get to be drag queens?! Is there a reason or purpose for their variability?

JustSteve

Other than enabling a falcon hunting perch on your property, what humane and reliable way is there to ward off these beautifully cooing, interminably persistent creatures?

Breanne Des Roche

First time questioner ☺️ How many different species of pigeon are there or am I crazy? Is it just one?

Bee

My sibling has a pigeon (named Duck) as a pet and we like to joke that her love language is violence because she likes to bite us as a form of play. What sounds do pigeons make when they’re being playful?

Cynthia Z

Also I’m not an ologist but I’ve been on Animal Planet Canada with my pet pigeon @pigeonmiu on IG, and I want to answer almost every single question in this thread. So much of this is what I answer on a regular basis when people see me with my bird in public. When Miu passed away, I didn’t think I was ready for another bird, but Palomacy asked if I’d foster a sweet little pigeon named Eggo and now she’s the light of my life. She’d love to meet you!! Contrary to the general trend of pigeons being intelligent, she has a single brain cell and is the happiest being I know.

Bianca Palm

What can we do to help wild pigeons?

Cynthia Z

ALSO please PLEASE reach out to the founder of Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Rescue, Elizabeth Young. She singlehandedly started the growing awareness of domestic pigeon rescue and is a beautiful human being who’s worked in this field for over a decade, often by herself. I can connect you if you’d like! She is incredible and I owe the greatest loves of my life to her work. (If you can’t tell, I can talk about pigeons for hours. They truly are the best companions I’ve ever known. I’ve had doves, a dog, and human friends, and all of them are important to me. But there is nothing like loving and being loved by a pigeon. I adore them endlessly and enormously)

Jenny Chambers

What is “Pigeon milk” & why don’t most other birds produce it?

Mary Ann Porter

When I lived on south Jersey we had so many grey/black pigeons that pooped all over. Even got it directly in my eyes! Your pic is of a colorful one and have never seen a colorful one. I haven’t seen to many here in Florida. Do they prefer cooler environments? What is their habitat of choice?

Bel Jensen-Hill

Before humans domesticated pigeons where were they indigenous to? And have any of the instincts or habits we bred out of them returned since we dumped them?

KenzieWild

This is not pigeon related just wanted to say I am new to patreon and absolutely love listening to your podcast. P.S. please do an ologies about zebras or horses. Love you!!

Nathalie Jones

How smart are they actually? I’m not entirely convinced messenger pigeons are real.

Dave Brewer

My dad told me when I was a kid that pigeons and doves are the same species. How closely related are they?

Dave Brewer

How did the word pigeon become to be a pejorative? A stool pigeon is someone who squeals and a pigeon is a sucker or a rube.

Alena Litin

City pigeons - where do they lay their eggs and why do you NEVER see baby pigeons?!?!

Danielle Conlon

Do pigeons actually carry diseases? Do they deserve the "rats of the sky" nickname?

Mie [me-ay]

where do they nest? and what do baby pigeons look like? i feel like i’ve only ever seen a fully grown pigeon but i know they fuck like crazy bc there’s so many but why do we never see the babies?

Naomi Jane

I've heard that the main reason so many pigeons have crooked feet is that human hair gets wrapped around their toes & binds them. How true is this? Should I feel awful that my long hair moults so much?!

Naomi Jane

I saw one attempting to eat an entire slice of pizza once. How much pizza could one pigeon eat, or carry? And pineapple, yay or nay?

Naomi Jane

How do they tell eachother apart? Can they smell their friends or family?

Tea Danilović

Long time listener, FTQA: Why has there been such a downgrade in people's opinion on pigeons? It seems like their reputation really took a hit, and sure, they carry disease, but so do SO MANY DIFFERENT ANIMALS and they don't get the same level of slander? /Pronounced té-ah, and if it's too difficult, tee-ah is also fine/

Maria Whamond

FTQA has there been a specific pigeon that you feel you have bonded with? If so what is your favorite memory of them!!!

Cynthia Cinnabar

Prehistoric pigeons! What were the ancestors of pigeons like, and does their family tree include any unexpected relatives that a non-paleoavianologist might have heard of?

Susana Capucho

I'm from Europe and my parents tell how their families used to raise and eat pigeons in the countryside. Apparently it's really good! So I was wondering how did we get from pigeons being food (like chickens for example) to them being an infestation in cities?

Alexandre Catulle

A 'chinese spy' pigeon was in jail for 8 months in India. Would it be possible, was is ever done, pigeon spy?

Lisa N

Why are they such chaotic nest builders??

Lisa N

Why do so much pigeons have messed up feet? I heard that there was a positive correlation between the presence of hair dressers and feet injuries in pigeons is this true?

Cynthia Z

I couldn’t resist answering this one - the first domestic pigeon I adopted (was dumped outside, barely survived a dog attack) was so smart. I trained her to fly to me on command, she knew the SOUND of her favorite treats (peanuts), and was incredibly attuned to me and my moods. She knew her name and she would snooze through conversations when I talked about her, but perk up instantly when I was talking TO her. The second one I adopted has a single brain cell and plays elevator music in her head at all times. She is (lovingly) the most brainless creature I know and also by far the happiest and least anxious. I don’t know how she survived outdoors for a whole week before being rescued. She is the greatest joy in my life right now.

Mirna

What is the difference between a homing and a carrier pigeon and how do they know where to go and where to come home to?

Colleen Sellwood

How is it that they seem to live absolutely everywhere? The ultimate generalist.

Ella

Why do they make such shit nests?

KittyKat81

What is going on with many of their messed up feet? Also, why do we use the phrase pigeon-toed to describe in-toeing? (Any/all)

Mandy Hobson

Do pigeons really produce milk for their young?

Kris

What do they eat, or better yet what are they supposed to eat? I see them eating almost anything they come across.

Britt Kline

Ugh, I love them. They are a little bit gross which endears them to me. Are they actually the least-smart of the avian kingdom? They seem so adaptable, chill and resilient (soooo, pretty smart really?). Why are they just so, SO funny?! 🐦

Jesse Hurlburt

What's the deal with baby pigeons. You never see a nest or even a young one always adults. Why have they adapted so well to life in the city, where are they native to. They are now garbage eaters in cities but what's their more natural food choice.

Rae Boocock

Went to London as a kid, back when Trafalgar Square was filled with pigeons. My dad threw birdseed all over me “for the photo”. They were like flies on shit. I’ve been scared of birds ever since. Please settle a family debate: was that a dick move by my dad? Will you be my dad instead pls?

Timothy Nolan

Is a homing pigeon a specific breed or species of pigeon, or are they just trained that way?

redtoque

Why are they so fearless?

redtoque

Why do some have red eyes??

redtoque

How exactly do carrier pigeons work? Can you teach us to train them

LZ

Is their poop toxic?

Catherine BH

Oooh this is a great question! I never thought about that.

Catherine BH

Why do they make that noise when they fly? (I guess it's mostly when they first take off?) I've heard it's useful in scaring off predators, but how does it happen? I love hearing it but I don't understand it.

Matt Hirschl

Mike Tyson is famous for flying pigeons. How do you feel about them as pets and being trained?

Krista Jones

What's the real difference between doves and pigeons? Is it nothing?? Why do we shun pigeons but invite doves to our weddings?

Victoria Hantout

genetic diversity: deets! i heard that there are large families of pigeons that stay in their region, one near DC and one near boston/NY. true? and WHY?

libby revel

Why do pigeons live mainly in big populated cities and not in traditional bird places?

Charlotte Fjelkegård

I frequently see different kinds of corvids jump right in the trash bins to plunder them on left overs, but pigeons seem to be very visual oriented and only go for food they see. (Preferably on the ground, or in a tree.) Are the pigeons more cautions than corvids or just not able to figure out that "hidden food is still food"?

Rik

I've lived in cities all my life so have been around these sky-rats forever. They're pretty amazing. Do they have a communication between them - certain sounds or movements? I once seen someone accidentally drop a huge Pizza slice on the sidewalk and in a second - one swooping down grabbed the whole thing in it's beak and took off. Is there anything they don't eat?

Katy

What is the ologist's opinion on Bert's "Doing the Pigeon" song and dance? Is it a good Sesame Street bit or the BEST Sesame Street bit? (Hopefully I have a more serious question later, but I got this song stuck in my head the very moment I saw the word "pigeon.")

Jenna Congdon

Why can you go to cities all over the world and the pigeons mostly look the same as other pigeons continents away? Shouldn't there be little sub-species of pigeons in different locations? Also, why are they so terrible at building nests?

Zoe Litton

So my mother is a middle school science teacher in Maryland, and she has a bird feeder. There was a pigeon that she named Luna that came every single day and stayed all day. Luna never brought friends, it was just her. She had tags with serial numbers on them.Luna would even come into the classroom when the bird feeder was empty. One day a student stayed real still and let Luna come up to them. They copied her serial numbers and looked them up on some sort of website. Turns out she's a RACING PIGEON FROM OKLAHOMA!!!

Katy

I wonder if that correlation (if it exists) has something to do with feet getting caught/tangled in hair and amputated, and with the chemicals used in hair salons.

Cynthia Z

Most birds drink water by scooping water into their beaks and tilting their heads back, so gravity causes it to go down their throat. I’ve noticed that pigeons can actually sip water without doing the head tilt! Why are they able to drink water differently from other birds??

Cynthia Z

A few questions about diet! Why/how do pigeons produce crop milk??? Unrelated to the first question, they often eat grit (literally crushed rocks) for digestion, though opinions seem mixed on whether that’s actually good for them. What happens to the grit they eat, does it ever come out or cause issues? And finally, how in the world are they able to survive on city trash when they’re mostly granivores? Obviously their life spans are shorter and their health suffers, but most birds would starve or get sick very quickly. What makes pigeons so resilient?

Zoe Litton

My mother emailed Luna's owners, they said she was probably wintering there. We haven't seen her lately. But Racing Pigeons what are they? And why do they show up at a bird feeder at a middle school?

Sir Monkeyboy

Has your ologist encountered Australia’s Elvis bird aka the Crested Pigeon? They have the most amazing quaff of feathers and amazing dance moves when they’re courting the ladies. How closely related are they to the “common” pigeon and why are they so dumb?! Their nests are often like five sticks and a bit of fluff on a dodgy branch and they lose so many eggs! Yet they’re everywhere in Adelaide South Australia.

Olga Kolesnikova

I love the song of wood pigeons, the "hoo-HOO-hoo, hoo-HOO", but what does it mean? Is it a sweet love song or something else? And do both sexes sing?

Sir Monkeyboy

They nest in our rather expansive bamboo every year and drop so many eggs but somehow they still manage to build in numbers!

Cynthia Z

Racing pigeons get lost and don’t always make it home (they get tired, lost, or hurt). They don’t have survival instincts so they’ll often crash land in random places, especially if there are food and people around (since they’re raised by people). Unfortunately they're also easy prey for hawks and other predators, so it’s usually only a matter of time :(

Cynthia Z

I always see male city pigeons puffing out their chests and performing courtship behavior, but it’s so hard to tell the sexes apart otherwise. I’ve even seen confirmed female pigeons mount their partners! Are there any definitive visual or behavioral ways for us to tell the males from females, aside from DNA testing or the obvious presence of an egg?

SuchaHotMetz

Are pigeons and doves related? What can help determine it its a dove's or pigeon's call?

Helios

I've heard that the passenger pigeon was partially dependent on the canebrake habitats (thickets of our native bamboo species) of the Southeastern U.S. Do you know anything about the relationship between E. migratorious and the canebrakes, and how the loss of canebrakes may have also had an impact on the extinction of the passenger pigeon?

Cynthia Z

I’ve already submitted like 7 questions and there may be more, but this is more of a request: Most of these questions center around city pigeons/rock doves, since they’re so common. I definitely want to hear about pigeon diversity across the world, especially wild species. However, I really hope we can also hear about domestic vs. feral pigeons and why that distinction is important. Academics often speak about feral pigeons from a strictly ecological perspective (non-native, technically invasive) which I totally understand. But because their history in urban settings is so intertwined with humans, please consider also sharing from a less academic and more humanistic perspective: how humans bred and abandoned them, what happens to millions of domestic pigeons that are unwanted, and how we can coexist with them and possibly take some responsibility for our actions. This podcast has such a huge, open-minded, curious audience and I’m not into propaganda, but I AM extremely passionate about making facts, stories, and history known to people. I’ve been doing pigeon outreach + education for 7 years now and will probably never reach as many people as this podcast can in a single episode, so I am so deeply grateful to you for choosing this as a topic!

Helios

Thoughts on the Revive and Restore project to bring back the passenger pigeon (or a close imitation)?

Cynthia Z

Ok one more question because I’ve always wondered: Why can’t pigeons poop when they’re flying? They have to perch and love pooping off of ledges. Is there a specific mechanism for their pooping process that’s unable to activate in flight? People always blame flyover poops on pigeons and they’re being framed, but why can’t they do it?!?

Helios

(Also, unrelated question on how these Patreon Q's work - am I a FTQA if I've asked a question but it wasn't read in the episode, or only if I've never posted a Patreon question before? If it's dependent on the question being read on air, then I'm a FTQA)

Sarah Piette

Why are they so bad at making nests???

M. Underwood

Why did the Coast Guard stop using them to find people/liferafts in the ocean when they were so much more successful than any other system? First time questionner! xomu

MAD

What steroids do the NYC pigeons take?

Ellis Scherer

Can we please get an explanation on how carrier pigeons work? Can they only go between two locations, or more than two? How do you train them? Can they retire from their carrier duties?

JT

No question, but shout out to #1 pigeon advocate Rosemary Mosco ~

Silas Guion

My girlfriend Mary (FTQA) used to live in NYC and would sometimes see giant male pigeons, HUGE ones like three times the size of the other pigeons and we want to know - what’s up with that?!

Alicia B

I want to hear more about the pigeons that wore cameras in the early 1900s! Has anything been done since then with pigeons and technology or surveillance? Or art!

Alicia B

Do pigeons make good pets? Should they be pets? lol

Peyton Nill

I love a plump pigeon. If I see a plump pigeon, does that mean it’s overweight? Also, if I just want to give it a squeeze, am I a bad person?

Peyton Nill

Why are pigeons the birds of cities? Why do I never see other birds in urban environments? What’s the natural habitat and range of a pigeon (if cities didn’t exist)

Kate E

What are their breeding behaviors and where do they nest? I feel like there are plenty of adults around but I’ve never seen a fledgling pigeon (I think!). What do they feed their babies?

Julia Smith

Please explain pigeon milk!

Sara Rocero

Are all pigeons doves, but not all doves are pigeons?

Erin Bagley

First time question asker Herr- asking for my friend's daughter who has 2 pet pigeons. How can humans help feral/wild pigeons?

Nicole Harper

I would love to hear the story of the passenger pigeons. Is it true that they could darken the sky as if the sun had gone down or that it could take 14 hours for the flock to completely fly over? How has their story influenced conservation today?

Cas

Why are some pigeons so “pretty” (white with black spots, etc.) compared to the regular gray plumage? Does it have something to do with their history of selective breeding for color, or is there just a natural array of plumage colors?

Megan M

First time question! I have 2: 1. What exactly is the difference between a pigeon and a dove? Is it just the colour? 2. Why CAN'T I let the pigeon drive the bus? Finally could I please request a shout out for Simon who might be the world's biggest pigeon fan and has taught all his teachers and classmates to love them too ❤️

Megan M

I think they probably do! I would imagine because I think they were bred as domestic animals originally?!

Clair Widener

1. Could carrier pigeons be brought back from extinction with gene manipulation? 2. Do pigeons poop on cars and people on purpose? 3. Are city pigeons really carriers of disease or was that something mom told me so I wouldn’t chase them? 4. Why are pigeons so more numerous than other birds in urban environments?

Grace Benzler

How is a bird who’s nests are two twigs at the best the most prolific bird species

Grace Benzler

Also why do the babies look like that

Grace Benzler

Another one: do they have magnets in their brains!? What’s going on

floraandthefaun

omj i have been waiting for this episode to happen!! 🤩🤩🤩 finally these gracious, adorable skydivers get the attention they deserve! i love pigeons, and especially watching them. each year i have two streptopelia decaocto trying to nest on my balcony, but so far they haven't been smart enough to pick a spot where it's actually possible to build a nest. i love that they keep trying though.😅😂🤭

Michelle Cabrera

Yeah, why DO pigeons hang out in cities? And once, when I was walking to work, I witnessed a pigeon crossing a street along with me and a bunch of other humans. Now, props to the bird for using the crosswalk they way it was intended, but I was still like, "Dude, you're not fooling anyone."

Cheyenne McCarter

My neighbor says she doesn't want to clean up Pigeon Poo.She wants to scare away the pigeons that tend to (sometimes) congregate above the out door stairs to her apartment. She hangs 2.5'' inch-3'' inch wide ribbons of Milar hastily tied to the barely reachable over hang.

Cheyenne McCarter

Oops I wasn't done. What would be an easy way for me to clean up the pigeon poo for her? I'd rather clean it up than hear the intermittent rustling of Milar ( I get surprised, while peacefully gardening, thinking I hear someone behind me ).

GK Gurley

Hi! What on earth are mourning doves and why are they trying to gaslight me into thinking an owl is around?

The Joyful Spitfire

So many questions. So excited for this one. What business do they have being so dang beautiful? Aside from mating…Can’t imagine there is an evolutionary advantage to be iridescent teal and fuchsia pink against a gray city backdrop. Are there different breeds of pigeons the way there are with chickens? Fancy plumage and colors and the like? Why do they take to cities over suburbia or fields? Is it because of their omnivorous eating? What is their intelligence level compared to corvids? Are they solitary or flock birds?

The Joyful Spitfire

Also Spy Pigeons. Can you confirm aviary espionage? If yes - why are they not included war films? Did birds get awarded honors the way K-9 units do now?? Also also - pitch for a pigeon of war film - who wants in?

Nicole Kleinman

Are homing pigeons the same kind of pigeons that are in cities?

Fi Cameron

Are pigeons similar to magpies (and some other birds) in that they remember faces and know who is an isn’t a threat? (I hope they know who is and isn’t friend) Also do they see their feather colours differently to how humans see them? Thank you! ❤️🐦

Kate Noonan

I've seen pigeons making the worst nests ever. Is this because we domesticated them for so long and now they've forgotten how to make a good nest or were they always bad at it?

Megan M

There's an animated pigeon war film called Valiant!

Megan M

I know of at least 2 who did receive award recognitions for military service! A British one called Commando and another called Cher Ami who I think was maybe American?

Julia Bunn

In 1979 I visited Belgium and was sitting in a cfe next to an older woman. A pigeon strutted right up to me and I reached out my hand to brush its feathery back. The woman was taken aback in in horror said I could get tuberculosis from the bird. I was totally freaked out but also skeptical. Was this once a popular myth in Europe? And it is not true or ????

Chanel Nagaishi

First time question asker here! As a child I was fascinated by the scene in Home Alone 2 where the Central Park pigeon lady helped save Kevin from Harry and Marv. Would pigeons actually attack people if they were covered in bird seed?

Leah Rebecca

First time question asker long time lurker! Since pigeons were once domesticated (iirc) is it cruel to have them as a pet now? (I’m not a fan of keeping birds in cages, etc) would they make a good pet?

Saint Kendra

can I just put a dovecote in my backyard and start caring for whoever lands? would they be ok if i moved?

Cynthia Z

They absolutely do! They are the best pets I’ve ever had - I’ve had doves and dogs, and I them all. Pigeons are like cats that like to chill, are generally mellow, and come find you when they want attention. Doves are like puppies on caffeine and SCREAM occasionally, while my pigeons coo and purr and are generally much quieter.

Colin Rowbottom

Why do they look insane and always look like they are on a verge of a mental breakdown?

Deborah Gray

My friend, Kaylee, and I want to know: How do the genetics work for their coloring? How much sex do they have? Should I try to adopt a pigeon outside?

Paige

I live in a city with so so many pigeons, so why do I never see pigeon nests? Or pigeon eggs? Or baby pigeons? Where are they??

Lauren Kelliher

1st timer: Why do SO MANY have at least one toe missing? Injuries? Genetics? I always look at their tootsies when i see one.

Magdalena Castillo

Are pigeons found in every country in the world? If so, how did they get that successful?

Lara Ayres

Do pigeons communicate with bird calls - do their " coos" serve that purpose?

The Awkward Cactus

Why do people hate on pigeons so much in a world where geese exist?

Sonjabird

In my days of a wildlife rehabber I treated many pigeons. They were some of my favorite patients because they have so much personality. They would often “karate chop” you when you tried approaching them in a small cage. Do they do this to other birds or predators in the wild?

Nita Chen

Greetings, are pigeons the stockier cousins to doves?

Nita Chen

Greetings, why are there so many pigeons in urban areas?

Nita Chen

Greetings, where does the term pigeonholing come from?

Nita Chen

Greetings, Are pigeons involved in any research studies?

Mary McGann

1st timer. Do pigeons pair for life?

Tarable Adult

Are pigeons real or is it the government spying on us? 😅 are birds even real!?

Dionne Needham

In New Zealand we have a native wood pigeon called kererū. It’s large, its wings have a distinctive sound when it flys and feed mainly on fruit which can make it drunk. I almost got hit by a drunk kererū as it flew off its perch dipped due to weight and drunkenness. Are any other pigeons prone to drunkenness? Ps in 2018 we voted the kererū our bird of the year. There was news around the world that we voted in a drunk pigeon as our bird of the year. In 2021 we voted our native bat in as bird of the year…. Probably says something about a country were the people call themselves kiwis a flightless bird with a long beak 🥰 😂

Daniella Napolitano

YES! I'm SO excited. SO many questions: How many types of pigeons are there even? How do you befriend a pigeon? What is the safest thing to feed pigeons? What is the average lifespan of a pigeon? How do male pigeons attract female pigeons and do different pigeon species have different tactics? How can you tell a male pigeon from a female pigeon? What are your thought on the Tom Lehrer song "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park?"

Sirspence

What is the current state of messengers pigeons? Is there anyone who still uses pigeons for communication?

Nick A

Are there less ugly and hostile ways to stop them from pooping all over your stoop than spike strips?

You Can Be The Judge

Oh hell yeah! PIGEONS! are we gonna get the passenger pigeon back or what?

You Can Be The Judge

do you have pigeons? the fancy ones? Or do you train them to carry messages so the enemy can't read your tweets?

You Can Be The Judge

do pigeons' great sense of direction come from the fact that birds aren't real and they are actually remote controlled via gps satellites? actually this is a cool fact i already knew that science doesn't know... Wild! any breakthrouighs?

Gemma

everyday when i’m waiting for the train, i listen to ologies, look up to see the pidgins, and think “i wonder when is alie going to do a pidgin episode” why do pidgins always hang around train stations and urban areas that seem so inconvenient to navigate? there’s always spikes and yellow owl balloons to deter them but they don’t care. why do they yearn for the trains?

Matthew Walcher

I recently read pigeons can produce milk (or something like it), but they're not mammals. Is this unique to pigeons or can other birds produce milk as well? Is there a reason or theory as to why they evolved this way and other birds didn't?

Matthew Walcher

I'd like to hear more about the research regarding pigeons detecting cancer. How are they able to detect it so accurately?

Orla Spurr

Do all pigeons coo? How is coo-ing different to singing? Also Alie please look up the Kererū of Aotearoa New Zealand. They are huge and gorgeous and mostly silent aside from the beats of their massive wings.

Orla Spurr

We had a pretty run down shelter in our backyard where a pigeon built a shoddy nest, and she came back every year for maybe 5 years? Is this common?

Orla Spurr

PS, first time question asker 🙋🏻

Orla Spurr

PS, first time question asker 🙋🏻

Orla Spurr

I think it's the other way round!

Orla Spurr

I am also in Adelaide asked a similar question! We had one which came back for years and years, lost so many eggs but never reinforced her nest

Orla Spurr

Despite the great diversity of native pigeon species, the rock pigeon (Columba livia) has come to dominate cities across the world. Do they ever interbreed with native species? Is that possible?

Andrea Marie Squirrel Tree Roggero

First time question asker. My girlfriend and I would like to know if pigeons have regional accents like in the movie Bolt? 😂

Heather Penrose

Hi - 1st time for a comment / questions I live in a home that was built - circa 1880. It’s a duplex with 2 flats . Grandson lives upstairs now . 10 years ago his grandfather moved out when he was 100 years old. He fed the pigeons for YEARS. At “ mealtimes” ( most likely??) they all gather on the power lines. How long to pigeons live ? Can they tell their offspring about this spot ? No one has fed them in about a decade . However , they all gather in the backyard-on the power lines - and chill ; don’t bother nobody !! Apparently it used to be a massive gathering . I was like “ hey , what up with the pigeons?” “Grandpa… don’t feed them” ( essentially) . Been here 8 years . They just sit there and “talk”. Perhaps - I’ll even describe as them “ respectful” AKA no pigeon poo everywhere , they don’t come on the patio etc…. Until living here , I steered clear of pigeons . They have a bad rep “rats with wings , dirty” THE POO. So “ hey , what up with those pigeons?” Rochester NY . Side notes - Thanks for ologies . I rock the shirt . ADHD episodes have made some of my clients (and ME ) laugh and cry . I’m a psychotherapist with ADHD . Also Dr Mary and fear !! Just ordered a quince quilt for my bed Appreciate all your work . Thanks x infinity. Heather Penrose

Sir Monkeyboy

We have a few pairs that routinely nest in our yard. Another question would be if they’re monogamous or are they getting a little freaky with the neighbours every nesting season? The males have some pretty serious dance moves and “ooo-hoos” going on so I assume there is some competition.

R P Bergmann

Is it true pigeons navigate by using the magnetism of the poles?

Earl of Greymalkin

1) Can I train the local pigeon horde to do my bidding? How can I be friends with them? Should I refrain from bribing them for their own health? Are there good snacks I can provide them? 2) Are the old homing messenger pigeons really all gone? Why were they special and other pigeon species aren't as good at sending messages? Can we Jurassic Park them back? Or do some selective breeding on existing populations? 3) What is a pigeon vs a dove? 4) Why do they make such cute sounds??! Do they make other noises than the coos? 5) Does pidgin the type of language have anything to do with pigeons the birbs? 6) I don't remember really seeing juvenile rock pigeons in the city. Do they fledge completely looking like adults? Or do they grow up super fast and I just haven't noticed? 7) I've heard tell that pigeons are terrible nest builders. How do they make sure their eggs and wee ones don't fall off of skyscrapers? 8) What's your take on hostile urban design for birds, like the spiky bird strips on top of street lamps and buildings? Should we be removing it all and encouraging bird friends to hang out instead of making life difficult for them? Do modern architects deliberately try to design facades to reduce the ability of wildlife to sit on them (and poop on them)? 9) If I get pooped on by a pigeon, how icked out should I be? Should I take a shower in ethanol? Do they carry zoonotic viruses or boatloads of Salmonella? 10) Has anyone ever had to initiate a program to reduce pigeon population size because they were causing problems or are pigeon populations usually self-limiting based on resources available in urban areas? 11) Kinda dark question, but I've seen so many pigeons in cities but few dead ones (except for a lot at the top of Sacre Coeur in Paris). Where to pigeons go to die? Are cities that good at cleaning up dead pigeons? Or are there a lot of little bird corpses on top of buildings that we don't see from the ground? 12) Window strikes kill a lot of migratory birds in cities, are pigeons better equipped to avoid windows somehow? Have they demonstrably adapted to urban environments? 13) What is the fancy pigeon breeding community like? Any fancy breeds we should google to see how ridiculous they look? Do they ever end up breeding with city birds? 14) Do rock pigeons in cities have any real predators? Are there so many leucistic ones because they don't? 15) Why can you walk right up to city pigeons and they barely flinch? They almost get stepped on and don't give any shits. Do they have nerves of steel or are they just too dumb? 16) What do pigeon mating displays involve. I've seen some birds persistently chasing other birds recently and can't tell if it's social hierarchy negotiations or spring is coming.

Earl of Greymalkin

omg so many questions I'm sorry hahaha I just love birbs

Jeannie Ortiz

I second the 1st. question. I have an ongoing discussion with a friend, she says pigeons and doves are the same thing...but I think they are different species, right? We have collared doves, white wing doves and Inca doves where we live here in New Mexico, but I also see the big beefy pigeons you see in cities sometimes. (my neighbor feeds them) They have to be different species....

Robin C Pike

I heard an urban myth that pigeons were given a form of birth control to stop them from reproducing as much (in Washington, DC). Is this true? How would this even be accomplished?

Surisitee

Do their coos have scientific healing powers like a cat's purr?

Surisitee

Sir riss suh tea

Surisitee

Dawg what's up w ur name tho

Thedorknextdoor

I would like to know more about their feathers, please! How/why are they so shiny and iridescent? Second, sillier question: have you ever heard of a band called Pigeons Playing Ping Pong? 🐦🏓

Clare P

Can pigeons teach information to each other, like crows do? What were the purposes of their beautiful, intricate coloring?

Zed Shirogane

Where do the pigeon/dove species come from originally, like their common ancestor with other birds? They all have a similar body type yet they are found all across the globe: what makes them so successful as a species family?

Zed Shirogane

What are your thoughts on the fact that some catfish in lakes/parks are starting to hunt city pigeons, similar to how falcons and hawks are primarily feeding off them.

Sara Rocero

My friend, James, would like to know: I’ve observed a lot of males pigeons do their courtship display without much success. How often do they get down?

Kate Bates

Why are mourning doves so paranoid? The ones who come to the feeder take off anytime they see a human through a window. The other birds get used to us walking around.

Kate Bates

I read somewhere that pigeons produce "milk". WTF? I know it's not milk really but what is that about?

Cat Lady

Are pigeons tasty? Because squabs are.........

Cassandra Rodrigues

Sorry I can’t tell if this already posted! Why do pigeons I see in NYC get such messed up toesies? Are other urban birds missing toes and I just can’t see cause they are less visible?

Aubrey Dunn

Why have I never seen a pigeon nest or baby pigeons? Are they just spawning out of nowhere???

Joanna Polk

I live in the suburbs of Chicago and very rarely see pigeons at my bird feeder but mourning doves are frequent visitors at the feeders. Why?

Essence Birdsall

Why are pigeons looked down on so badly by humans? I don't live in a city, but when I do see one, I am surprised with how beautiful their feathers are considering you only ever hear complaints about them.

Lily

What is it about an urban area that allows pigeons to be so successful?

Lily

I live in nyc and I’ve noticed that groups of pigeons that sit together, will at irregular intervals all get up and fly in formations just to return to where they were roosting. What are they doing, why do they do this? Is it just to get the blood pumping?

Leah Rebecca

Can mourning doves and pigeons crossbreed? Are pigeon nests really as meek as they are portrayed online?

Doxx

Well as someone who lives in NYC, I dislike them because they’re always pooping everywhere and there’s a lot of them. That’s a lot of poop. They are pretty though.

Eleanor

I love pigeons, but why are they so bad at making nests?? It seems careless if they only have one or two squabs a season.

Carsyn

I've seen this and that about pidgeons and their ability to recognize themselves in a mirror in the mirror test. What is the consensus on that? Is this a good test of intellegence and how do they stack up to other birds as far as intellegence?

Felipe Jimenez

My father in law and grand father in law used to breed pidgeons for shows and racing. He asked me to ask: is the eye sign theory about the shape of the pupils and their eye sight validated?

goatleaf

What is the history of pigeons and mail carrying?

Susan Singley

Carrier pigeons are extinct, which is a damn shame. At the risk of exposing my ignorance, are they close enough to city pigeons that they could be brought back using existing DNA and the magic of science...a la Jurrasic Park? But without the running and the screaming?

Susan Singley

Also, are city pigeons overall healthier in cities where they have a natural predator, like falcons that nest on the buildings?

Susan Singley

I live in a rural area and we never see huge groups of pigeons flying together, but in cities that's about all you see. Why? What is it about urban areas that attracts and supports so many of just one species?

Adam Foote

Is this animal cruelty or would pigeons simply not care?

Storm

is it true they make good pets

Storm

how are the so good at living in human populated areas like cities

Storm

is it true that pigeons are just government spies…?

Storm

why do we never see baby pigeons

Storm

why are the so under appreciated

Jasmine Liu

Do we (general we, for I love them) only hate pigeons because we have too many of them? Like how I would love a monkey to show up at my house in New Hampshire, but realize they are taking over cities in India and elsewhere. How smart are they? compared to other birds, animals, and humans? Will they use a nesting box? What do they like to eat when not relying on human scraps? Are there more squirrels or pigeons in the US? Do they like other birds? Are they related to mourning doves?

Staci Pinkowitz

cheering screaming crying YES. yes!!!!! if there is a pigeon fan club i am IN THERE. so excited. they're the coolest animals ever and through the process of domestication we are BUILT to LOVE EACH OTHER. they're SHINY and make CUTE NOISES and you can PET THEM!! have you seen those videos of people giving them chin scratchies???? i'm losing my mind and i'm so ready to address the pervasive pigeon slander

Storm

you’re both extremely lucky and not hahah

Emily G

Do you know anything about the history of pigeons in India? When I was in Agra (the city the Taj Mahal is in), I remember seeing men on the rooftops who seemed to be directing flocks of pigeons through the sky with something they swung around their head on a rope and whistling. I'd love to know more!

Alyssa Ranker

Are pigeons endemic to each continent? Just learned about a beautiful New Zealand pigeon: the Kererū! 💖🐦

Christina Hammarberg

So many good questions!! I'm curious as to where the term "Pigeon-toed" comes from? Do pigeons walk with their feet turned in? Are they the only birds that do this? (And if so, why pick on Pigeons?)

Edward Rice

Is a Rock Dove the same as a pigeon? Is a homing pigeon a specific species or just a pigeon that has been trained?

Jaedin Guldenstern

First time question asker and lover of Ologies, especially when I am painting (who knew I would learn about everything from crabs to wildfires to penises all while hyper focusing and getting covered in oil paint). Grateful for you Alie! My coworker just recently helped out a dying pigeon (now named Gregory) that got strings stuck around its feet and could not move. He now is going through rehab and is in great hands. The rehab center only feeds Gregory mcdonald’s because he is used to street food/trash, spoiled little guy. I am wondering how the symbiotic relationship formed between pigeons and humans (and if/how pigeons exist in non-urban areas)? Also are pigeons related to crows? They seem similarly smart and dismissed. ALSO another fun fact I was studying in Latin America and the pigeons would not stop pooping on the balcony so my host mom zip tied CDs on the railings and the pigeons stopped pooping (and also ambushed her for it). There were also rainbows everywhere inside!

Maria Whamond

FTQA- what is a pigeon’s social life like? Do they have best friends/enemies/boyfriends/girlfriends/BREAKUPS?

Hannah

What causes the nub feet on so many pigeons?

Hannah

What are pigeons natural habitat - outside of cities where would they live? Forest? What sort of biome?

Carl Ellis

In NYC we do call them flying rats. If it weren’t for the hawks controlling the population, how infested would NYC be?

Jesse Hurlburt

Birth controlled pigeons, did it happen?

Disco Ru

Pigeon used be a popular food and still is in some countries. Why did eating pigeon fall out of popularity in the United States?

Kristin 🦦

How much of the behavior we see in urban pigeon populations is related to the decline in the keeping of domestic pigeons and the release or assisted escape of some flocks?

Kristin 🦦

How unique are pigeon coos, both as a genus and as individuals? Is it like birdsong?

Kristin 🦦

Do people still raise, train, and compete with pigeon flocks? If so, how widespread is this hobby?

Eliana Weiss

first time question asker here! I was amazed by the picture on this post, as I didn't know pigeons could be colorful. Are there more kinds of pigeons than the common gray ones we see all the time? Are the common gray ones actually more colorful than I'd assumed?

Keerat Singh

Whenever I travel the pigeons always seem to look slightly different in my destination. Are pigeons in different countries meaningfully different?

Keerat Singh

Do radio waves affect pigeons? What about fields from electrical lines?

The Bloated Toad

Do all pigeons coo, if not, what other adorable sounds can they summon?

The Bloated Toad

Pigeons live in so many vastly different habitats but all seem to share the same body plan. What makes the pigeon shape so versatile?

Raja

Rock Doves (the birds people in Toronto refer to as pigeons) seem to be such social birds. Is that true or are they actually solitary birds who just wander to where they wanna be and that happens to be where other pigeons are? If they are social, is there a hierarchy within the groups? And finally, are groups static or dynamic (as in, do the same pigeons always hang out with the same other pigeons or do they switch it up)? -Raja/Raya rhymes with papaya

The Bloated Toad

Why do some pigeons have those bulbous face protuberances on top of their beaks around their nose holes? WHAT ARE THEY DOIN WITH EM?!?!

Raja

Other than Widgeon, does anything rhyme with pigeon? Apologies if this is doubled up - I don't think it went through before.

Hannah Michelle

My partner and I co-parent a pigeon named Primrose. I found her on the sidewalk and took her to a rescue who said she was malnourished, brought her back to health, and told us she was too cuddly to survive on the streets. So now she lives in our house, and when we say "Who's a good bird" in our pet voice, she walks in a circle and coos. We have many questions. 1) Primrose uses the ceiling fan as a merry-go-round! She flies up and lands on a fan blade, then she jumps from blade to blade, which gets the fan spinning. Then she scooches to the outer end of the blade she's on, because she seems to have realized it rotates faster that way (do pigeons know physics?), and she bobs her head as the fan spins around while she rides it. We can't figure out why she does this -- we think it's just for fun! Is there evidence that pigeons do some behaviors just for fun? Is there another explanation for this behavior? 2) Until Primrose was about 1 year old, she bonded with both me and my partner. She would go through phases where one of us was her "favorite," but she would still sometimes hang out and cuddle with the other person, and the favoritism never lasted for long. Since a little after she turned 1 year old, she's been very bonded with my partner and has lost interest in me -- she likes to sit near me but she doesn't preen me or enjoy being pet like she used to. Do you have any ideas about how we can help her to bond with both of us at the same time? We can't find any pigeon parenting books in the self-help section. 3) One of Primrose's more confusing gestures is the "nod." She definitely nods as part of her mating dance, but she also seems to nod when she's feeling territorial, overwhelmed, or annoyed. What does the nod mean, and is there a way to tell the difference between the different meanings behind these nods? 4) In reading about pigeon history, we see the New York meningitis scare in the 1960s being the turning point when people and pigeons parted ways. But none of the literature we've read says anything about what that abandonment looked like. Was it like, one day in the 1964 after hearing the news, pigeon-keepers ran up to their rooftops en masse, overturned their cages, and scared all the birds away, never to return? Or was it way more gradual and less dramatic than that? 5) Primrose loves sitting on heads, to the point that we came up with a quote, "A pigeon on the head is a delight to all." We plan to get a cross-stitching of this and hang it in our kitchen. We were wondering, is there any way to know why pigeons ride on people's heads? Was it a behavior they learned through adapting to life with humans? Or is it related to some other behavior they evolved before their relationship with humans?

Hannah Michelle

I’m sure the Ologist will be more informed, but I saw this question and couldn’t help but share, I watched my pet pigeon break up with a boyfriend/mate. It was heartbreaking, they were so cute together and then she suddenly lost all interest 💔

Allyson

If pigeons are so bad at making nests, why is the wild pigeon population going so strong? Or is the bad nest making not actually not that common and the bad nests that are shared online are just SO BAD they've become a pigeon trope?

Allyson

2nd question: why have I never seen a wild baby pigeon?

Steve K

A few questions from my daughter, Charlie, who looooooves pigeons: How do magnets interfere with their sense of direction? What are the origins of racing and carrier pigeons? What are the origins of racing and carrier pigeons? Whatever happened to the pigeons with cowboy hats in Las Vegas? Are they okay?

Lily

I’m doing March Mammal Madness (yall would love it, and should participate) and have been reading about the NICOBAR PIGEON, which, *SPOILER* just won its round,, who knew pigeons could be so flamboyant and diverse? This makes me wonder just how many types of pigeons there are around the world and how closely or not they are related to one another.

Olivia Lester

I am pickled with pigeon excitement and have a million q's... Can pigeons recognize our our faces (like crows)? Memory? What’s up with their math skills? What’s up with the rude stereotype they’re stupid (are they not underestimated quirky buds)? What’s pigeon fever up to? Are pigeon trappings used for any fashion trappings? Pigeon meat?? Do they want my ice cream? Is it just me, but why haven’t I seen pigeon fledglings (what do their lil babies look like)? Life span? Kept as pets? Where are they globally? Are pigeons truly invasive or are they just “invading” people’s personal space? What’s with their cute lil pink chests? Do they migrate or change temporally? Different kinds of calls? Mating rituals? Are there weird traditions that include pigeons? Weddings? Different species? And what’s with the passenger pigeon HaTE?!?! Could contemporary, urban pigeons face the same doom???

Mouse Paxton

AAA YES I LOVE PIGEONS!! What's your favourite pigeon breed and/or species? What's the weirdest pigeon breed? Why do rollers do that? Do people still use pigeons to deliver messages or goods? Do you have a pet pigeon or have you considered getting one? Why do baby pigeons look like that?

Maria Whamond

That is so sad 😿😿😿😿😿 poor wee guy!!!!!

Neen

How are pigeons so hardy in urban environments when there's so many hazards like cars/ cats/ people? (I've seen a person catch one for food once in the city?!) Is it okay to touch them? Are they dirty? Why are they so bad at building nests? How long do they live/ how often do they breed? How do they know when predators are close? They always seem to disappear when prey birds are near.

Neen

why do their heads bobble so much when they walk?

Neen

how often do they poop on us from above and is it malicious?

Neen

How much did Peter McIndoe annoy the pigeon community?

Fuzzgoddess

Should you feed city pigeons? If so, what is healthy for them?

The Bag Lady

Why do pigeons only live in cities?

Guido

I have always heard that pigeons that don't move or fly away are ill and they probably carry diseases. Are they really that dangerous?

Vicki Egesdal

ok, not pigeons . could use a follow up on decluttering that addresses digital clutter. You should see my phone! Thanks.

Deli Dames

How did pigeons come to populate the cities?

Patricia Evans

Does the ologist have an opinion on the efforts to attempt de-extinction of passenger pigeons, i.e., genetically revive a species that humans decimated?

hildabeast

Pigeons are so sweet and innocent! But I wonder...are they still used in warfare to deliver messages? I heard that they were used to circumvent Israel's high-tech security?! 😨

Zoe Litton

Why do pigeons get a bad rep? I love them and have seen people be so mean to them. Why can't everyone be like that old bird lady from Home Alone 2?

Natalia Quinones

Is is true that pigeons sometimes loose their toes because they get tangled in human hair from the streets? (I hesitated to ask this gruesome question, because it's the first question I ask, but my friend wanted to know 😂)

jangonator

I love pigeons and was SO thrilled to see it as the first call for questions after I joined the Patreon. Is it true that they mate for life? What happens if one of them dies? Also, how feasible/ethical would it be to adopt one off the street? Asking for “a friend”. Thanks Alie!

Kait

Seeing this late but just want to say I live in NYC (not far from Manhattan’s wonderful Wild Bird Fund and their fancy pidgies) and I LOVE PIGEONS! They’re so beautiful! So confident! I want to get tattoos of every pigeon I meet but that’s simply a fool’s errand!! Can’t wait to learn more!!!

Danita Adams

Do pigeons have different colouring from one city/country to another? And what is the difference between pigeons and doves?"

Putri Fraser

Yes to this question? Why are there so many pigeons with missing digits (toes?)? What caused them and are they suffering? Does that influence their quality of life? Seems to be OK even with missing digits.

Putri Fraser

What's the difference between wood pigeon and city pigeon? Here in Aotearoa (NZ) we have our big bois the native wood pigeon (Kereru). They are such big bois you can hear them flapping their wings/when they fly around you! How are they related to normal city pigeons?

Nicole Jouas

Can pigeons really explode if you feed them rice? Do they like wearing small backpacks? Can I legally own one? Why are they so cute but so stinky?

Cynthia Cohen

Mourning doves chose my porch to nest in, 7 times over 2 years. The last time was traumatic and tragic; a sharp-shinned hawk tried to carry the babies away (I HAVE VIDEO 🙀). Since then, about a year ago, I’ve rearranged my porch and they visit sometimes, but have not nested here since. Do they know? Do they remember? Have they told all their friends my porch is a danger zone?

Reiley Allison

Can pigeon guano--high in N, P and K, be used as a nutrient source for soils?

Hope Madeline

Why have I never seen a baby pigeon before? And further, why have I never seen a pigeon’s nest? Do they have nests? Or do they sleep in makeshift nests made out of old mcdonald’s wrappers and cigarette butts?

Kim Greiner

Did Nikola Tesla really fall in love with a pigeon? Also, if I want to train one do I have to get it from a breeder situation or can I just grab one off the street?

Nancy Anderson

Why are pigeon colonies generally in cities? I live in woods and they’re not here. Is city food easier and better? Also, when we see big pigeon “meetings” on overhead wires, are they all related?

ChickenChomper

How do these cute dumb dumbs keep their chickies alive? I've seen the "nests" of a kereru/New Zealand wood pigeon which sometimes consist of about 3 twigs in a "v" of a tree trunk haha. It just seems like darwinism should have stepped in here to correct this behaviour, no?

Blake Baird

Why is it that we keep the ideas of pigeon the bird and squab the delicacy so divorced from one another - far more than the pig/pork or cow/beef divide…?

Blake Baird

What makes them so good at identifying malignancy?

Darrah

Are pigeons doves like pickles are cucumbers? It would never have occured to me that they are the same bird but then I learned other languages that use the same word for pigeon and dove.

Michelle Butcher

I’d love to know more about the differences between passenger & regular-ol’ pigeons & whether there’s any way they cross-bred & could be selectively bred to bring back a bird like that? Also, can we eat the ones hanging out in our cities? Like, if the zombie apocalypse happens, will city-folk have a readily available protein source from these critters?

Patricia Evans

And if we did eat the ones hanging out in our cities, would we be likely to get infected with anything?

Kody Murdock

Pigeons are adorable ♥️ How long did it take to domesticate pigeons? Also are there any efforts today to re-domesticate them for other uses?

Elena

How do we help the pigeons?! They’re our fault :,(

Lisa

Doves vs pigeons...why the difference? Aren't they the same? Do people shoot and eat pigeons like doves? Is this something I haven't gotten to yet in the disgustology episode?(only half way through! :)

Magsaroni

What is the best pigeon and why is it the nicobar pigeon?

Beet lover

How smart are pigeons?

Natalie Welborn

Why did they get abandoned or did they just accidentally get out?

moeritherium

Have humans contributed to the extinction of many species of pigeon and is the current climate crisis having an impact on the current gigantic population globally?

okayest mom

hi! how much of the pigeon population live in "the wild", rather than in cities/urban areas? also, are they smart or not so smart?

Eli

Do you have pet pigeons? I have heard that pigeons make better pets than tropical birds such as parrots etc. Why is that? Do you teach them tricks?