How long do pigeons live?

Pigeons are well-known for their exceptional intelligence and the wide range of colors. Even though many people don’t know this, pigeons are very talented birds, they are loyal and reliable and they can travel very fast. The lifespan of a pigeon is 6 years.

Pigeons lifespan

How long do pigeons live in the wild?

When it comes to pigeons in the wild, most of them live between 3 and 6 years. It is very difficult for pigeons to live in the wild because they are targeted by many predators, especially when they are young and inexperienced. In addition, it is sometimes difficult for them to find food or water.

In other words, there are pigeons in the wild that live about 10 years, but since there are many of them that die very young; the average lifespan is 3-6 years.

How long do pigeons live in captivity?

Today, pigeons can be found in the wild, but they are also kept as pets. This is the reason why so many people are interested in pigeons lifespan.

The average age of a pigeon kept as a pet is between 9 and 15 years. Just like other animal pets, if the owner treats them with love and respect they can live longer. First of all, pigeons need a good home so they can keep their health. Clean and adequate food and water must be available in their pen or coop all the time.

While it is true that pigeons can eat almost any grain or even any food you give them, if you want to optimize their health you should focus on the food that is most suitable for them. For instance, you can use bread as a snack from time to time.

It is also a good idea to use healthy cereals and even boiled eggs. Peas, kale, lettuce, and spinach are good veggies for them. When it comes to fruit, feel free to give them grapes even though they like almost all fruits. Finally, give them seeds and nuts and don’t focus only on the regular seeds and nuts like raw peanuts.

Experts advise releasing pigeons from their pens or coops when the weather is good. They need physical activity every once in a while to stay in shape and prolong their lives. When the weather is very hot, keep them in the coop and put some water in a basin so they can take baths.

Extending the life of a pigeon is easy and we should all try this in case we want to keep them as pets.

Related posts: How long do canaries live? | How long do parrots live? | How long do seagulls live?

Where do pigeons live?

These birds live all over the planet except in Antarctica, Sahara desert and the most extreme parts of the Arctic. Wild pigeons are mainly found in coastal areas while feral pigeons live near human habitations like buildings and farms.

What do pigeons eat?

Pigeons eat seeds and fruits and rarely eat invertebrates.

How much do pigeons measure?

A pigeon measures around 12.5-14.5 inches (32-37 cm) from beak to tail and 24.4-29.1 inches (62-74 cm) wingspread. It is good to mention that the males are larger compared to females.

How much do pigeons weigh?

9-13 ounces.

Pigeons reproduction and life cycle

Sexes look almost alike only that males are bigger an also have more iridescence on their neck. They live in nest edged near buildings. Pigeons are monogamous and they mate for life. A female pigeon reach sexual maturity at the age of 7 months.

8-12 days after mating, the female pigeon lays 1-3 white eggs. The eggs hatch after 18 days. Upon hatching, the chicks are so helpless. They appear with sparse yellow or white down. The chicks leave the nest in 25-32 days but during winter it takes up to 45 days.

It is the responsibility of the male pigeon to fetch materials for nesting as well as to guard the female and the nest. Breeding occurs throughout the year and the female pigeon lays more eggs even before the chicks fledge.

Facts about pigeons

Pigeons and the humans

Pigeons have lived around human settlements for a very long period of time. The oldest record of the presence of pigeons in towns and villages is more than 5000 years old.

Pigeon and guano

Pigeon guano is not only foul but fantastic. Though it has been known to cause trouble to property owners, it is one of the highly priced fertilizers with no comparison. Great for melon and hemp crops. At some point, it calls for guard lest thieves steal it.

Pigeons as war heroes and messengers

Pigeons are very effective during wartime and are known to have saved hundreds thousands of people by carrying messages across the enemy lines. Pigeons were also used as messengers long before technology advancement.

Pigeons and religion

Many religions, like Hindu, Muslim and Sikh, consider pigeons as ceremonial birds. Christians use pigeons as a symbol of peace and of the Holy Spirit.

Pigeons and side-mounted eyes

Unlike humans and owls, pigeons has side-mounted eyes so they use a monocular vision. That’s why they bend their eyes and this allows them to find the correct orientation.

They have great eyesight, they see different colors and can detect ultraviolet light which is something that we humans can’t do.

Pigeons and damaging risks

Pigeon droppings leads to deterioration of buildings thus the need for frequent expensive maintenance. Their droppings also cause big aesthetic problems park benches, cars and pedestrians. Pigeons in the airports are great threat to human safety because they are potential causes of bird-aircraft collision. They also have a great potential to carry and spread diseases.

Pigeons and mirror test

It’s so amazing how a pigeon has the ability to recognise its own image on a mirror.

Pigeons and intelligence

Pigeons can recognise and conceptualise the 26 alphabets. They can also see the difference between photographs.