Pigeons: Birds of Brilliance – How to Befriend Humanity’s Original Best Friend

When people think of animal companions, their minds usually go to cats or dogs. Some may think fish or birds like parrots or canaries, but there’s another friend right outside your door: the pigeon.

Befriending and caring for pigeons can be a great way to relieve stress, in the same way spending time with a dog or a cat would. So open up a pack of bird seeds, your heart, and allow these magnificent creatures into your life.

Worried about the ongoing bird-flu epidemic? According to the CDC, pigeons do not usually carry bird flu viruses that are dangerous to poultry or people. In a study published by the National Library of Medicine entitled the “Susceptibility of Pigeons to Avian Influenza” by B. Panigraphy concluded that the pigeons were resistant or minimally susceptible to infection with HPAIV or NPAIV.

“Pigeons are wonderful birds. Getting diseases from them is incredibly rare. They don’t deserve their negative reputation,” said Ivy Majpruz-Moat, who runs a TikTok for their pet pigeon Sandy @sandythepigeon. “They have been our loyal friends and companions for thousands of years. They deserve our respect and love. They are just trying to survive in the world, just like us.”

Megan Walton runs an avian sanctuary called ‘Pigeons for Miles,’ which you can find on Instagram @pigeons4miles and on TikTok @pigeonsformiles.

“I rescued a lost racing pigeon in 2022 by chance and when trying to place them in a sanctuary, saw that the treatment they get even at sanctuaries is less than ideal and not individualized care,” said Walton. “At this point I decided to keep him, pair him with a mate, and ultimately became a pigeon rescuer overnight. A few weeks later, my third rescued pigeon fell into my care and the rest was history!”

Johanna, also known as jl_exotic_birds on TikTok, posts educational content about pigeon rescue, rehabilitation, and ethical breeding. When speaking with her, Johanna explained how she’s loved animals for as long as she can remember. Currently, most of the birds in her care are rescues or rehomes.

For anyone interested in what caring for a pigeon is like, Johanna says: “It’s like having a clingy puppy with wings when they’re truly bonded to you.”

“Pigeons are how I know true, unconditional love exists. Watching them dote upon their mate is the most heartwarming experience to witness,” Walton said.

The love for pigeons can be reflected through religious lenses. The Mesopotamian goddess Inanna-Ishtar, also known as The Mother Goddess, was often depicted with doves atop her head. The Goddesses of love, Greece’s Aphrodite and Rome’s Venus, are also associated with doves, which are depicted throughout many religious paintings.

To those thinking: aren’t doves a different bird? They are not — the American Bird Conservatory notes that the difference between pigeons and doves is linguistic, not scientific. The word ‘pigeon’ has French roots, whereas ‘dove’ has Nordic roots. Nevertheless, they are both members of the Columbidae family.

Pigeons are a lot more intelligent than given credit for: they are able to remember faces, see the world in vivid colors, navigate complex routes, and deliver news, as explained by The Guardian.

“Pigeons have brought me joy in many ways. Feeding pigeons makes me happy because I know that I am helping a beautiful and wonderful animal survive. Pigeons have historically served and helped humans in many ways, from delivering messages in war times to being our beloved pets for hundreds of years. Pigeons are intelligent, gentle, kind and beautiful animals,” said Majpruz-Moat. “Since pigeons have been domesticated, they rely on humans for survival. My pet pigeon Sandy has brought joy into my life by providing constant companionship.”

All of the interviewees emphasized doing research when wanting to own a pigeon, as many misconceptions are easily spread. Many think pigeons can eat just anything, but that is not true. Bread, for example, is actually very bad for birds. Bread is primarily carbohydrates and lacks the protein, vitamins, and minerals that pigeons need for a healthy diet.

“Please adopt a pigeon from an animal shelter or from a bird rescue. Pigeons are wonderful pets. They live 15-20 years if healthy. The original cost of buying a cage, food and supplies is the most you will spend on your pigeon. After that, the only cost you will have is their food which is very affordable (50% Harrison’s pellets  or other pigeon pellets and 50% pigeon seed mix) as well as annual vet visits,” said Majpruz-Moat. “Pigeons are devoted partners and are happier in pairs. You can have a single pigeon too, but then you need to be able to spend many hours a day with your pigeon to keep them happy (since they will start to see you as their mate).”

“RESEARCH!” Walton emphasized. “If you think you’ve learned everything, there’s still more to know.”

“Pigeons are highly individual. Don’t put expectations onto any pigeon you may want to adopt. Some are friendly, some are aloof, and some are feist,” said Meredith Mattingly from Derby City Pigeon Rescue. “They need more care than I think people may realize, as they are very dusty, so a lot of cleaning, and extremely social, so you need to spend a lot of time with them.”

“Another note: birds cannot be spayed or neutered the way cats and dogs are, and so birds will display hormonal and sexual behaviors. This is NORMAL. However, make sure your bird has outlets for how to fulfill these urges. Example, a mate, or a stuffed toy pigeon,” added Majpruz-Moat. “If you have a pair of pigeons, always take any eggs that are laid and replace them with fake pigeon eggs — they will not know the difference. This way, the birds will not reproduce. Same-sex pairs of pigeons do exist and are common. In that case, still replace any eggs with fake ones. Pigeons breed all year long, and if one of the birds is a male, there is a high possibility that the eggs are fertilized. So swap them out with fake eggs.”

“Birds must be very efficient eaters due to rapid metabolism and the small size of their stomachs,” The Backyard Naturalist explained in an article. “Birds need to max out every meal in order to take in enough nourishment.”

VCA Animal Hospital states that “wild pigeons and doves eat a variety of grains, seeds, greens, berries, fruits, and will occasionally eat insects, snails and earthworms.”

Pigeons have traditionally been fed all-seed diets. Commercially available seed mixes for pigeons usually contain 2-5 different kinds of seeds.

“However, the seeds tend to be high-fat and nutrient-deficient and are not the same kinds of seeds that wild pigeons eat. Seeds are also deficient in calcium, vitamin A, and other nutrients,” VCA Animal Hospital explained. “Many times, these seed mixes are fed as the only source of food, leading to ill health and potentially, a shortened lifespan. Seeds can be part of a pigeon’s diet but should not comprise the entire diet.”

The added vegetables and greens must be finely chopped, as well as the smaller amounts of fruit. Pale vegetables, with a high water composition (i.e., iceberg or head lettuce, celery) offer very little nutritional value and should not be offered.

“Pigeons truly love and care for one another, and humans could learn a lot from them,” said Walton.