Rock Pigeons

My home town, Portland, is a great place for Rock Pigeons to live. Portland’s birds are descendents of those brought to North America from Europe in the 1600’s. 

People enjoy feeding these birds and city dwellers throw away enough food to feed a large Rock Pigeon population.

Weighing less than a pound, Rock Pigeons are 13 inches long. Males are slightly larger than the females.  Buildings and bridges resemble cliffs, doves’ natural nest site.

Pigeons walk or run with their heads bobbing back and forth. They can fly up to 50 miles per hour.

When you see a puffed up strutting bird, this is a male pigeon courting a female. Pigeons mate for life.  Males fluff up their neck feathers, usually green, bronze, and purple.  They spread their tail feathers and dance in a circle around the female. They coo loudly.  Both male and female help to build a nest of twigs.  Both sit on the nest until the eggs hatch.

In cities, the Peregrine falcon, Red-tailed hawk, and the Coopers hawk eat pigeons.

Do you have Rock Pigeons in your town?