Pigeons: Pests or Homeless?

Often referred to as ‘rats with wings’, we have given pigeons a bad name. They often use ledges to perch, and they roost in places that we find inappropriate. Pigeons are social birds, often seen in pairs or large numbers, and many believe that they are a risk to health and safety due to their droppings.

What brings pigeons to town?

Many of the pigeons found in our towns are descendants of domesticated rock doves, a coastal bird that is now rare in its pure form.¹ Centuries ago, their ancestors were domesticated by humans, much like cats and dogs were, but we appear to have forgotten about this. Even in Europe, pigeons have been domesticated as carriers or racers.

In the UK, pigeons such as collared doves and wood pigeons are commonly found in woods and on farmland, as well as urban areas. However, between 2001 and 2022, the UK saw a decrease in tree coverage by 15%. 

Urbanisation has been cited as the driver for permanent deforestation, which can devastate wildlife. Approximately 80% of species from around the world call forests home. With animals such as pigeons losing their habitat, they need somewhere else to live. 

Pigeons are not fussy eaters and have adapted to living in an urban environment. They will eat pretty much anything, including scraps of food, and the seeds that people often leave out for other birds. 

There are a number of ways to discourage pigeons from your bird feeders, such as using feeders with narrow holes, but there is a question we should ask ourselves: should we? Pigeons feed on small invertebrates, berries, buds, and seeds; however, these are harder to find in the urbanised areas that these birds now call their home.

How do we get pigeons out of our towns?

If you want to reduce the number of pigeons where you live, it would be best to reduce the amount of food that you leave for them, intentionally or unintentionally. This means ensuring that all edible waste is carefully secured and not left out; changing your feeders to ones with smaller holes; or using smaller seed mixes, as pigeons prefer larger seeds like sunflower seeds.

The real question, however, is should we discourage pigeons from our towns? With depleted habitats, pigeons need somewhere else where they can live or they will become extinct. In the 1800s, passenger pigeons were populous. However, they became extinct due to the human population’s insatiable appetite for this pigeon’s cheap meat and deforestation.

As human activity is responsible for depleting pigeons’ habitat, we should be doing our best to support these birds. The best thing to do is to stop destroying forests and plant more trees that can provide habitat and food. Trees with red or red-orange berries are popular with many birds, so planting trees like hawthorn and rowan will benefit pigeons.

Read more:

1. ‘The urban habitat’, British Birds: The Definitive Guide to Birds and Bird Watching (2012) Sywell: Igloo Books Ltd, p.70.