Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings collection
Date of this Version
March 1974
Abstract
Feral pigeons, problem birds common to most American cities and farms, are descendants of the Rock Dove (Columba livia) of North Africa and Europe. They were brought to America as domestic poultry by the first European settlers and have since escaped. They are not truly "wild", as their existence depends upon man's activities. An adult pigeon will eat about a pound of food a week, consisting primarily of grain spilled around elevators, rail road yards and feed lots or fed by bird lovers at city parks. Pigeons are usually monogamous. The female lays 1 to 2 eggs, 8 to 12 days after mating. About 18 days after laying, the egg hatches. More eggs are laid before the young leave the nest at 4 to 6 weeks. An average American feral pigeon will live about 5 to 7 years but can live as long as 30 years.