Why Do Pigeons Kiss?
Otherwise known as billing, a pigeon kiss will surely catch your eye. Now, as humans, we perceive kissing as a sign of affection. But is the case the same for pigeons? Why do pigeons kiss?
Male pigeons will generally approach the female at the end of courtship behavior. The male will bring over semi-digested food and open his beak. If the female accepts, the male will feed her, which basically is a pigeon kiss.
So, does that mean that pigeons do not kiss other at other times, and it is only exclusive during the courtship ritual? Well, you will find all the related info about pigeons kissing below.
Read more about pigeons behavior:
Is Pigeon Kissing a Sign of Affection?
We, humans, consider kissing as a sign of affection. However, for the birds, it generally happens during the courtship. And as you know, the pigeon kiss is basically the male bird passing food to the female after impressing her.
Even so, you can consider pigeon kissing a sign of affection. When the female accepts the kiss, it starts a bond. Without love, there will be no bonding, right? So, yes, it is safe to say that pigeon kissing is a sign of affection.
On that note, kissing is not the only courtship display act that males will stick to. Males will also do preening and cooing, a sign of affection between a pigeon couple.
See our in-depth “Pigeon Behavior” article to learn what these urban birds eat. We cover their dietary habits and nutrition.
When Do Pigeons Kiss?
The pigeon kiss is a courtship behavior that male pigeons display while trying to find a mate. This kiss starts a bond, making the male settle with the female for the rest of their life.
Other than that, pigeons generally do not kiss unless the male is not trying to court the other. Also, pigeons are known to kiss for life. So, that means the pigeon kiss between one couple can only happen once.
How Do Pigeons Communicate Through Kissing?
Pigeons primarily rely on cooing for communicating. But the courtship behavior of the male pigeons is also a medium of communication. Through kissing, mate selection and pair bonding become successful.
How does the male know whether the female is ready for the kiss? Before kissing, the female will hold her head and move closer to the male pigeons. That indicates the hen is interested and ready to start the bond.
Furthermore, the female pigeons will also fan their tail feathers. These visual cues make the males know that the female is interested and is ready to breed.
How Do Male Pigeons Attract Females?
Pigeons have a mating ritual. And it all starts with the male displaying courtship behavior. During courtship, the male will stick to a series of movements and cooing to attract the mate of choice.
Among the series of movements, there is puffing up the chest feathers, strutting around in front of the female, bobbing the heads, spreading the wings, and cooing loudly. All of these movements showcase how physically fit the male is.
When the male establishes a bond, the pigeons kiss, and the pair start their life together. They will build one if they do not have a nest and start incubating their nests.
How Do Pigeons Make Love?
The breeding process of pigeons is done through a cloacal kiss. It is a brief physical interaction in which the cloacae of female and male touch together. That is when the male will discharge its sperm into the female. Now, what exactly are the cloacae?
It is an opening at the end of the digestive and reproductive tracts of the birds. And unlike other animals, most birds do not have a dedicated reproductive organ. That is, they only have one opening.
The birds rely on this opening for expulsions of digestive waste and reproduction.
What Triggers a Pigeon to Kiss Another?
To understand what triggers a pigeon to kiss another, you must first examine the factors that make pigeons want a mate. And they are:
Age and Hormones
Typically, pigeons reach sexual maturity when they are 7 months of age. And as they grow older, their desire to find a mate increases. And that can eventually trigger the male to display courtship acts, eventually leading to a pigeon kiss.
Other than that, the reproductive cycle of pigeons, like any other animal, is hormone-driven. When it is breeding season, both males and females experience increased hormones. This increase in hormones will make them find a mate.
Seasonal Changes
Pigeons can mate all year round. However, in general, the mating seasons are summer and spring. So, when the weather is suitable, the males would want to find a partner, making it display courtship act and kissing the female.
Food availability
Like any other bird, pigeons can adapt to different environments. And in some settings, food might not be easy to access. Now, as you can guess, when the pigeons struggle to get food, they will not think of mating.
On the contrary, when food is readily available, the males will be more ready to find a mate. That will eventually make the male begin the mating ritual and form a bond with a female through a kiss.
Final Words
That was everything about why pigeons kiss. And to summarize, pigeons kissing is a form of bonding. It happens after the male has already gained the female’s attention during courtship.
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Article References:
- Rentokil.ie/blog/the-pigeon-kiss/
- Thehealthyjournal.com/faq/why-do-pigeons-kiss
Image Credit:
- Canva.com/photos
