Why Do Pigeons Spin In Circles?
Pigeons are beautiful creatures with a fascinating mating ritual whereby the male pigeon shows off to the female pigeon.
But why do pigeons spin in circles? This is because while other wooing techniques are also utilized, spinning in circles is a very common way for male pigeons to seduce and attract the female pigeon of their liking.
This article explains the origin and science behind this peculiar act of pigeon spinning in circles.
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What Causes Pigeons to Spin in Circles?
Pigeons are monogamous, meaning that they mate for life with their partners. This means that the mating process of pigeons is very selective, and it is up to the male counterpart to woo the female pigeon with their flamboyant techniques.
Once a male pigeon sets its eyes on a female pigeon of its liking, it starts strutting gracefully in circles and spins with its chest inflated. This arrogant gait mimics the masculine features of the pigeons well. The pigeons also move their heads and flap their wings in a manner that the female pigeon finds appealing.
Other actions include lightly cooing in order to seduce the female pigeon, putting food in the female pigeon’s beak, and bowing to the female pigeon. Once the female pigeon becomes fascinated by the male pigeon, it becomes more friendly and starts the mating process.
We have covered an in-depth article on “Pigeon Habits“; if interested, you can check this article here.
What Is the Evolutionary History of This Behavior?
Since all pigeons mate for life, they have to find a partner that they love. Usually, pigeons exist as lifelong pairs, and the monogamous relationship has let them evolve their ways of finding the perfect partner.
Charles Darwin was also interested in the evolution of pigeons and how the pigeons resembled human descendants. The monogamous nature of pigeons particularly influenced the way in which Darwin’s theories were projected in the later stages of his work.
What Do Scientists Say About These Myths?
Scientists have structurally conducted multiple experiments to understand the mating behavior of pigeons. Some scientists have concluded that the distance traveled while spinning in circles depends on the response of the female pigeon.
Moreover, the specific action done by the pigeon depends on practice and the acceptance of such practices, dictated by the social cues of the female pigeons.
Scientists have also figured out that pigeons, at times, use a multimodal courtship display, meaning that they use two senses at the same time to show their courtship. For instance, some pigeons will make a cooing sound while spinning in circles so that the female pigeon can see and hear the male pigeon in action.
Do All Pigeons Spin in Circles?
Not all pigeons spin in circles. Spinning in circles requires a specific amount of rehearsal and practice from the male pigeon. Some pigeons do not practice the spinning dance but use other methods to attract the female pigeon. Below is a list of some other mating rituals.
Bowing
One of the most common methods, other than spinning in circles, is to bow before the female pigeon in a graceful manner. It looks like the male pigeon is doing a curtsy to show love for the female pigeon. The bowing looks graceful for pigeons with colorful tails and is commonly observed in wood pigeons.
Pecking on the Floor
Male pigeons also peck on the floor as a form of dance. This closely resembles tap dancing, as it taps the floor with its beak in a rhythmic manner to attract the female pigeon. Usually, this is accompanied by rhythmic hums, and it makes for a short, highly sophistically composed song.
Regurgitating Food
Another trick that male pigeons use to show compatibility is by regurgitating their food and putting it on the beak of the female pigeon. If the female pigeon accepts the food and shows enthusiasm, then the two pigeons happily mate.
Preening the Feathers
Some pigeons, like other birds, will gently preen the feathers of the female pigeon to show their care and compassion. This is also one of the ways in which the female pigeon is attracted to the male pigeon.
Is This Behavior Unique to Pigeons, or Do Other Birds Spin in Circles?
This spinning behavior is not unique to pigeons, as other birds also follow very similar courtship techniques to woo their female counterparts. Spinning in circles is a very particular move, and it can be compared to the other types of dance that other birds follow.
Other birds usually use the techniques of delivering food to the female member, dancing for the female member, or even preening the feathers for the female member. Of course, courtship displays are very specific to some birds, for instance, the flapping of colorful feathers by peacocks, but they usually follow similar trends.
Final Words
Pigeons are not only magnificent in their looks but can also be very romantic when it comes to finding their perfect lifelong mate. The answer to the question of why do pigeons spin in circles lie in the chivalry that is prevalent in these species.
Male pigeons spin in circles to show their love towards their female counterparts, and it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to showcasing their courtship.
Image Credits:
- Blogs.lt.vt.edu
- Canva.com/Photos
Article Reference:
- https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/science/pigeons-a-darwin-favorite-carry-new-clues-to-evolution.html
- https://academic.oup.com/
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4963060/Amorous-pigeon-shakes-tail-flirts-Brisbane-woman.html
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/how-do-birds-fall-in-love-a-look-at-courtship-displays/
