Do Pigeons Pee?
Have you ever seen any pigeons leak water? So, do pigeons pee? They do pee, but not in the traditional sense. In fact, their urine has more similarities to stool than urine.
Instead of the kidneys producing liquid waste with water, they produce solid uric acid that is pushed out of their body through an opening called Cloaca.
This way they get rid of the liquid waste of their body and maintain the balance of chemicals and water. Learn more about pigeon pee here.
Looking for more articles about pigeon fun fact:
What Does Pigeon Pee Look Like?
Pigeon pee looks like a white paste. These birds are physically unable to produce pee in liquid form and produce pee as nitrogenous wastes in the uric acid form.
Though uric acid takes a considerable toll metabolism-wise, it saves water and is also not as toxic as liquid urine.
The urine/solid uric acid looks like a white paste as it doesn’t contain the color compound (Urochrome; it makes urine yellow) for urine. You must have seen the urine pest on someone’s car, as it looks like a blob of white plaster.
They are often mixed with the poop as the poop will be white-brown. The poop is hard most of the time, and can sometimes contain wings of that pigeon as well. If the dropping is loose, the pigeon might have health issues.
So, if you have pigeons as a pet, looking at their droppings is a good way of monitoring their health.
Read our article about “Pigeon Fun Facts“
Do Pigeons Pee And Poop From the Same Place?
Yes, they pee and poop at the same time and from the same place called Cloaca.
Cloaca is a kind of opening where the urine and poo are pushed out of the pigeon’s body. It connects both the urinary and digestive systems of the pigeon.
They also use Cloaca to mate with their partners. Now you have to understand that pigeons don’t have bladders like us to store their urine, and that’s also one of the reasons why they’re so light.
So, once the body produces the uric acid/urine, it’s pushed through the ureters and goes to the cloacal chambers.
In the local chamber, both the pee and poo of pigeons get mixed. After that, they leave the pigeon body through the Cloacal opening.
How Much Urine Do Pigeons Produce?
Piegon urine, meaning uric acid, is difficult to measure in weight. But you can get an idea of the number of times they need to pee a day.
Around 15-50 times a day. The number varies so much because it depends on how many hours they are awake, what kind of mood they are in, or if they have a health condition.
If the pigeons are nervous, it can affect that as well. But broadly speaking, a pigeon should pee every 15-30 minutes if everything is normal.
Do All Birds Pee the Same Way?
No, there is an exception; Ostrich. They pee before they poo, and both are different. Ostrich don’t come with a bladder and usually store the urine inside the cloacal chamber. The cloacal chamber can expand if needed to store the urine.
Is Pigeon Urine Hard to Clean?
Yes, they tend to stick and are hard to clean. Before you clean the urine, make sure to wear gloves and possibly a mask as the urine and stool of pigeons are known to contain pathogens that can sometimes spread to humans.
To remove the uric acid, you can use vinegar. It also kills the smell instantly and works fast.
Another reliable way is to use baking soda and water. But vinegar works fast and there’s no need to deal with smell as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. Why is pigeon poop wet?
Wet poop is a sign of unhealthy pigeons. There’s a very good probability that the pigeon is suffering from a stress issue or have some kind of a disease.
If you can see that your pigeon’s poop is wet, get him checked by a health professional urgently. It will prevent the issue from getting bigger.
02. Do birds only have one hole for everything?
Yes, most birds have one hole for everything, including pigeons. Having only one hole makes them light and helps them to take flight. Ostrich is the exception here as they have a urinary bladder in addition to a hole for dumping poop.
03. Do pigeons have a urinary bladder?
No, they don’t have any urinary bladder. What they have is Cloaca, where the digestive system and urinary system of the pigeon meet. That’s why their poo often gets mixed with pee and come out together.
04. Can pigeons pee while flying?
Yes, pigeons are able to pee while flying. Their body system allows them to dump the urine and poop while they are in the air. It happens all the times and that’s how pigeons pee and poop drop on people’s heads.
Conclusion
Pigeon pee is actually uric acid and comes out with pigeon poo. The process is different than the humans but equally important.
Perhaps their process is more efficient as well as it saves them water. Also, the lack of bladder is vital for their lightweight feature and the ability to fly fast.
References
- https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/do-birds-urinate
- https://www.thedodo.com/dodowell/do-birds-pee
