Do Pigeons Snore?
Heard your pigeon snoring and thought what exactly is happening?
Surely, pigeons don’t snore, or do pigeons snore? Pigeons don’t snore. What you’ve just heard might be the purring sound or heavy breathing.
If it’s purring, there is nothing to be worried about. But if it’s heavy breathing, take the pigeon to the vet for immediate inspection, as it can be something serious.
There are several nuances that need to be talked about, and we’ll talk about them here. So, learn why pigeons can’t snore and about their sleeping sounds in this article.
Want to learn more about pigeon fun fact:
Do Pigeons Have the Ability to Snore Like Humans?
No, pigeons don’t have the ability to snore like humans, as they have a distinctly different respiratory system than humans. As of now, there’s no scientific evidence that pigeons can snore at all.
The avian respiratory system is very efficient and allows the free flow of air through the lungs. So, the chances of pigeons snoring are almost none.
But some people have mistaken the purring sound as snoring. Purring is a low, continuous, murmuring sound that pigeons produce when they are happy or in a relaxed mood.
It can happen when they’re sitting on a branch, roosting, or even when they’re asleep. So, it’s not something you should be worried about.
However, if it’s heavy breathing, then the pigeon might have some respiratory problems. For respiratory issues, you should see a vet immediately. Because it can be a sign of a serious disease that requires immediate attention.
Is Heavy Breathing or Snoring a Sign of a Serious Problem?
It can be as it’s quite common for pigeons to suffer from respiratory problems. There are 2 common and serious respiratory diseases that can cause the pigeon to breathe heavily –
01. Pigeon Canker
It’s caused by Protozoan and doesn’t harm humans. But it can spread to other pigeons through shredded water, dropped seeds, or beak-to-beak contact.
It can cause heavy breathing in the pigeons. The symptoms are yellow growth around the mouth, lethargy, and weight loss.
However, the good news is the disease can be treated. Taking the pigeon to the vet ASAP will increase the chances of recovery for the pigeon.
02. Respiratory Infection
It’s a big problem for all pigeon owners as respiratory infection is extremely contagious and can particularly hurt the elderly and baby pigeons.
The infection can cause issues in breathing and taking flights. If you don’t treat the infection, it’ll eventually lead to the death of the pigeon.
Do Other Birds Snore?
Maybe, maybe not. At least till now, we haven’t found any bird that snores like humans. A lot of birds make sounds during roosting, but that’s not snoring.
I’ve seen a video on YouTube of a hummingbird snoring. So, isn’t that proof that birds can snore?
Sometimes, even your eyes and ears can deceive you. Experts are saying that the hummingbird can’t snore and the bird was not sleeping.
Alejandro Rico-Guevara, a hummingbird researcher from the University of Connecticut, said “Hummingbirds don’t snore. This is not natural for a resting behavior.”
Regarding the video, some people are assuming that the hummingbird was in torpor, a state where birds regulate their body temperature and breathing rate to conserve energy.
But Alejandro Rico-Guevara disagrees with them as he says that while being in a torpor state, they may shiver but will never make that kind of sound. He believes that the bird was making that sound due to the stress.
Read our article about “Pigeon Fun Facts“
What Sounds Do Pigeons Make When They Sleep?
Normally pigeons sleep quietly and are ideal neighbours. However, sometimes they can make the purring sound in sleep. But that’s a cute sound and not something that’s gonna annoy you.
And if they are facing any respiratory problems, you might hear heavy breathing.
Conclusion
Pigeons can’t snore like we humans do due to their unique respiratory system. In fact, no birds are known to snore for certain.
Maybe in the future, we’ll find a bird that snores just like us (not gonna take it as a pet for sure), but currently, there’s zero evidence regarding their snoring ability.
There’s only a YouTube video, which we debunked already. However, pigeons can make sounds during sleep, which is normal most of the time.
References:
- https://www.audubon.org/news/can-hummingbirds-snore
- https://www.lifegate.com/snoring-hummingbird-bbc
- https://www.thesprucepets.com/common-pigeon-diseases-4153044
