Why Do Pigeons Kill Each Other?
You may know pigeons as social, sweet, and very docile birds. Well, you would not be wrong. Pigeons are indeed communal and gregarious birds. However, you might have seen one pigeon killing another. And seeing that, you might have thought, why do pigeons kill each other?
Pigeons can kill a heavily injured or sick member, like some animals or birds. This is mainly a survival thing. A weak or ill bird will bring the attention of the predators. And that will put the whole flock at risk.
However, that is just the peak of the iceberg. There is so much more that you should know about pigeons killing each other. And you can get to know all about the topic by keeping on reading.
Read more about pigeons behavior:
How Do Pigeons Kill Each Other?
Pigeons are not known to naturally kill other pigeons. However, they may engage in an aggressive fight with each other. And in the worst-case scenario, hostile engagement between the pigeons can lead to the death of one of the birds.
On the other hand, aggressive interactions between the birds will generally result in injuries. But again, this injury would not be good for the pigeon. And as we have mentioned, pigeons can abandon or kill off a member of the flock that is weak or injured.
So, if the fight ends with one of the birds getting severely wounded, that bird will eventually die. In other words, aggressive conflicts among pigeons do not end with good notes.
Do Pigeons Kill Each Other for Food?
Pigeons will not typically kill each other for food. These birds are communal and very social. In fact, they will not mind sharing a piece of food with others. However, pigeons can engage with each other for resources.
That only happens when a pigeon outside the flock tries to share the same resource of the flock. However, it is undoubtedly possible for the flock members to accept an outsider.
If the bird is good at persuasion, such as following and blending in, it will not engage in a fight. But if the flock does not accept the outsider, they can fight with it and eventually kill it for food.
We have covered an in-depth article on “Pigeon Behavior“; if interested, you can check this article here.
Do Pigeons Kill Each Other for Territory?
Pigeons have a strong territorial instinct. It becomes quite pronounced during the breeding season. Though, they are very communicative about it. Before engaging in a fight, the pigeons will give a vocal warning to the outsider.
In fact, pigeons can follow the outsider around, which will basically be an act of chasing the bird around to make it go away from the claimed territory. But when the intruder does not get the warnings, the pigeons will turn on it.
This will result in a fight. And that can end with the bird getting heavily injured or dying. So, in short, pigeons can kill each other for territory. They can even kill each other to defend their homes and younglings.
Do Pigeons Kill Each Other for Mates?
Pigeons have a strong instinct to mate and reproduce. In fact, you will hear them cooing all the time when they are lonely or do not have a mate yet. And pigeons can kill each other over for mates.
This engagement is particularly true for males. They will engage in aggressive behavior when their mates are being tried to be won over by other pigeons. These birds will also fight to protect their mates.
Furthermore, during the breeding season, males will do whatever it takes to defend their nests and partners from other males. So, you can say that pigeons can get aggressive when they are breeding.
Do Pigeons Kill Each Other for Fun?
Unlike some other birds, pigeons do not engage with each other in aggressive behavior for the sake of fun. Instead, they will only get into a fight when they have no other choice.
Generally, for pigeons, fighting is a response to getting a sense of danger. In other words, they will engage only when they feel that they need to act aggressively to save themselves or their family from danger.
As mentioned earlier, pigeons tend to get very aggressive during the breeding season. That is when they will peck at other birds that come near their nests. It is an act that makes them ensure that their younglings and mate is safe and away from danger.
What Does It Mean When Pigeons Peck Each Other?
Like most animals, pigeons do not have the same complex emotional states and reasoning capacities as humans. So, their aggressive behaviors do not always have the same motivations or intentions as human behavior. They never do it for fun.
So, when you see a pigeon pecking at another pigeon, it is typically a sign of territorial behavior. Males want their nest and their mate to be away from other males. And they will often drive the other males away through pecking.
Males can also start pecking at other to establish dominance. Within a flock, this aggressive behavior can be for defending a resource too. Also, pigeons can peck their mates. It is an unusual mating process for these birds.
However, you should note that pecking can also be a sign of an underlying health issue. The bird might have mite infestations or nutritional deficiencies. So, if your pigeon is pecking excessively, it would be a good idea to consult with a veterinarian.
Wrapping Up
Are you still wondering why do pigeons kill each other? In short, pigeons will not get as aggressive as killing each other unless they absolutely have to. They will only fight to establish territories, defend their mates and nests, and claim resources.
Pecking can also occur in between pigeons. For example, a male might peck his mate. But that’s not something that will end up with the death of one bird. That is an unusual mating thing that pigeons have.
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