Why Does a Pigeon Have a Band on Its Leg?
Pigeon bands often marked with color, phone number, and other data, can tell you a lot about the pigeon.
If you have found a pigeon with a band on its feet, you might be thinking why does a pigeon have a band on its leg? Mostly, these bands indicate the ownership of the bird as they usually contain info about the bird and its owner.
In that case, you can use that info to return the pigeon to its rightful owner. But a lot of times, it won’t be that straightforward, as the info on the band can be confusing.
So, to make sense of the bands on pigeon feet, read our detailed guide on them.
Want to know more about pigeon fun facts:
What Do the Bands on a Pigeon Feet Mean?
The bands mean that the pigeon has an owner. Bands are placed on the feet of pigeons mainly to keep track of them, and if lost, someone can help them return to the owner.
Racing pigeon owners use sports bands for this. If it’s a racing bird, you can find the bird’s club name, birth year, and ID number on the sports band.
Hobbyists also use bands to give potential rescuers a way to return the pigeons. On the bands of hobbyists, you’ll find a number and written something like a pet bird.
If the band has a clip-on, it might be a meat pigeon meant to be butchered for meat. In that case, they won’t be traceable.
What Does a Blue Band on a Pigeon’s Leg Mean?
Blue bands are strapped on pigeon legs so that when someone sees it, they can immediately recognize it as a pet bird.
As a result, they have a better chance of being rescued and being taken care of compared to wild pigeons.
Read our article about “Pigeon Fun Facts“
Difference Between Closed and Open Bands
There are 2 types of bands. One is an open band that you can easily open with your fingers without harming the bird.
Another kind is the closed bands, which are mostly made of metal. These rings are placed on the bird when they’re babies and once they grow up, there’s no way to remove them without cutting the rings.
I’ve seen people using heavy-duty cuticle nippers to cut through these closed metal bands.
They are the perfect tool as they are narrow enough to be placed between the pigeon’s feet and the ring and potent enough to cut through the metal ring.
What Do You Do If You Find a Banded Pigeon?
The first thing you should check is if it’s injured. If it’s hurt or injured, you should take care of it and if the injury is serious, you can take it to a vet. Also, the pigeon is likely to be hungry, so get it some food.
After you’re sure it’s alright, you can think about the future course of action. Here are some things you can do-
Track the Original Owner
The data given on the band can be used to track the original owner and return it. If there’s a phone number on it, then it becomes really easy as all you need to do is call that person and arrange a return.
And if it’s a sports band, you’ll find the club name and unique number on the band. You can use the series of letters to find the club associated with the original owner.
For example, pigeons from the American Racing Pigeon Union Organization will have AU written on their bands, NPA is for the National Pigeon Association, and FTCNA is for the Flying Tipplers Club of North America.
But if it’s a racing bird that has lost a race, they might not take it back as it has no value to them.
If you can’t make sense of the info on the band, you may ask your neighbors if any of them have pet pigeons that got lost. Because often pigeons don’t fly far and can come from neighbor houses.
Contact a Bird Rescue Organization
There are many organizations like Palomacy that rescue pigeons and other birds and let people adopt them.
If needed, you can call them and deliver to them. These organizations will then take care of the pigeon and make proper arrangements for its future.
Take Care of It by Yourself
Maybe the bird is a sign for you to take a new pet. And there are very few creatures more cuter than pigeons. Taking care of it will give you a new hobby and the bird a new home and life.
Let It Go
If there’s a closed metal band on its feet, you can remove it and let the bird go. But you should give it some initial care before releasing it in the wild. It’s best if you are not sure how to properly take care of a pigeon.
How Are the Bands Placed on a Pigeon’s Leg?
Putting a rescue band on a pigeon’s feet isn’t a bad thing and, in most cases, an essential thing to do.
I’ve heard many cases where people had their pigeons gone missing and they never returned as those pigeons were without any bands. Thus, a band can be extremely useful in securing the future of your pigeon if it gets lost somehow.
How you should place bands on a pigeon’s leg depends on what kind of band you’re using. For pet pigeons, it would be best to use plastic bands that can be easily strapped on the leg.
But metal closed rings require you to put them on their ankles when they’re babies. I’ll give you a step-by-step guide for placing bands on pigeon feet here –
- Capture the pigeon with hand or baits. Take care not to hurt or stress out the pigeon.
- Hold it gently. Otherwise, you might injure the bird.
- Place the band on its feet securely so that it doesn’t fall off. But don’t make it too tight.
How Long Have People Been Banding Pigeons?
It has been around for more than a thousand years as soldiers have been using pigeons to carry messages and they always use something to identify the bird.
Though it was not done in the exact way we do, some kind of banding has always been used. The Roman soldiers used to tie fabric threads around the feet of the pigeons to send messages during the Punic Wars.
Conclusion
Bands on pigeon feet are no ordinary ornaments and likely contain vital info on the bird. It can tell you the owner of the bird and provide you with a way to get it back home.
Hopefully, our article will help you make sense of the numbers and letters on the band and help out the pigeon.
