Why Do Pigeons Stand On Each Other?
You may find pigeons doing many interesting yet very peculiar things. For example, standing on top of each other. Seeing that, you may wonder why pigeons stand on each other?
Pigeons will typically stand on each other when they are mating. Usually, the male will get on the top and meet his cloaca with the female’s. This physical touch is often referred to as a “cloacal kiss”.
So, is that all there is to it? Not at all. You will find many other exciting things about pigeons standing on each other below.
Looking for more articles about pigeon behavior:
Why Do Pigeons Have to Stand on Each Other to Mate?
No, the pigeons are not giving each other a piggy ride by standing on each other. Instead, it is more of a natural behavior through which the pigeons mate. The thing is, birds have to get into this position to make the cloacae meet.
But what exactly is a cloaca? Pigeons do not have a dedicated sexual or reproductive organ. Instead, everything in the body is connected to one anal tract, which has an opening called the cloaca.
The cloaca is a channel that acts like a digestive, excretory, and, most importantly, reproductive tract. And the interesting fact is that both male and female has the same opening.
See our in-depth “Pigeon Behavior” article to learn what these urban birds eat. We cover their dietary habits and nutrition.
Can Two Female Pigeons Mate?
Same-sex bonding is a thing between pigeons. However, even if birds of the same sex can “marry” each other and live the rest of their lives together, it does not mean the match would be perfect. That is, they will not be able to reproduce.
Like any other animal, male pigeons must transfer sperm to the female’s ovary. And as you can guess, female pigeons can not produce sperm. So, technically, female pigeons can not mate.
While you may see two female pigeons standing on each other and making a cloacal kiss, none of the two will lay an egg afterwards. It should also be noted that same-sex marriage between pigeons only happens when no male pigeons are around.
How Often Do Pigeons Mate?
Pigeons can mate up to 8 times a year. And even though the ideal mating seasons for pigeons are summer and spring, they can breed all year round. So, don’t be surprised if you find these birds mating in the off-breeding season.
However, their mating frequency does depend on a couple of environmental factors. For example:
Seasonal Changes
During the breeding season, the cloaca of male pigeons will appear to be large in size. That is because the male’s body has started to produce sperm. And that is when the pigeons will mate more frequently.
On that note, as mentioned earlier, pigeons have two primary mating seasons. The first starts in March and ends in June, while the other starts in August and runs through November.
Resource Availability
Pigeons will not think of mating when they are struggling for essentials. That includes food, water, and materials needed to construct a nest. So, the mating frequency can drop down in challenging environments.
Availability of Potential Mates
In some cases, mates can be scarce in some specific areas. For example, there can be a limited number of males around. And as pigeons mate for life, it is not like one male can mate with multiple females.
So, when a pigeon can not find something to mate with, it might not breed. In fact, in some cases, this scarcity of potential mates makes the birds bond with the same sex.
Presence of Predators
Pigeons need to feel safe and protected in their nests to breed. A pigeon pair might not bond if they sense too much danger. And owls, hawks, and falcons are the primary predators of pigeons.
How Do Pigeons Choose Their Mate?
The bonding process, generally initiated by the males, will start with the mating ritual. To grab the attention of a potential mate, male pigeons will display courtship behavior, which includes a series of movements and some vocalization.
Among the movements, the male pigeons will fluff up their chest, start dragging their tails, and tread their feet on the floor. While displaying the courtship display, the pigeon can also bow and coo.
Through these, the male shows off how fit he actually is. The mating ritual will end with a kiss if the bird gets the female’s attention and approval. Not the cloacal kiss. Instead, the male will feed the female slightly digested food through his beak.
Final Words
Are you still wondering why do pigeons stand on each other? Well, through this, the male pigeon transfers his sperm to the ovary of the female. That is, the pigeons mate in this position.
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Article References:
- https://www.thehealthyjournal.com/faq/how-do-pigeons-mating
- https://www.pigeoncontrolresourcecentre.org/html/amazing-pigeon-facts.html
Image Credit:
- Canva.com/photos
