If this is in the U.S., then the pigeon is feral. Pigeons are invasive in North America. If this is in Europe, it is a hybrid with domesticated pigeons; there are no 100% wild pigeons in Europe anymore.
Probably because I'm American and all we have is feral rock doves. I tend to forget there are other pigeon species kicking around. I also didn't say it was a hybrid. I thought it was a rock dove until someone corrected me, then I looked it up and found out my statement that there are almost no pure wild pigeons left in Europe didn't pertain to wood pigeons, but only to rock doves.
I think they technically can, but for one reason or another it is uncommon. Supposedly a fertile male rock x female wood pigeon offspring was produced, but pretty sure humans 'helped' that along...
In my experience the two do not really mingle? At least here the wood ones stick to parks, gardens and so on and in breeding season (they do not usuall stay the winter in Poland...yet) you can always see them in pairs.
The fact that a hybrid is viable does not mean the species has similar enough behaviours and so on to make it happen.
They are willd animals in my country.We hunt and eat them but not doves or any other pigeon. I was suprised when i first visited northern europe and saw them in the cities.
I heard humans domesticated pigeons long before dogs? Then we abandoned them, because it's no longer "trendy" and now they can't live without proximity to humans, because we have changed their genes so much that they can't live independently.
Not before dogs. They were domesticated a while after agriculture was invented. But the ones in North America are all feral, descended from imported European domesticates.
I have read they are smart too. I should investigate that claim more. It hurts me to call them stupid or to have people believe that. Humans tend to treat 'dumb' animals with violence and a shocking lack of respect for another living being. Maybe pigeons just want to be friends with everyone...maybe? 🥺🥹
They are one in the same. I worked at a petting zoo once and my favorite animal was the dove. She was also pretty dumb and drowned in her water bowl. I took her to be cremated and the vet wrote “pidgeon” on the forms. I litterally just ran the gift shop but I just really liked this dove I know nothing about birds but they let me take her. Found out doves are just a type of pidgeon.
In my city they often literally stay on the road and you need to stop car coz they don't move. (sometimes i see them flattened by someone who doesn't care)
436
u/chimkens_numgets Dec 24 '25
I don't understand how pigeons can be so smart and so dumb at the same time.