A Pigeon Of A Different Color

Poor American pigeons. They were stuck with bland, dull grey feathers, while they're exotic cousins got all of the colorful plumage. Take a look at this example, the Nicobar pigeon.

This pretty pigeon is found on small islands and the coastal regions of land throughout the eastern Indian Ocean. They are larger than their American counterparts, and feed on seeds, fruit and buds. 

A Royally-Named Bird With A Mohawk: The Crowned Victoria Pigeon

The Crowned Victoria Pigeon is a distinctive-looking bird, with its "mohawk" crest of feathers and blood-red eyes. It can be distinguished by from its similar-looking cousins, the Western Crowned Pigeon and the Southern Crowned Pigeon, by the white tips on its crests.

The Crowned Victoria pigeon lives in the lowlands and swamps forests of New Guinea, where it feeds on fruits, figs, seeds and bugs. Like common pigeons, it is tame, which is a setback for the species. They are easily hunted for their feathers and for their meat.

And yes, in case you were wondering, the Crowned Victoria pigeon's name does in fact come from Queen Victoria of Britain. Supposedly it was because she had a habit of wearing elaborate, feathered hats.

Animals In War - Pigeons

Did you know that many soldiers were sent on the D-Day invasion with pigeons in their coats? It's true. Radio silence was paramount and so pigeons became the necessary means of communication. Pigeons have been used as messenger carriers since the Middle Ages. Their natural homing instincts have made them invaluable in conveying vital information to humans locked in the struggle of war.  

Pigeons can fly quite fast, and will fly hundreds of miles in a day. One American pigeon, named G.I. Joe, managed a twenty mile flight in twenty minutes. The message he carried kept an American bomber group from decimating an Italian town that was currently occupied with allied British Forces. Joe was credited with saving over 1,000 lives that day. G.I. Joe is one of 32 pigeon recipients of the Dickin Medal, a British military honor awarded to animals who have dedicated themselves to saving human life. Of all the animal servants of war, pigeons have received the most Dickin's Medals.

Another famous pigeon was Cher Ami. In October of 1918, the "Lost Battalion" (also known as the 77th Infantry Division) was trapped behind German lines with no food or ammunition. Trying desperately to reach headquarters to tell of their plight, the 77th sent pigeon after pigeon only to watch them be shot from the sky. Cher Ami was the last pigeon left. When released, Cher Ami was also hit, but he kept flying. When he reached his home base, some 25 miles away, it was found that Cher Ami had flown with wounds to his chest and leg. The message he carried saved the battalion from capture and death. Cher Ami, who was indeed a "Dear Friend," as his name implies, was awarded the French Palm for valor.

Pigeons: The Generalists

When I was a student in Boston, I wondered why I'd never seen a baby pigeon. I'd see other baby birds and nests, but I'd never see anything to suggest the origins of the pigeon. They seemed to spring, fully formed, from the concrete of the city. Where did they come from? And why were they everywhere?
Pigeons have been bred and raised by humans for hundreds of years. We've used them for food, to carry our messages and to provide racing sport. The pigeons in our U.S cities were called "rock doves" and were brought here by early settlers. They are clean, intelligent, hardy and adaptable.
The reason you don't see pigeon nests, or baby pigeons, is because pigeons are doting and protective parents. Pigeons mate for life and both take part in building the nest. Once a safe and secretive place is chosen, the male will bring one twig at a time to the female. She will decide if and how to use it in the nest. The female lays two eggs and both male and female will incubate them. When the young hatch, both parents will feed them. If the first nest is successful, a second nest will be built and a second pair of eggs laid, even before the first pair of hatchlings are fledged. Pigeons will mate all year long and can produce 5 to 6 broods a year. They are cooperative among their kind and will feed chicks who aren't their own.

You've actually got to hand it to the pigeon. Not only can they tolerate the conditions of a city, but they can thrive there. There are 1,000s of ledges and overpasses on and under which to build their nests. Humans provide more than enough food, consciously or, through garbage, unconsciously. The dense population of people discourages predators. It's a fact; pigeons have found an ecological niche few other animals can fit into.