Column | Pigeons are misunderstood

Pigeons aren’t the problem. Our tendency to rewrite history and blame the vulnerable for adapting is.

They may be unaffectionately referred to as “flying rats,” but pigeons are actually very loyal and have strong personalities. They may not look like it, but their character traits when interacting with both humans and their own species are very positive, and their intelligence level is actually higher than you may think. 

When it comes to family, pigeons interact with one another in a more advanced and loyal way than a lot of other bird species. First, when pigeons mate, they mate for life, following their partner wherever they go. Because of this connection, the partners build strong bonds within their family lines. Pigeons also co-parent their offspring with equal weight falling on the female and male. Similarly, both parents take on similar roles of protection, taking turns warming their eggs and scouting for danger. 

But pigeons aren’t just loyal to their own kind. They’re known to form strong, affectionate bonds with humans as well, making them the perfect domesticated pet. The reason they work so well with us is that they can recognize individual faces — just like a crow — and remember those who have been kind to them as well as those who have not. They’re bonding creatures, becoming very attached to those who raise them or show them care in a time of need. They are also some of the most trainable birds and can learn to come when they’re called. 

Their brains may be small, but they hold great capacity and intelligence. In addition to recognizing faces and people, they can also identify and navigate geography, landscapes and visual patterns. One of their most unbelievable capabilities is to conduct advanced problem-solving. Studies have shown they can learn abstract concepts like the difference between words and non-words. Pigeons can even recognize themselves in mirrors, hinting towards self-awareness, which is astounding for such small creatures. 

If I could describe them in one word, it would be kind. They flock together and prefer to be around other pigeons, taking comfort in large numbers. Pigeons are very interested in humans and can recognize and understand when one shows them kindness, returning often if you feed them. They coo and peck their mates, sticking by their sides for their eternity. 

Even more fascinating, pigeons have an extensive history of human domestication. They were first domesticated over 10,000 years ago in the Mediterranean and Middle East for food and fertilizer. Humans soon learned of their communication capabilities and would use them to send messages to one another, hence the name “carrier pigeon.”

Pigeons’ loyalty and affection for humans has been used throughout multiple civilizations, starting with the Egyptians and Sumerians and leading all the way to the U.S. during WWII. Some pigeons were even decorated for their bravery, receiving medals like the Croix de Guerre and the Dickin Medal. They were treated as assistants, allies and pets, kept in family homes just like dogs. While it used to be more common to have an untraditional pet, pigeons had years under their belts as humans’ favorite bird. 

So how did pigeons end up on the streets? Well, culture changes quickly, and if we know anything as humans, it’s that we can quickly forget what is not popular or trending. Other forms of communication quickly updated with the rise of technology, and pigeons were expelled from homes. There is a reason they still group together in cities — they crave the human connection and kindness they once experienced all those years ago. 

Pigeons sadly do not possess many crucial survival skills due to years of domestication. They cannot make their own nests, have difficulties finding food themselves and cannot properly find shelter, making it difficult to survive, no matter their habitat. The next time you see a pigeon bothering you for food, consider tossing it your crumbs, because they’re searching for human interaction just as much as food. 

How we treat pigeons says a lot about us, especially our talent for discarding anything that stops being useful. 

We bred them for our messages, our meals and our wars, then left them to fend for themselves. Their struggle is just the echo of human neglect. 

Faith Richardson likes to write about student life, the arts and the media. Email her at fkr2@pitt.edu.