Rock Pigeon

Appearing in a variety of colors, the Rock Pigeon is a fixture of urban and agricultural areas throughout New Hampshire. North American birds are descended from a wild species first domesticated in Europe millennia ago and have been on this continent for almost as long as people of European descent. The first recorded instance of the species in North America is from Nova Scotia in 1606, with additional introductions in what was to become the United States in subsequent decades. Pigeons eventually spread throughout temperate and much of tropical North America, although they are usually limited to areas close to human settlement.

Truly wild pigeons typically build their nests on cliffs (hence the name), but in much of the world have switched to man-made structures such as bridges and under the eaves of buildings. Their nest is a loose and sloppy affair on which they lay two eggs, which hatch in 18-19 days. Pigeons and doves are unique among North American birds in that the adults feed their young with “crop milk,” a protein- and fat-rich secretion that resembles cottage cheese. This is the only source of sustenance for the squabs for their first few days of life, after which the adult pigeons gradually increase the proportion of seeds fed to the chicks.

For a species so well-adapted to human landscapes, it’s surprising that pigeon populations are declining over much of eastern North America. The reasons for this are unclear, but might include loss of agricultural land, improved sanitation, or pigeon control in urban areas. This decline is not apparent in New Hampshire, which might be because we have lower overall numbers compared to neighboring states. In their native range in Eurasia, wild rock Pigeons are at risk of interbreeding with domestically derived stock, with unknown implications for their long-term occupation of traditional habitats.