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Pigeons have long been stereotyped by people as common, smelly, or pest birds because of their common occurrence in America. Truth be told, pigeons have many likable qualities that are unlike any other bird. Pigeons have a great since of direction known as homing instincts, which makes them excellent pets. Taking care of a pigeon is... more »
The homing pigeon comes from the family of "Columba livia domestica," or Rock pigeons. These birds have been bred to find their way home from long distances, as wild rock pigeons always return home to their nests. Homing pigeons can fly as fast as 30 mph, with small bursts of speed as fast as 55 mph. The longest flight ever recorded... more »
Unlike deer and other pests, there are no plants or other completely natural remedies that will deter a pigeon from being a nuisance. There are however many ways to control pigeons without the use of chemicals or poisons, and these may be considered natural pigeon control. Every pest situation is different and patience will need to be... more »
Pigeons can be a problem, whether roosting on metropolitan skyscraper roofs and window ledges, or under the eaves and roofs of private homes. The pigeons coo and leave piles of feces on porches, driveways, sidewalks, and streets which is not only unattractive, but can contain dangerous bacteria and mites. There are things you can do... more »
Discus fish are a species of fish that are often seen in aquariums, and they have a reputation for two things: requiring an excessive amount of care and being excessively beautiful. For many hobbyists, this is a fair trade. Although Discus do require more time and attention than a school of tetras, it is arguable that their bold... more »
For more than 20 million years, pigeons have roamed the Earth. And sometimes, their...
Owning, breeding, racing and training homing pigeons is a fun and rewarding activity. If you are interested in acquiring pigeons as a hobby, make... more »
Whether you're keeping pigeons as pets, for racing or homing purposes, it is important to house them properly in a well made pigeon coup. The... more »
Whether tame or wild, pigeons and doves are seed eaters. Wild pigeons eat grains and fruit. Feed a pigeon or a flock of pigeons a diet of good... more »
For racing pigeon enthusiasts, racing pigeons is an exciting sport. The only thing that might make it better, would be joining a club with... more »
If you find a lost pigeon that has a band on his leg, he is probably lost because he is in need of rest, water and food. Chances are good if you... more »
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general parlance the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the terms "dove" and "pigeon." This family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalaya and Australasia ecozones. Young doves and pigeons are called "squabs."
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks, and have short slender bills with a fleshy cere. The species commonly referred to just as "pigeon" is the feral Rock Pigeon, common in many cities.
Doves and pigeons build relatively flimsy nests from sticks and other debris, which may be placed in trees, on ledges or on the ground, depending on species. They lay one or two eggs, and both parents care for the young, which leave the nest after 7 to 28 days."EoB"> Doves feed on seeds, fruit and plants. Unlike most other birds (but see flamingo), the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk," which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
Biology
Morphology
Pigeons and doves exhibit considerable variations in size. The largest species are the crowned pigeons of New Guinea, which are nearly turkey-sized, at a weight of 2-4 kilograms (4.4-8.8 lbs.) The smallest are the New World ground-doves of the genus Columbina, which are the same size as a House Sparrow and weigh as little as 22 grams."HBW" /> With a total length of more than 50 centimeters (19 in) and weight of almost a kilo (2 lb), the largest arboreal species is the Marquesan Imperial-pigeon, while the Dwarf read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbidae
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