Pigeons are a familiar sight in cities and towns across the globe, having adapted remarkably to human-dominated landscapes. These common urban birds are known for their ability to thrive in diverse environments, a skill that extends to their reproductive practices. Understanding where pigeons lay their eggs and their nesting habits provides insight into their widespread presence.
Preferred Nesting Environments
Pigeons, primarily the feral pigeon (Columba livia), descended from wild rock doves, exhibit a strong preference for nesting sites that mimic their ancestral cliff habitats. This evolutionary background explains why they frequently choose elevated, sheltered locations on human-made structures. Urban environments offer an abundance of such spots, including building ledges, eaves, and window sills.
These birds also utilize attics, abandoned structures, underpasses, ventilation systems, and fire escapes as nesting grounds. Such urban locations provide essential shelter from harsh weather conditions and protection from ground predators. The proximity to human activity often means easy access to food and water sources, further enhancing the appeal of these sites.
While urban settings are favored, wild rock doves naturally nest in crevices, caves, and on sheltered ledges of cliffs, particularly along sea coasts and in mountainous regions. Feral pigeons have successfully transitioned to the urban “concrete jungle,” where buildings, bridges, and other structures serve as functional equivalents to natural rock formations. This adaptability has allowed them to flourish in various human-populated areas worldwide.
The Anatomy of a Pigeon Nest
A pigeon nest is a simple, flimsy platform of gathered materials. Unlike the intricately woven nests of many other bird species, a pigeon’s nest prioritizes quick construction and functionality over elaborate design. Its primary purpose is to provide a stable base for eggs and young, preventing them from rolling away.
The materials used for a pigeon nest are varied and depend on what is readily available in their immediate surroundings. Common components include twigs, leaves, and grass. In urban settings, however, pigeons frequently incorporate human debris such as string, plastic, paper scraps, and even metal, reflecting their adaptability.
The male pigeon collects these materials, bringing them one piece at a time to the chosen site, where the female arranges them. These nests are tucked into a protected corner or crevice within the selected environment, such as a building ledge or a sheltered alcove. Pigeons may reuse their nests multiple times, adding new materials on top of old ones, which can cause the nest to grow in size over time.
Pigeon Eggs and Reproductive Habits
Pigeon eggs are small, oval, and white or off-white. They are about 1.2 to 1.5 inches (3 to 3.8 cm) long. Some appear more tubular or round.
Pigeons lay one or two eggs per clutch, usually two. Eggs are laid 24 to 48 hours apart. Pigeons have a long breeding season, especially in urban areas with abundant food, allowing multiple clutches per year, often five to six, or even up to 12 eggs annually.
Both parents participate in incubation, which lasts about 18 days. The female incubates from late afternoon through the night until mid-morning, with the male taking over during the day. After hatching, young pigeons, known as squabs, are dependent on their parents and remain in the nest for several weeks.