Pigeons, a common sight in many urban and natural landscapes, often spend time sitting. This behavior serves important biological purposes for these adaptable birds. Understanding why pigeons sit reveals insights into their daily needs, survival strategies, and reproductive cycles.
Rest and Recovery
Pigeons frequently sit to conserve energy and recover from their activities. Flight demands considerable energy, and resting allows their bodies to recharge effectively. Sitting helps facilitate metabolic processes, including digestion. After consuming food, pigeons may sit for extended periods to ensure proper digestion. During such resting periods, especially at night, a significant portion of the food stored in their crop is digested.
Pigeons also sit for sleep, often tucking their heads behind a wing or resting them on their backs to conserve body heat. While pigeons can take short naps throughout the day, they typically require 11 to 12 hours of sleep each night. This rest is important for their overall well-being, allowing them to recover from daily exertion. When a pigeon is seen sitting with its legs tucked underneath, it often indicates a state of comfort and rest.
Observing Their Surroundings
Beyond resting, sitting provides pigeons with a strategic vantage point to observe their environment. From a stationary position, they can effectively scan for potential food sources without expending the energy of flight. This passive observation also allows them to detect threats, such as predators. A pigeon choosing a particular spot to sit might view it as a safe haven, protected from predators and harsh weather.
Pigeons are social birds, and sitting together, often termed “loafing,” can serve as a form of collective vigilance. In a group, more eyes are available to watch for danger, increasing the safety of each individual. This behavior also fosters social interaction, as pigeons may gather in conspicuous places like park benches or ledges to socialize. Their comfort in close proximity to humans can sometimes lead them to sit in urban areas, including balconies, finding these spots to be desirable perches with good views or warmth.
Nesting and Raising Young
Sitting is an important behavior during the pigeon’s reproductive cycle, particularly for nesting and raising young. Both male and female pigeons share incubation duties, taking turns to sit on the eggs to maintain a consistent temperature for embryonic development. The female typically incubates from late afternoon through the night until mid-morning, with the male taking over during the day. This shared responsibility ensures the eggs are continuously warmed to hatch successfully.
Pigeons usually lay two eggs, and the incubation period is about 17 to 19 days. Once the eggs hatch, both parents continue to sit and brood the squabs, protecting them and providing warmth. The parents feed their young “pigeon milk” for the first week or so, before gradually introducing partially digested grains. The sitting behavior during this period is important for the survival and initial development of the young birds.