Pigeons: Their Past, Present, and How to Be a Better Urban Neighbour
Because these underrated beauties deserve our love and attention
Please note: This is a departure from my usual food-obsessed witterings. Indulge me if you will.
London’s pigeons are as much a part of the city’s landscape as red buses, the stink of weed and pubs. They gather in flocks across rooftops, scatter through station squares, and coo in the quiet corners of old buildings. Often misunderstood and overlooked, these birds have a long, complex history with the capital - and with us.
A Brief History: From Roman Companions to City Survivors
Pigeons have been in London since at least Roman times. Originally domesticated from wild rock doves in the Mediterranean, they were brought here for food, messaging, and companionship. By the 18th and 19th centuries, pigeons were fashionable pets and highly valued racing birds. Over time, as pigeon keeping fell out of favour, many escaped or were dumped on the streets, forming today’s urban flocks.
The city’s architecture mimics the natural cliffs pigeons evolved to nest on, making London an ideal habitat. From the ledges of old churches to the girders of bridges, they’ve adapted seamlessly to modern life.
All about pigeons….and very much worth a watch
If you see a pigeon laying on its side, with one wing pointing skywards, they’re not having some sort of seizure, they’re sunbathing! Pigeons may lay on their side with one wing up as a way to cool down, or to bathe in the rain or shallow water. This behaviour allows them to expose different parts of their body to the sun or water, potentially aiding in parasite control, drying, or regulating body temperature.
Social Lives, Mating, and Roosting Habits
Pigeons are highly social birds. They live in flocks, form long-term mating bonds, and are remarkably affectionate with one another. Mated pairs often preen each other and will stay together for life, producing multiple broods throughout the year. Thanks to London’s mild winters and abundance of food waste, pigeons can breed year-round here, often raising two chicks at a time.
Their nests are simple, usually placed in sheltered spaces like building ledges, balconies, or under bridges. Both female *and* male parents share duties in incubating the eggs and feeding their young with “pigeon milk” - a rich secretion of fermented food that they naturally produce.
In feeding and roosting, they form tight colonies, communicating through coos, head movements, and body language. Hierarchies develop within flocks, often based on age, strength, or breeding status.
Their Mental State: More Than You Might Think
Despite being resilient city survivors, pigeons experience stress and fear, particularly in crowded or threatening environments. They are intelligent birds - capable of recognising human faces, navigating long distances, and even passing the mirror test in lab settings.
Some have worked out that deterrent spikes that top many buildings actually provide decent ‘scaffold’ for a sturdy nest!
Stress in pigeons may show up as sudden flight, panting, feather puffing, or withdrawal from the group. Chronic stress can impact their health, particularly in areas with scarce food or high foot traffic.
Still, most urban pigeons are well adapted to urban noise and movement, and many learn to trust specific people - especially those who feed them regularly. While we were feeding pigeons near the canal the other night I was delighted to see a lady feeding others directly from her hand. I felt a bit jealous actually.
I LOVE this tune, and it happens to be about a most excellent pigeon, based on a poem by Dave Sudbury, and sung here by the awesome Unthanks.
How Many Are There?
Estimates suggest there are between 1 million and 1.5 million feral pigeons in Greater London. Populations rise and fall depending on food availability, nesting spaces, and predation from birds of prey such as peregrine falcons, which are making a slow comeback in the city.
Pigeons never get lost
Pigeons navigate using a combination of magnetic field detection, visual landmarks, and possibly even atmospheric odours and infrasound. They seem to have an internal compass and a map-like sense of their environment, allowing them to compare their current location to where they need to go. Scientists are still learning how the heck they find their way home. There must be a joke about using a coo-mpass?
What Should They Eat?
Pigeons are natural foragers. I’ve fed them bread, but you’re apparently not meant to! So don’t! The best food for them includes:
Whole grains like corn, wheat, millet, and oats
Pulses such as peas and lentils (uncooked and unsalted)
Seeds and the occasional leafy green
As well as bread, avoid feeding them chips, biscuits, or any processed food. These can lead to malnutrition, illness, or overpopulation in a concentrated area.
Pigeons save lives!
Cher Ami, a war pigeon, was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for his heroic service during World War I, specifically for delivering a crucial message during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in 1918. Despite being shot through the chest and losing a leg, he successfully delivered the message that saved the lives of approximately 200 American soldiers.
How You Can Support Pigeons
Don’t eat yhem, for starters! And you don’t need to keep pigeons as pets to care about their welfare. Charles Darwin did, and observing their behaviour helped him create The Origin of Species. In a letter, he wrote: “I will show you my pigeons! Which is the greatest treat, in my opinion, which can be offered to human beings.”
As a pigeon lover, I even forgive him the double use of ‘which’. And while his study of pigeons informed The Origin of Species, Darwin’s definitive “pigeon book,” The Variation of Animals and Plants Under Domestication, did not come out until 1868. Its long, gorgeously illustrated section on pigeons is still readable and relevant.
You might not be as obsessed as Darwin, but still, here are a few simple ways to help them live safer, healthier lives in the city:
Feed responsibly: Offer nutritious grains in small amounts, away from traffic or busy pavements. Never overfeed or leave piles of food, which can attract pests and cause conflict with councils.
Provide fresh water: Especially in summer, a shallow bowl of clean water on a balcony or ledge can make a big difference.
Offer safe shelter:If you have access to a rooftop or garden, you can build safe roosting boxes or sheltered corners for nesting.
Support humane urban bird policies: Push for ethical pigeon control measures, such as birth control feed or protected roosts, instead of culling or excessive deterrents like netting and spikes.
Educate and reframe: Challenge negative stereotypes of pigeons as “rats with wings.” They are affectionate, intelligent animals with a rich history in our city and deserve respect, not ridicule. Tell off kids, or better still, parents, who allow their kids to chase and harass poor pigeons.
Urban pigeons are more than background birds. They’re a living link to our past, participants in our present, and - if we choose - part of a more compassionate urban future. Supporting them doesn’t take much. A handful of seeds, a little understanding, and a willingness to see the familiar through fresh eyes.
Recipe
Yes, I’ve included a recipe, but not for you, for the pigeons.
My research led me to create this mix:
Pigeon Feed Recipe (For A Small Urban Flock)
Makes approx. 910g of dry mix
Daily ration: ~90–120g total per day for 6–10 pigeons
Ingredients:
43g Lentils (uncooked, rinsed)
57g White quinoa
57g Farro
85g Rolled oats
28g Hemp seeds
7g Spirulina powder
28g Red quinoa
28g Amaranth
57g Chia seeds
57g Millet
7g Brewer’s yeast
454g Cracked grain mix (e.g. corn, wheat, barley, sorghum)
Preparation
In a large bowl or container, combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Feed approximately 10–12g per pigeon per day (adjust for activity level and season).
Always provide fresh, clean water, especially if offering dry seeds and grains.
Optionally, supplement with small amounts of greens or grit.
I love this post. Pigeons are so misunderstood! They are such fascinating, clever, loyal animals.
Very interesting.