What do pigeons eat? Everything about their diet

The diet of pigeons consists mainly of small seeds that are easy to digest, but they can also ingest fruits and vegetables, although to a lesser extent.

About pigeon

The bird is 22 to 26 cm long, including the 10 to 12 cm tail. It is a very small pigeon, the body of the bird barely larger than that of a house sparrow. The male has a black “face”, chest and neck. The back is brownish gray. The female is brownish-gray with an even lighter underside and lacks the black mask, the tail tapers, and the tail feathers are mostly black. The wings are rust-brown.

Pigeon lifestyle

Pigeons are undoubtedly the most common birds around the world because they can be seen both in fields and in cities, including large metropolises. They have ceased to fear men and appreciate the temperate climate of cities and the abundance of food sources they find there. The intelligence of pigeons emerges from that of common birds and they are one of the few species that live in families without losing contact with their descendants.

Feeding pigeons

Pigeons feed on seeds such as wheat, corn, sorghum, barley, oats, rice, beans, peas, lentils, vetch, hemp, rapeseed, flax, and sunflower. The mixture of these seeds is called mixture and can easily be found in stores dedicated to animals. Pigeons consume 30 grams of seeds per day but when they have their young their consumption increases a little. The seeds provide them with the protein, carbohydrates, and fats they need.

Although pigeons are mainly grain-eaters, they also eat vegetables – like lettuce and carrots, which provide them with the necessary vitamins and carotid artery. In captivity, they must be provided at least once a week, well chopped.

The main source of food for pigeons depends on the area in which they live. For example, in cities, pigeons feed on the remains that they find in the streets because the seeds are almost non-existent there.

Pigeons usually concentrate in city squares where some people shoot seeds for them. And, although flocks of pigeons are a pleasant sight, the droppings left by these birds greatly contaminate cities.