The domestic pigeon is a pigeon subspecies that was derived from the rock dove (also called the rock pigeon). Scientific name of domestic pigeon is “Columba livia domestica”.
Historic importance of Pigeon:
The rock pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000 years ago, as do Egyptian hieroglyphics Research suggests that domestication of pigeons occurred as early as 10,000 years ago. Pigeons have made contributions of considerable importance to humanity, especially in times of war. In war the homing ability of pigeons has been put to use by making them messengers.
Origin:
Naturally, these birds thrive in cliff side settings, particularly sea cliffs. Introduced and feral individuals can live in cliff settings, but have found a perfect niche in urban and city living. Cities provide them with perfect scavenging opportunities, as humans produce lots of garbage. Not only do humans produce lots of garbage, but they also produce even more in an urban and city setting with high populations. They have also been introduced to a wide number of regions. Their non-native range consists of the rest of Europe, other parts of Asia, southeast Australia, southern Africa, parts of South America, parts of Canada, and the entire United States and Mexico.
Description (adult of the nominate subspecies of the Rock pigeon/Domestic Pigeon):
There are total 175 pigeon’s species available all over world. In India, we can see 15 colour species of Doves pigeon, notable among them common pigeon laughing dove, collared dove, spotted dove, yellow footed pigeon etc. The local people called them “Kabutar”.
Description about domestic pigeon is given below:
• 32-37 cm long
• 64-72 cm wingspan
• Dark bluish-grey head, neck and chest with glossy greenish and reddish-purple iridescence around the neck and wing feathers
• Orange or red iris with pale inner ring (adult) or brown or greyish brown (juveniles)
• Black bill with off-white cere
• Red feet and legs
• Distinctive twin black wing bars
• White lower back feathers.
Apart from this, there are several colours of pigeons are found in India like white, white and black, brown and white etc.
Diet of a Pigeon:
Opportunistic feeding is one of the keys to this bird’s success. Some common food items include grains and seeds, vegetables, fruits, berries, insects, snails, earthworms and more. In cities they will consume virtually anything edible. Human garbage provides a wide variety of foods and they take advantage of whatever they find. But in Indian subcontinent pigeon has not depend only this kind of food, also they eat some other foods like wheat, corn, oats etc. In rural area of India, some people have thrown their excess foods like rice in pond as fish’s food. Sometimes it has found that pigeon are going to pond to eat that food.
Habitat and Grooming in Indian Subcontinent:
In India naturally pigeons live either in yard or attic of any house. But sometimes when they failed to find any comfortable house for them, the only option is to live on a tree. Generally, pigeons keep them clean. Naturally they clean themselves with the water which accumulate in ground. But uncommon fact is when they groom themselves by cleaning in shallow water, not only to clean and cool the body temperature but also for their cleaning and shining their body feathers. Color and quality of feather appears as secondary sexual character and denote the genetical fitness. When they groom themselves in the shallow water that means they want to glow their feather and grow the fitness and attract the female pigeon, here comes the reproduction factor.
Reproduction factor:
Reproduction can happen in any time in the year, especially in areas where food is plentiful. It is however much more common in spring and summer times their nests are built in cliff faces as well as ledges and roofs of building. The female lays to eggs and both parents incubate those eggs for 17-19 days. Baby pigeons are called “squbs” and are fed crop milk that is produce by the parents. After approximately 30 days the “squbs” will learn to fly and become self-sustaining.
I am very glad to take this kind of photograph of unknown activities of domestic pigeons and I have learned a new behaviour of pigeon.
About Myself : Sayantan Banerjee is an Indian male photographer from Kolkata and also a student of Journalism and Mass Communication. He has started his photography journey in 2018. His point of interest in wildlife and Documentary/Street photography. Recently He has joined Creative Art Solution Photography Club Under Federation of Indian Photography (FIP) for growing himself.