The rock dove, commonly known as the feral pigeon, is one of the most widespread and recognizable birds in urban environments. Their constant presence leads observers to wonder about the strength and duration of their pair bonds. Understanding their social life often starts with the question of whether they commit to a mate for life. The answer provides insight into the reproductive strategy that has allowed them to thrive alongside human civilization.
The Nature of Pigeon Monogamy
Pigeons exhibit social monogamy, meaning a pair remains together to share parental duties and maintain a territory, a bond that often lasts for many years. This partnership is generally sustained for the duration of their reproductive lives. The pair bond is highly reliable and typically only dissolves upon the death or disappearance of one partner. If a mate is lost, the surviving bird will seek a new partner, ensuring the necessary two-parent effort for raising young continues. While the birds are socially committed, genetic studies suggest that a small percentage of offspring may be sired by a male outside the established pair, a common nuance in socially monogamous birds.
Courtship and Pair-Bonding Behaviors
The formation of a pair bond is preceded by a courtship ritual, primarily initiated by the male. The male performs an elaborate display on the ground, characterized by low, deep cooing calls and a specialized bow-walk. During this “bowing,” he inflates his neck feathers, known as the crop, and struts around the female in quick circles.
Once the bond is accepted, the pair engages in mutual behaviors to solidify their partnership. These include allopreening, where they gently groom each other’s head and neck feathers. Another common bonding display is “billing,” where one bird inserts its beak into the other’s, a motion that resembles the feeding of a squab. The pair also works together to select and defend a nesting territory, typically a secluded ledge or cavity.
Shared Responsibilities in Nesting and Rearing
The stable pair bond is reflected in the pigeons’ shared parental responsibilities. The labor is divided: the female is primarily responsible for constructing the rudimentary nest, while the male gathers nesting materials like small twigs and grasses. This cooperation extends to the incubation of the typical two-egg clutch.
Incubation is precisely timed to allow both parents to feed and rest. The female sits on the nest from late afternoon through the night until mid-morning. The male then takes the “day shift,” covering the eggs from approximately 10 a.m. until late afternoon. This coordinated schedule ensures the eggs are kept at a constant temperature for the 17- to 19-day incubation period.
After the squabs hatch, both parents feed them with a substance called “crop milk.” This nutrient-rich secretion is produced by specialized cells in the lining of the parents’ crop, a pouch in the lower esophagus. Unlike mammalian milk, this curd-like substance is high in protein and fat, essential for the hatchlings’ initial survival and growth. Both the male and female regurgitate this crop milk directly into the squabs’ mouths for the first week of life before transitioning them to softened seeds and grains.