The foods of the Rock Dove and Feral Pigeon

Dietary habits of urban pigeons (Columba livia) and implications of excreta pH – a review

“…As pigeons are able to store large quantities of food in their crops and need only a few minutes to fill the crop (Johnston & Janiga 1995; Sol et al 1998), they are eminently suited to exploit ephemeral, abundant food sources, including those provided by the public (Murton & Westwood 1966). Because of the social composition of feral pigeons, and their tendency to visit many foraging sites each day (Lefebvre & Giraldeau 1984), individual pigeons are able to monitor potential food sources and have highly individualised diets (Inman et al 1987) that maximise their position within the flock (Giraldeau & Lefebvre 1985).…”

“…While the natural diet of rock doves has been found to consist of mostly seeds (Murton & Westwood 1966;Little 1994), this species is particularly able to adjust and source food from urban settings and managed rural landscapes (Little 1994;Soldatini et al 2006;Silva & Medeiros 2008). Feral pigeons, on the other hand, are considered not to be strictly granivores, as they include other sources of protein in their diet such as small invertebrates, insects and protein-rich human food (Lefebvre & Giraldeau 1984;Jokimaki & Suhonen 1998).…”

“…The diet of rock doves has been found to consist of mostly seeds, primarily sourced from grassland settings (Murton & Westwood 1966;Little 1994). Human land modification, in the form of managed rural landscapes (with the accompanying abundance of grain sources) and the development of urban agglomerations with tall structures (church towers, multi-storey buildings, etc.)…”

Prior experience affects amodal completion in pigeons

“…Fujita and his coauthors (Fujita, 2001; have proposed differences in foraging behavior to explain the difference between chickens and pigeons in amodal completion: Pigeons, as grain eaters, may have little need to search for food items behind obstacles, whereas chickens, as worm eaters, may have to search for partially visible prey. However, field studies have disclosed that wild rock pigeons (Columba livia) are not exclusively granivorous; during the early spring, earthworms may constitute as much as 60% of their crop content (Murton & Westwood, 1966). Nor is the ancestor of domestic chickens, the red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), an exclusive insectivore.…”

Scrounging prevents cultural transmission of food-finding behaviour in pigeons

“…Feral pigeons are highly opportunistic flock feeders (Murton & Westwood 1966;Murton et al 1972) and are thus prime candidates for cultural learning. Palameta & Lefebvre (1985) have shown that individually-caged pigeons can adopt a novel food-finding behaviour via observational learning and local enhancement.…”