I think I have a sad pigeon who misses his mate???

[4life]

Hi all,

I posted yesterday about a pigeon who I captured Monday that was sick and not acting right at all. Well I believe she belonged to the group of pigeons that have been coming here eating for the last few months. Well before I captured her a male pigeon started jumping on top of her( I think he was trying to mate with her). Well he was hurting her because she was already not in the best shape though I am sure he did not realize it. Well when I brought her in he was watching me. Sadly she passed away during the night. Well since then this pigeon has been hanging around here, I think he is looking for her. Could this be her Mate? I mean could he be looking for her thinking we have her in here still? I feel so bad for this guy if that is what he is doing. I read that they mate for life, is that true? Will he find another mate? I wonder is he is lovesick or worried about her. I do not know much about pigeon behavior, but I feel like maybe he is looking for her.

 

[nchls school]

Hi all,

I posted yesterday about a pigeon who I captured Monday that was sick and not acting right at all. Well I believe she belonged to the group of pigeons that have been coming here eating for the last few months. Well before I captured her a male pigeon started jumping on top of her( I think he was trying to mate with her). Well he was hurting her because she was already not in the best shape though I am sure he did not realize it. Well when I brought her in he was watching me. Sadly she passed away during the night. Well since then this pigeon has been hanging around here, I think he is looking for her. Could this be her Mate? Yes. I mean could he be looking for her thinking we have her in here still? Yes. I feel so bad for this guy if that is what he is doing. I read that they mate for life, is that true See below.? Will he find another mate? Yes.I wonder is he is lovesick or worried about her. I do not know much about pigeon behavior, but I feel like maybe he is looking for her.

Pigeons are monogamous, but are quick to find a new mate if one dies; usually. I have even had pigeons take a new mate when something better comes along-this usually happens only with forced pairing where two pigeons, opposite sex, are put in a breeding cage. Not all birds are compatible; just like people.

 

[4life]

Thanks for the reply. I hope he will be able to move on and find another partner soon poor little guy.

 

[jak2002003]

Pigeons do usually pair for life.. but they are by no means monogamous because the male will cheat on his mate when ever he can.... and the female will also mate with other males when her mate is not around to see!!!... (just like many humans lol)..

I have seen that happen many times in my loft.. its normal. However they will stay in their pair to nest and raise the young, and they both will defend their nest from any other pigeons trying to come in.

When a mate dies the bird will spend some time on its own.. after a few weeks or months it will start to look for another mate. I notice usually the males will be quick to attract another mate.. where as the females take longer... I think they like the time to just have a rest and take a break from nesting, laying eggs and looking after chicks..

Who knows what goes on in their heads.. but I guess they do miss their mates for a while. They can definitely recognise each other in the flock and some birds hate other ones and look for a fight with them when they can.. and others see to have friends they like to hang about with.

Don't; worry about the one that you think is lonely. He will soon get over it and find a new girlfriend.

 

[nchls school]

Pigeons do usually pair for life.. but they are by no means monogamous because the male will cheat on his mate when ever he can.... and the female will also mate with other males when her mate is not around to see!!!... (just like many humans lol)..

I have seen that happen many times in my loft.. its normal. However they will stay in their pair to nest and raise the young, and they both will defend their nest from any other pigeons trying to come in.

What you write is definitely true. I've witnessed this behavior also. When I used the word monogamous, I meant they will stick with one mate.

 

[jak2002003]

What you write is definitely true. I've witnessed this behavior also. When I used the word monogamous, I meant they will stick with one mate.

Yes.. they stick together.. and protect each other... and the males are very jealous of the females.. not letting other males near them and chasing their mates back to the nest away from temptation.

Females act very proper in front of their mates.. and run away from other males courting them.

But get them on their own and its a different story.

Its so amusing to watch them... the males are always trying to get a bit of fun with another female... and the females are very clever at having a sneaky meeting with a top ranking attractive male!

I have a female Old Dutch Capuchine that is very clever. She has multipule mates.. she wins a male and nests with him.. and once the eggs hatch.. she will leave him and hook up with another male.. One season she had 3 mates all looking after her squabs.. all 6 of them.. and she left them all to it and lazed about all day... I say good for her!!!

 

[nchls school]

Yes.. they stick together.. and protect each other... and the males are very jealous of the females.. not letting other males near them and chasing their mates back to the nest away from temptation.

Females act very proper in front of their mates.. and run away from other males courting them.

But get them on their own and its a different story.

Its so amusing to watch them... the males are always trying to get a bit of fun with another female... and the females are very clever at having a sneaky meeting with a top ranking attractive male!

I have a female Old Dutch Capuchine that is very clever. She has multipule mates.. she wins a male and nests with him.. and once the eggs hatch.. she will leave him and hook up with another male.. One season she had 3 mates all looking after her squabs.. all 6 of them.. and she left them all to it and lazed about all day... I say good for her!!

Women's lib in the animal world.

 

[4life]

Thanks for the replies. I feel a bit better then at least knowing he will probably find another mate. Lol, so pigeons are not so different than humans then . These little guys have such a tough life with all they have to deal with ( elements, predators, sickness etc..).

 

[laughingdog]

You should look into keeping breeding and training one to three pairs, to fly and observe young of. You may love fancy decorative breeds (fantasy breed and mindian fantail breed exemplify these groups), racing/homing breeds, or roller/tumbling breeds (my vote goes to Birmingham rollers as easiest interesting breed kept especially as starter pet). Keeping pigeons is extremely enriching experience, especially for the little they require. Birmingham rollers only need a tablespoon of feed per bird. Homers are the endurance athletes.

 

[Hoverquad]

I know a little about pigeons as I kept them as a boy. Where I live now in a small hamlet we have a group of resident wood pigeons that live in the pine trees here. The main pair have been here for many years and they finish their day on the roof of the house adjacent to ours some 20 metres away. I noticed yesterday that the male bird did not walk in his normal manner across the crest of the roof, but hopped awkwardly from one side to the other. The female appeared and followed him, strutting normally. After a short while I was surprised to see her encouraging mating in the time honoured way of pigeons. The male duly responded and mating took place. I said to my wife that I thought this was out of season for wild birds. I was even more surprised when she again encouraged mating for a second time. The male seemed reluctant but managed to do his job. I was convinced that the male would not be around for much longer and surely enough today the female is alone. There is no calling and all is very quiet. Did she know he was about to die and this was a final farewell?