It’s a question that has been asked for decades: do pigeons mate for life?
The answer is yes and no, both at the same time.
Yes, because these birds return to their mates every year from migration.
No, because they are not monogamous.
Pigeons are animals that live in colonies that consist of one male and several females. There may be as many as a hundred of them living in one colony. The males mate with any female in the colony, so it would be incorrect to say that my pigeon is my partner for life.
Read on to learn more about this fascinating animal.>>
How do pigeons mate?
Pigeons mate for life in the sense that they will always return to their mate from migration. However, these birds are not monogamous because males mate with any female in the colony.
Pigeons live in colonies that consist of one male and several females. There can be as many as a hundred pigeons living in one colony. The males mate with any female in the colony, so it is incorrect to say that my pigeon is my partner for life because he mates with others too.
How often do pigeons mate?
Pigeons are promiscuous birds that mate with many partners. They breed in the springtime, but there is no regular mating season for them. They also tend to mate more in autumn than in other seasons.
The average pigeon mates about once a week and produces about three eggs per year, which translates to about one egg a month.
The males typically only stay with the female for the mating season. After that, they leave the colony - either returning to their ancestral home, or moving on to another colony as they search for a new partner.
How long do pigeons mate for?
Pigeons mate for the whole year, not just the time that they are in a courting phase.
Females are able to produce eggs every day, and since their mates can successfully fertilize their eggs, it does not matter which male is the father of a pigeon’s egg.
The females lay one clutch of eggs each year. The chicks hatch and go out to search for food, often staying together as groups. They return to their homes when they are young adults and mate with any other pigeons in their colony.
The males will then fly off to find another female who needs a mate.
Do pigeons kiss?
A pigeon will not kiss another pigeon. They do not have lips or any other mechanism with which to kiss.
Do wood pigeons mate for life?
Pigeons mate for life in a sense.
These birds return to their mates every year from migration.
Do pigeons mate with their siblings?
Oftentimes, the male in a colony will mate with one female and then move on to another.
Pigeons are not monogamous and they mate outside of their colony. So when you see two pigeons mating, it's possible that one is the father of the other's children.
There is no telling how many genetic fathers there are to any given set of pigeon babies.
Sometimes, a male may stay with his mate for her entire life and help her raise her young.
But this isn't typical behavior for pigeons so you shouldn't count on it as your own strategy for long-term love.>>
Do pigeons mate for pleasure?
Pigeons mate for pleasure, but they do not mate for life.
Pigeons can mate with any female in the colony. The male will only stay with the female if she is the only one to lay eggs. Otherwise, he will leave her and go find another female to mate with.
If a female gets raped by a stranger and has an egg fertilized outside of her nest, she will care for that egg as if it were hers. But she won't be able to give the bird enough attention because there are so many other birds in her nest.
Do pigeons mate with other birds?
Pigeons are monogamous, meaning they mate with one bird and have a lifelong relationship. However, in the colony of pigeons there is a male that mates with any female, so it would be incorrect to say my pigeon is my partner for life.
