Feral pigeon

What does it look like?

Feral or 'wild' rock pigeons are descended from birds originally brought to New Zealand for aviculture and racing. As a result, they occur in a wide variety of plumages, including entirely black, predominately grey with black wing bars, red-brown, buff, white, and pied variants of each of the colour forms. The wild-type rock pigeon is blue-grey, with lighter tones over the back and wings, has a white rump, and a tail with a black terminal band.

There are two black bands over the inner portion of the upper wing, and the outer flight feathers are black or dark grey. There is a broad band of iridescent purple-green over the neck, upper mantle and chest. The bill is grey-black, the cere (fleshy strip at the base of the upper beak housing the nostrils) white, feet pink to red-pink, and the eyes red. Juveniles are smaller and slimmer, with duller plumage lacking iridescence, feet grey to pink-grey, bill pink or grey-pink, eyes brownish, and cere pink or grey.

Why is it a problem?

Feral pigeons are widespread and regionally abundant, particularly in large cities and on extensive arable farmland. The population is also on the rise.

They can roost and nest on and in buildings, both disused and in use, under bridges and wharves, and on ledges of cliffs and caves. Their faeces can spread diseases such as salmonella, and can cause fouling of buildings, statues, vehicles and footpaths.

While rural birds are usually quite timid, urban birds are often quite the opposite, walking about at one’s feet and even alighting on people to take food. They often roost, commute and forage in flocks.

These birds utilise a wide variety of habitats in which to forage, roost and nest. Developing and mature seeds of grasses and various weeds are obtained from lawns, gardens and along roadsides. However, the bulk of rock pigeons’ food is purposely or inadvertently provided by people.

In urban areas the diet consists mainly of food refuse and scraps, and in rural areas mainly commercial grains (peas, maize, barley, wheat, oats, and clover). Feral pigeons in rural areas can cause considerable damage to newly-sown crops.

Control methods

Pigeons are beyond practical control in most places, but may be controlled in limited areas by poisoning, nest destruction, shooting or deterrence devices. Pigeon management is the responsibility of the land or building occupier.

While traps and poison for birds are available in retail stores, we recommend the use of deterrents, as the poison (Alphachlorolose) is indiscriminate and will affect non-target birds that ingest the bait. Furthermore, there is no guarantee the pigeons will eat it if there are plentiful food supplies elsewhere. If they are nesting on your rooftop, they will not feed where they roost.

If pigeons are roosting in a shed or similar, shooting at night using an air rifle and headlamp may be successful. They do not like flying at night and re-settle quickly, allowing multiple birds to be targeted in succession.

Bird spikes may be necessary in some cases. An example of another deterrent is “Gutter Whiskers”, used when they nest in gutters. These can block birds from getting into roof cavities.

There are a wide range of products that can either be found online or sourced locally, from hardware or farming supply stores. Buying direct from a manufacturer’s website is often cheaper.

More information

Also known as: domestic pigeon, racing pigeon, rock dove.

Related links

• Rock Pigeon | New Zealand Birds Online