Pigeons are everywhere, and if you live in the city you’ll know that they are pretty much a part of the architecture. These tiny animals are as common as street vendors and yellow taxi cabs. The shear number of pigeons that live amoung us is a sign of how quickly and easily they reproduce. But how do they do it? How do pigeons reproduce? This article looks into it 

Pigeons reproduce using openings called cocacal protuberances because they do not have reproductive organs as humans do. After the courtship stage when a female picks a male the male stands behind then mounts the female, touching their cocacal protuberances. He then transfers sperm into her through the opening

 

How do pigeons reproduce?

Male pigeons (as well as other male birds) do not have external sex organs as humans do. The organs that are involved in mating are two interior testes and protrusions called “cocacal protuberances”. During the breeding season, these two testes swell and produce sperm used for mating. Similarly, adult female pigeons also have reproductive organs different from humans. She has one ovary which contains all the eggs she will need for her life and she has a protrusion called the “cocacal protuberances”.

Pigeon mating starts with the males strutting around in an effort to impress the female pigeons. If the female is impressed she will pick him as a mate. She does this by approaching him and putting her beak insider his beak. She will then proceed to shift her tail to the side and the male will position himself behind her. The two pigeons will then touch cocacal protuberances, this is how insemination happens. He quickly ejaculates after mounting the female pigeon sending his sperm swimming into her reproductive tract.

When do pigeons reproduce?

Pigeons can reproduce any day of the year as long as there is enough food and water available, in addition the weather has to be favourable to them. Pigeons will not try to reproduce during the winter as they can not properly incubate their eggs during this time. Both pigeon parents take turns sitting on the eggs during the incubation period to avoid putting all the stress on a single parent. While one parent is sitting on the eggs the other will go out and look for food.

Do pigeons lay eggs without mating?

Yes, pigeons can lay eggs without mating. Female pigeons start to lay eggs 5-6 months after hatching, this helps them mature. When a female pigeon is ready to lay eggs she will coo to attract a mate and she will start preparing material to make her nest. If she finds herself a mate during this period, they will copulate and she will lay fertilized eggs. If she is not able to find a mate, the female pigeon will go on to lay her eggs without mating and even sit on the eggs to incubate them. However, the eggs will not be fertile and thus won’t hatch.

Can a male bird lay an egg?

No, a male bird cannot lay an egg, only female birds are able to lay eggs. The male reproductive system does not have the facilities to produce eggs, there is an absence of ovaries in his body. That being said, a male bird is involved during the incubation period, he sits on the eggs when the female bird is tired or out finding food. . The male bird also helps feed the babies as he can also produce crop milk.

Why do you never see baby pigeons?

Most baby pigeons are kept in the nest until they are fully feathered and able to fly on their own, by this stage they look like adult pigeons. While other baby birds spend about 2-3 weeks in the nest, before they move out, baby pigeons spend about 3-6 weeks in the nest before leaving the nest. By then the baby pigeons will be as big as their parents. Most people do not recognize these juvenile pigeons out and about but you can identify them if you know what to look for. To recognize baby pigeons, look out for their dark eyes (adult pigeons have red eyes).

Conclusion 

In conclusion, pigeons reproduce when a male is chosen by a female. The male will position himself behind her then mount her. They will touch cocacal protuberances and he will ejaculate sperm into her. These animals can reproduce at any time as long as there is sufficient food and water in the area. Female pigeons can lay an egg without reproducing with a male but the egg will not hatch.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Why is my bird biting me all of a sudden?, When do pigeons moult?, Why is my pigeon shaking?, Where do pigeons roost and why?