Sleep is not something that only humans need. Animals of all kinds need sleep to stay healthy and strong.
Every animal has its own unique way of sleeping. The way birds sleep is quite different from the way mammals and other class of animals sleep.
This article explores the question of: how do pigeons sleep?
Pigeons sleep by shutting their eyes and tucking their head into their neck feathers. The chest area of the pigeon will also be very puffed up while it’s sleeping. Unlike humans a pigeon can literally sleep with one eye open, one half of the body will be wake and the other will be asleep.
Table of Contents
How do pigeons sleep?
When pigeons sleep, they shut their eyes and tuck their head into their neck feathers. A pigeon in this state looks awkwardly puffed up around the chest area but this is the most comfortable position for them.
This position enables the birds to rest their neck muscles, it also helps the bird conserve heat as it sleeps. They have very flexible necks which allow them to sleep in this position.
Unlike humans, pigeons are not entirely unconscious when they sleep. Half-asleep would be the best way to describe the state of a sleeping pigeon.
A pigeon can also sleep with one eye open, literally. The brain of these birds is split into two hemispheres, allowing each part to control one side of the body. So, while one side of the pigeon’s body goes to sleep, the other side is awake and conscious of its surrounding.
This phenomenon is called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep. Only one-half of the eye shows the electrical signatures associated with sleep.
Where do pigeons sleep?
Pigeons don’t mind where they sleep, they sleep anywhere they find safe, convenient, and sturdy.
Pigeons in the wild or in urban areas do not sleep in nests as most people think. These birds are social animals and prefer to spend the night in a group of other like-birds. The only time a pigeon sleeps in a nest is when it has eggs or babies to nurse.
Pigeons in urban areas spend their nights on roofs, trees, and window ledges around a city.
Pigeons and most other birds in the wild like to sleep on elevated perches, usually in a large coniferous tree at night – this way they are able to protect themselves from nocturnal mammalian ground predators.
That’s not to say pigeons don’t sleep on the ground. A pigeon will also sleep on the ground if it can’t find a suitable place to perch at night.
When a pigeon sleeps on the ground, it never feels as safe as it does when it sleeps on elevated perches. One study shows that pigeons made to sleep on the ground or low perches spent less time in deep sleep state compared to pigeons that slept on elevated perches.
If you can’t tell the difference between a sleeping pigeon and a fully awake one, know that you’re not alone. Most people are also unable to tell the difference.
How do they keep from falling:
They are designed not to fall while sleeping.
As soon as a bird lands on an object and places its weight on its feet, the bird’s legs cause the tendons in the feet to tighten around the object.
The result is a tight grip on the object and a secure way to sleep
When do pigeons sleep?
These birds are also known to go to sleep once their surrounding go completely dark. So, it could be sunny outside, but if the room where a pigeon stays is kept in darkness, the bird may go on sleeping.
Pigeons do not only sleep during the night, they can also be caught napping during the day. A bird’s daytime sleep is never as rich and refreshing as the sleep they get at night.
It may have its eyes shut and seem to be in deep sleep but it isn’t. The slightest noise will wake it. Their daytime sleep usually occurs during the final hours of daylight.
When they get to a safe place and sleep at night, they will spend most of their time sleeping. Pigeons, like most diurnal birds, begin to sleep not long after they return to their shelters or nests.
How long do pigeons sleep for?
Pigeons will sleep for as long as there is darkness. Once the sun sets or there’s no light around, these birds go to sleep almost immediately.
Pigeons spend approximately 10 to 12 hours a night in sleep mode. If you find a pigeon awake at night, know some loud noise disturbed its sleep or it sees light somewhere and thinks it’s daytime already.
Do pigeons need sleep?
Sleep plays a vital role in a pigeon’s overall health. Eating nutrient-rich food is good for the birds, but if they don’t get quality sleep, all the healthy foods won’t be enough to keep them from falling ill.
If you own a pet pigeon, it’s your duty to not only give it a proper diet, but to also provide it with a conducive sleeping environment.
Sleep deprivation in pigeons can make the birds cranky, unsociable, and worst of all, lead to a compromised immune system – exposing the bird to a host of health problems.
Do pigeons sleep in phases like humans?
Sleep in humans consists of two phases: the deep, dreamless slow-wave sleep (SWS) and the dreamy, rapid eye movement sleep (REM). Pigeons also have both phases.
A study conducted on a set of pigeons shows that when pigeons are deprived of their daytime nap, they sleep deeper than usual at night or some other time. In other words, every sleep loss is always recovered.
The other sleep phase of pigeons is similar to the rapid eye movement sleep phase (REM) in humans. Their eyes are closed, but they are not in a deep sleep.
Conclusion
We don’t know who went about spreading the funny rumors that pigeons don’t sleep. These birds sleep and they require the activity just as much as we do.
You may have seen a pigeon moving about at 9 pm and think to yourself, “do these creatures ever go to sleep?” The answer is yes. The only reason why those birds you saw were up that late was that the lights in your neighborhood made them think it’s still daytime.
These birds sleep by tucking their head into their neck feathers. So, next time you see them in that position, please don’t bother them!
If you’re interested in pigeons you may also be interested in these articles: Why do pigeons fly in circles? How do pigeons feed their babies? How do pigeons see? Why do pigeons make noise? How do pigeons know where to deliver messages? Click the links to read more.
