Meat-eating humans will eat meat from whatever source it comes from, as long as it is spiced and properly cooked. Not minding if it comes from a pigeon. Yes, this may come as a surprise to you, but humans in many countries have been eating pigeon meat for hundreds of years.

There is more to food than the products we eat from the supermarket. People eat a variety of foods all over the world and that includes pigeons. So what do pigeons taste like? This article looks into it

Pigeons taste quite gamey, it is much darker meat than chicken. You can expect it to taste like a richer and more flavourful chicken. Squab meat or younger pigeon is preferred because it has a silky texture and is easier to digest. Just don’t eat the bird raw

What do pigeons taste like?

Pigeon is not a common delicacy in every region of the world. In fact, there are people in some countries who still don’t know the birds can be eaten. But for those who have been privileged to have the meal, they all describe it as exceedingly juicy and delicious.

When pigeons are raised for food, they can make excellent poultry meat just like chickens and turkey.

Having eaten pigeon for the first time, some people fall in love with the bird’s meat and even prefer it over chicken, turkey, duck, and goose.

Pigeons can be eaten as adults or babies (squabs). The meat of squabs is not only yummy; it is also rich in protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

Squabs have a silky texture and are easily digestible. All of these might just be the reason why squabs are greatly preferred to adult pigeons in some circles.

The meat of an adult pigeon is gamey, it is much darker meat than chicken. You can expect it to taste like a richer and more flavourful chicken. This meat is also quite a lean meat

So if pigeons are as super tasty as many people claim, why hasn’t it taken over the bird market? The reason for this is that breeding pigeons cost more, and pigeons don’t offer as much meat like chicken.

Is pigeon meat good for human health?

Pigeon meat is highly nutritious, it is great for your health. Below are a few health benefits of eating the food.

Rich in protein:

Pigeon meat contains lots of protein. Studies have shown that the amount of protein in pigeon meat is 17.5 g/100gr. Almost close to that of a cow 18.8g/100gr. Eating pigeon meat can help improve immune system function, promote healthy growth and support enzyme production

High in essential minerals:

Our bodies need a lot of minerals to stay healthy. Pigeon meat is a good source of some of these minerals including iron, selenium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, and sodium.

Rich in essential vitamins:

Pigeon meat is also a good source of essential vitamins. This food is rich in vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, cobalamin, pyridoxine, folate, and vitamin C.

Good for our blood and organs:

Some of the nutrients contained in pigeon meat can help reduce blood pressure, control blood sugar, and optimize the function of our liver and kidney.

Can you get sick from eating pigeons?

Pigeons are totally safe for consumption. There’s only a small chance you can get sick from eating pigeons.

You can get sick if the bird is very sick or diseased. City pigeons are mostly considered unsafe for consumption because they eat a lot of awful things from our trash.

One can hardly tell if a city pigeon is sick or not, so it’s best to avoid eating them. Pigeons living in the countryside or raised on a farm are far more healthy and safer for consumption.

Is killing and eating pigeon legal?

Every country has its laws relating to killing and eating pigeons. While the act of killing and eating pigeons may be considered a serious offence in some countries, it may be legal in other countries.

In some states in the U.S., pigeons and other wild birds are protected by law. And it is illegal to interfere or kill them for any reason. If you want to kill them, you need to contact the authorities in your state.

In Britain, killing pigeons is legal under certain circumstances. There has to be proof that you are killing the bird to prevent damage to crops, vegetables, fruits, and foodstuff for livestock. The method of killing the bird is also dictated by the law.

How are pigeons cooked?

Pigeons can either be cooked or roasted. To cook pigeon meat, all you have to do is place the bird’s breast in a pan and cook for 15 minutes at moderate heat. The best pigeons for cooking are squabs and younger wild pigeons as they cook fast.

Spices can be added to the meat while it cooks, but spices should be used sparingly, too much can make the meat overly spicy.

The legs of pigeons take longer to cook than their breasts, which is why most people prefer cooking the breasts.

To roast pigeons, one has to cover the meat in butter before roasting in order to get the best results.

Where in the world do people eat pigeons?

Countries known to eat pigeons include England, Ireland, United States, Italy, Egypt, Morocco, France, Poland, Germany, Belgium, China, and other Asian countries.

There may be laws that prohibit the killing and eating of pigeons in some of these countries, but that hasn’t stopped people from feeding on the tasty birds the first chance they get.

Can you eat pigeons raw?

It’s not safe to eat a pigeon’s meat raw. There is always the possibility that the body of the bird contains harmful bacteria. Eating the bird raw can make you very sick.

Cooking the bird before eating helps to eliminate all forms of bacteria and parasites that may be harmful to your health.

Conclusion

Pigeons have been hunted for their meat for centuries. These birds are tasty and highly nutritious.  Humans can get a lot of protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals from consuming this food. Contrary to what most believe, eating pigeons cannot make you sick; they are perfectly safe for consumption.

If you’re interested in pigeons you may also be interested in these articles: When do pigeons lay eggs? When do baby pigeons start to fly? What do pigeons eat in the city? Where do pigeons go at night? Click the links to read more