Pigeons are pretty much everywhere, these birds fill the skies of almost every city, flying is as natural to them as walking is to us. So, when do baby pigeons start to fly?
Baby pigeons start to flap their wings and try to fly at 4 weeks old. They can’t fly fully but practice by flapping their wings and taking off from the ground. After some practice, they start flying over short distances. At around 6 weeks old, they are able to fly and are comfortable with it.
Pigeons are one of the very first domesticated birds, they are messengers, and navigators. If you love or are interested in these birds you may have some unanswered questions about them. Like, how come we never see baby pigeons and when do baby pigeons start to fly? In this article, my fellow bird lovers, look into these questions
As one of the earliest domesticated birds, they’ve been extensively studied but certain things about pigeons remain a mystery
Table of Contents
When do baby pigeons start to fly?
Studies show that these birds start to flap their wings around 28 days or 4 weeks after hatching. Baby pigeons’, which are known as squabs, experiment with flapping their wings to practice how to fly.
During this time they are still flightless and unable to take off, yet their flight instincts already start showing.
They will keep practising this flapping until they are about 35 days or 5 weeks old. eventually, their continuous practising pays off. At around 35 days they achieve takeoff and can fly over very short distances.
They continue to practice and in only a matter of days, at around 42 days or 6 weeks, they’re able to fly just as well as adult pigeons do. this is a lesson to us, that if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.
As they learn they get motivation and support from mom and dad. Parent pigeons are one of the most supportive creatures there are. The parents will nudge the baby pigeons to move around.
They will also keep providing warmth and food for them both as treats and to nourish them even until they are full grown.
The combination of instincts, practice, curiosity, motivation, and support, as well as loving nudges from parent pigeons, allows them to fly and grow to be healthy pigeons.
Once they have matured and leave their parents nest, they form flocks of their own
When are pigeons born?
Pigeons breed at any time of the year, peak breeding times are in spring and summer. On average most baby pigeons are hatched between months May to June and again just around August to November.
Newborn pigeons have thin feathers, almost transparent skin and closed eyes. They are helpless and need a lot of protection and care from mom and dad. Mother pigeons look for food by day while father pigeons incubate the nestlings.
They alternate at night, the mother pigeon will incubate the nestlings while the father is away.
Why do we never see baby pigeons?
With so many pigeons around, why do we never see squabs or baby pigeons? It seems like they just magically increase in numbers year after year. Truth is, baby pigeons are just well guarded and kept safe by protective moms and dads.
Parent pigeons build their nests in nooks, crannies and less visible ridges in trees, buildings, signs, roofs, under bridges and abandoned buildings, they do this to keep themselves and their young babies out if sigh and reach.
Another reason why we never see baby pigeons is that they stay in the nests until they are matured. They spend their time in nests practising to fly, growing, and pruning new feathers. They will only be seen if they fall out of their nest.
When pigeons leave the nest for the first time as juveniles, they look just like adults only smaller, this is why it’s difficult for us to tell them apart.
Can baby pigeons survive without their mother?
The surprising answer is yes. Since both parents’ pigeons are active in all areas of raising the pigeon, from incubation, brooding training and feeding, it’s not impossible for the father pigeon to keep the little ones alive and well if the mom dies.
Most birds on a whole can sustain their young all the way into maturity if one parent is not around, that being said, the raising becomes much harder.
Do pigeons mate for life?
Pigeons do mate for life. They are naturally monogamous and mate with one partner for life. If their partner dies, they can and do find another mate but they are not so quick to do so like other monogamous type birds are.
Conclusion
In summary, pigeons start flapping their wings after 4 weeks of being born. They keep practising and developing their flying abilities at around 6 weeks. At this point, they can comfortably fly.
The parents will keep the babies in nests until they are matured. This is why we do not see the baby birds, we rather see adult birds and young adult birds flying around. They are monogamous mates and are protective, supportive parents.
If you’re interested in pigeons you may also be interested in these articles: When do pigeons lay eggs? What do pigeons eat in the city? What do pigeons taste like? Where do pigeons go at night? Click the links to read more