We live with pigeons but this doesn’t mean they aren’t wild animals, wild pigeons will act like wild pigeons. So why do pigeons attack humans?

Pigeons attacking humans is out of the ordinary but they will attack if they get used to people and expect food from you. They will also attack you if their previous owners mistreated them and or you have trespassed on their territory. During adolescence, they may also be aggressive and bite you.

When you think of pigeons the first thing you may think of is those tiny creatures that fill the city sky and act as living decorative pieces in parks. These birds are just another addition to our urban and rural landscape.

Unfortunately, they can carry diseases and their poop can damage masonry and can also make us ill. But do pigeons attack humans? This is the question that many ask. Well, whether you’re a bird lover, vet or just curious this article will give you more clarity.

Why do pigeons attack humans?

Generally, pigeons don’t attack humans. These animals, just as many other wild birds, are scared of humans. When they can, they will keep to themselves and avoid confrontations with humans. That being said there are a couple of reasons why a pigeon may attack a human.

One of the reasons why a pigeon may attack you is that the pigeon is used to being fed by humans and becomes entitled to food. If you deny a pigeon like this food or do not give it food at the quantity or speed its used to then it can attack you. Pigeon groups can also gang up and attack people especially young and small children.

Domestic pigeons are generally sweet, easy to tame and loving birds. They enjoy being around humans and generally don’t attack but there are some instances where a pigeon will attack a human and the reason behind this many have nothing to do with you. If you’ve adopted an older pigeon and it was mistreated and abused by its previous owners then the bird may be aggressive to you and other people and animals.

During adolescence, a bird may also become aggressive and attack you or other people around you. This happens because the changes in their hormones make them less stable. Thankfully once the bird is passed this stage it will calm down again.

If the pigeon is trying to protect something like its eggs, young babies, claimed territory, its food or its birdcage then it will become aggressive and attack if it sees fit. Pigeons are territorial and take the task of protecting their territory very seriously and will even attack animals much larger than themselves.

It is said that bird attacks are on the rise because humans are encroaching on bird habitats more and more. This results in pigeons and humans being forced to interact more and thus pigeons getting used to humans and getting more comfortable with attacking when necessary.

Can a pigeon bite your finger off?

Pigeons don’t bite humans and will not bite your finger off. There aren’t many birds that can bite hard enough to break your finger off and a pigeon is not one of them. One bird that could bite a child’s finger off is an extremely angry cockatoo.

If you’re feeding a pigeon it may peck at your hand or finger and even bite but it certainly won’t be able to bite your finger off. In addition, pigeons are not prey birds, they aren’t built to have the strength to bite a finger off, the most they will do is swat you with their wings or peck at you.

Summary

In summary, pigeons are generally sweet and shy animals, they won’t attack you unprovoked. On the off chance that a pigeon attacks you the reason behind the attack can be because it’s used to being fed by humans and no longer fears us and is now entitled to food, because it has been mistreated by its previous owners, because it is an adolescent and is going through hormonal changes or because you are trespassing on its territory. If a pigeon does attack you it will not bite your finger off.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other pigeon related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: What do pigeons eat in summer? How do pigeons lay eggs? Why do pigeons make noise when they fly? What do carrier pigeons eat? How do pigeons communicate? What do pigeons do for the environment?