More urbanization results in more animals living among us, this includes pigeons. These birds have some pretty weird habits like flying in circles. So why do pigeons fly in circles?
Pigeons fly in circles to better navigate. These birds have a great sense of smell which they use to navigate. They fly in circles to locate the smell that reminds them of home. They could also be flying in a thermal, these help them look for food and conserve energy when flying.
Pigeons can be weird sometimes. The fact that these birds live close to humans, gives us the privilege to study and learn about their many animal behaviours.
You may have seen a flock of pigeons fly in circles and wonder what’s going on. Well, you are not alone. A lot of humans with an interest in birds have also been baffled by this.
The good news is, thanks to countless scientific research and studies, the reason for this bird phenomenon has been cracked.
This article carefully explains why pigeons and a few other birds fly in circles. We hope it answers your questions.
Table of Contents
Why do pigeons fly in circles?
- Pigeons fly in circles to find their way around. These birds are gifted with a strong and acute sense of smell. We humans use our eyes to find our way home, pigeons use their sense of smell to locate their destination.
2. Flying in circles allows pigeons to sense the earth’s magnetic field. They use this to find their way home.
3. Another possible reason why pigeons fly in circles is to discourage raptors from preying on them. Pigeons live in the same environment as crows and peregrine hawks, and they sometimes fall prey to these birds.
4. When a flock of pigeons senses danger from one of these birds, they are likely to leave their area of rest and fly in circles till the threat passes.
Why are hawks circling my house?
Hawks are territorial birds and do not flock together as pigeons do. A hawk prefers to fly alone, but won’t mind joining other hawks in a thermal. The need to take advantage of thermals in their search for food is what makes the birds fly in circles. A group of flying hawks is called a kettle.
Thermals are columns of rising warm air currents. These air currents usually form over grassy areas and fields. Since the warm air is continuously on the rise, hawks don’t have to flap their wings, they can just glide in circles. This helps them conserve energy.
If you’ve seen hawks circling your house, it’s only because they have found a thermal around that area and are searching for food. When one hawk finds a rising warm air current just over your house, other hawks soon join in. So it’s really nothing to be bothered about.
Why are crows circling my house?
Crows, like hawks and pigeons, can also be seen flying in circles. And you might wonder why that is.
Crows have lived in our cities and rural areas for countless years. These birds are carnivorous and mainly prey on small animals and birds.
As in the case of hawks, crows also enjoy riding thermals. This rising warm air current allows them to rest their wings and fly higher than they would be able to on their own.
The thing with thermals is that it carries the birds in circles, so it’s not strange that birds of prey riding thermals keep going round and round.
You may have seen a murder of crows circling your house, but it’s nothing serious. The birds are just using the warm air current around your home to search for potential food.
Why do pigeons gather on roofs?
Pigeons like to stay in elevated places. There are very few trees in cities, so the pigeons staying in urban areas have no choice but to gather on roofs. Below are some other reasons why you might spot pigeons gathered on a roof.
Closeness to food source: Pigeons will only choose a particular roof if it’s close to their source of food. By gathering on such places, they are able to see when food is made available for them.
Buildings close to a restaurant, bakery, convenience store or garden, will have a flock of pigeons gathering on their roof regularly.
Living in the attic: A house that has pigeons nesting in the attic will always have a couple of birds gathering on its roof. Pigeons nesting in one’s attic can be bad for the individual, as the droppings of these birds contain harmful bacteria and are highly corrosive.
Do pigeons attack humans?
Pigeons aren’t the type to go around attacking humans. The only time a pigeon may attack a human is when humans try to tamper with their eggs or nestlings. A pigeon will defend its nest by pecking and slapping you with its wings. Pigeons never use their claws to attack so they’re unable to inflict serious injuries on humans.
How do you get rid of pigeons for good?
If you’re not comfortable with pigeons making your roof or any part of your building their home, you can always get rid of them by:
Use anti-roosting spike stripes: You can have anti-roost spike strips installed on your roof or anywhere you want to permanently remove pigeons.
Putting strings in roosting areas: Tie the strings around the area where the birds gather. It should be 1 inch above the surface they perch. Doing this will make the birds lose their balance and discourage them from coming around.
Use sloped sheathing: Pigeons like nesting on flat surfaces. When a surface is slippery and slanting, the birds can’t nest in that location. They will have to look elsewhere.
Conclusion
Pigeons fly in circles, and for good reasons. Their sense of smell helps them perceive the odours in the air as they fly – with this information, they can navigate properly.
So, next time you see a flock of pigeons, hawks, or crows fly in circles, know that they aren’t trying to launch a strategic attack on you or your city. These poor creatures are either trying to find their way home or riding the thermals in search of food.
If you’re interested in pigeons you may also be interested in these articles: Why do pigeons make noise? How do pigeons feed their babies? How do pigeons sleep? How do pigeons see? How do pigeons know where to deliver messages? Click the links to read more.