From Royalty to Rats With Wings: The History of the Pigeon and How They Became the Most Hated Birds

There may be no bird that inspires so much disdain as the humble pigeon. They are a common presence in cities across the globe and have established populations on all continents but Antarctica. Over the past century, pigeons have become almost synonymous with urban living. They are called dirty, spreaders of disease, and often are dubbed “rats with wings.” However, this was not always the case. In this video, you learn how Rock Pigeons/Doves became the most hated birds in America even with a reputation of royalty and religious presence. I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful day! :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's the original article I cited this information from: www.storagetwo.com/blog/2017/4...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KZbin videos (in order of appearance) used in the production of this video:
- Pigeons / Due to Corona Virus /New York City Enjoying Empty Sidewalk: • Pigeons / Due to Coron...
- Pigeons: Underrated And Smarter Than You Think: • Pigeons: Underrated An...
- The Nest and Life of a Pigeon | Amazing Time-Lapse: • The Nest and Life of a...
- Anthony Bourdain eating feral pigeon in Cairo, Eqypt: • Anthony Bourdain eatin...
- House Sparrow Invasion! Ground Feeder overwhelmed with non-native birds.: • House Sparrow Invasion...
- Why are House Sparrows an Invasive Species Where Introduced 2018: • Why are House Sparrows...
- 1911 - A Trip Through New York City (speed corrected w/ added sound): • Video
- Office Hours with Associate Professor Colin Jerolmack: • Office Hours with Asso...
- Feeding thousands of Pigeons: • Feeding thousands of P...
- Stardust memories (The killer pigeon scene) Woody Allen 1980: • Stardust memories (The...
Thank you to all the creators for these amazing videos!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Music: Opportunity Walks Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thumbnails and Backgrounds: snappa.com

[@nourahbinshember2147]

So it's a human problem, they brought the sparrow bird and they brought the pigeons and now everyone is complaining about them

[@zeliph]

So apparently owning a Pigeon means that you're royalty. That means I'm royal, because I own a pigeon! :) He's fluffy and cute!

[@quote_nature]

Great research on the history of pigeons with wonderful illustrations! It's true here in New York City that they can be called rats with wings but the population is extremely large and when they congregate on lamp posts and other overhead structures...well, it is a mess. They are beautiful in their variety, intelligence and somehow their nests are nearly impossible to see. I admire their urban spunk! (like the House Sparrows). Thanks for the great film! Best regards, Cathy

[@J_Birds]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you find it adequate being that you live in such a case haha. I see, do they congregate like that to get food or just to rest in large numbers? I definitely agree, they are underrated and deserve more praise. Haha, that's awesome. I'm live in the suburbs so I get to see the house sparrows too. It's my pleasure, thanks for all your kind words, Cathy :)

[@quote_nature]

I think they flock together for communication + safety. They are under appreciated, glad you made your film!

[@pilotmike7569]

Great video, sad story😢 Fortunately, in the US there are a lot of wonderful people who support these birds in cities by providing them with good food (not bread), veterinary care, destringing their feet and other assistance (please see Pigeon Extremist channel for some pigeon rescue videos). In some cities in Europe there are pigeon towers where pigeons can nest but vets and licensed volunteers replace some of their eggs by false ones, they keep the tower clean and they provide valuable pigeon food for the birds (good food=less mess, because bad food causes diseases in pigeons and hence diarrhoea). 2:32 - it's a Tree Sparrow, not a House Sparrow - but they dine out and flock together, occacionally they mate together too!😜🐦 1:02 - isn't that the poor, long-lost Passenger Pigeon - once the most numerous species, now totally extinct since 1914 whem Martha, the last representative of the species, died?😞 0:16 - Rudolf!!!😊🐦💨💕💞💕 I really appreciate your hard work and the research you made!😊🐦

[@J_Birds]

I know and I'm so sorry this is the case here in America :( I kept thinking about you when making this video and I feel so bad. That is so true. Although they are in the minority, there are good people that support them and I wish more did. But unfortunately, their large number create a mess sometimes and people only see the bad. It's nice to see that Europeans are taking measures to help them. And nice catch! I just had to put some footage in and since the tree sparrow looked so similar I didn't think anyone would notice.. but you are sharp haha Yes that is indeed the passenger pigeon... I couldn't find much images of pigeons in the 1600s and they were the only ones that popped up. It is so sad what happened to them and I wish they could come back Haha yes, and it is my pleasure! I'm glad you found it adequate being that you are the pigeon master haha :D

[@pilotmike7569]

@@J_Birds Thank you so much for your kind words!😀 Me = "pigeon master"😂😂😂 I'm flattered!😝 You really did a great job!🏆 Unfortunately in Europe pigeons are not very much liked birds either, but luckily e.g. in Poland they're protected by law, just as any other bird species - and so are their nests. The bad thing is that people treat feeding pigeons in old town squares as a tourist attraction - tourists come in hoards, give them tons of bread, pigeons are overfed with bad food, breed like crazy, pass on the bad food with salt in their crop milk onto their babies and the babies are in poor condition from the start. And then cold weather or pandemics occur, people stop coming and the pigeons die from starvation. So pigeon organizations such as Gruszętnik employ volunteers who come to Kraków Old Town market square (especially known for gazillions of pigeons) in the cold part of the year and hive proper food to the pigeons. Pigeons recognize those volunteers and show them their gratitude and affection!😊🕊️ m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2499060173733967&id=1739714629668529&set=pb.1739714629668529.-2207520000..&locale2=pl_PL&refid=13&__tn__=%2B%3D

[@tessdevera2398]

😢❤

[@pnumenwiese]

Our feathered couple at our balcony will have two little ones soon. I cannot wait! I indeed checked the eggs with light. All fine. Me and my son feed them twice a day. It's interesting to watch them take turn at the eggs. He scares enimies away while she is eating. They know us well and didn't fly away. I am so excited for the babies. Doves and pigeons are smarter than some humans.. 🕊️

[@clouds-h5549]

The reason pigeonss are dirty it's because they are living in OUR SITYS We are the resin they may be dirty, so when people are insulting pigeon they are just calling themselves dirty and discussing, it reflects on humans not them.

[@alexandrapatricio2727]

You are wrong, long before being our cities , it was their habitats, we are the intruders not them. And if you think the cities are ours think again, they aren´t, they must be shared with cats and dogs all birds wich include piegeons, rabbits squirls and many others. But you are right in everything else.

[@mart4144]

Great video! There rlly arent any videos on this subject that I found other than this one.

[@manubanuchi]

Great video! We really enjoyed watching this during our lunch break at work. Keep up the good work! 🙏🏼

[@J_Birds]

Thanks for finding the time to watch my video! I'm glad you enjoyed :) Good luck getting through the rest of work!!

[@suztube9458]

Very nicely done, as always! Thank you!

[@J_Birds]

Thanks again! You are too kind and I really appreciate you :)

[@GoTrails]

Nice video ...Thanks for sharing it!

[@J_Birds]

Thank you too!

[@alisafrey6459]

I love pigeons, they deserve so much respect

[@youtubesucks3811]

J bird, you got a sub. I’m not a bird guy but you love this stuff and you’re working for it. I appreciate that. Keep working. You will nail it. I would recommend hitting up zoo tier, he would help you out and he doesn’t really go with birds

[@spicekitchensupport8743]

Thank you for sharing this awesome video 👌

[@J_Birds]

It's my pleasure! It makes me so happy knowing you think it's awesome :) Have a good one!

[@vihaan3762]

Fabulous historical informative share , beautiful presentation ,lovely footage

[@J_Birds]

Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Bird Vlog, thanks for sharing

[@J_Birds]

Thanks for watching

[@KVsPlantsOrchids]

Thanks for sharing this detailed video about pigeons. Very informative sharing

[@J_Birds]

It's my pleasure! Thank you so much for watching :)

[@FeathersinWild]

Lovely footage and info my friend. like it.

[@J_Birds]

Thank you so so much :)

[@HIGHLIFEMotivation]

WOW. Thanks so much for this incredible video. Watched in full with great pleasure 👍👍👍 Have a wonderful week ahead 🌞🌈👍

[@J_Birds]

It's my pleasure! You saying that means so much to me, I'm glad you enjoyed it! You have a wonderful week too and take care!

Nice video. Very good work.

[@J_Birds]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@sherwinbtv]

Salute to your doing this very interesting documentary.. your efforts should be rewarded with more views and subscribers

[@J_Birds]

Thanks a lot 😊 I wouldn't consider it good enough to be a documentary but I really appreciate you saying that haha. You are too kind and I can definitely say the same about you!

[@HikeToWildlife]

Amazing creative work. Enjoyed and liked. I could never understand why sparrows and pigeons were/are hated or despised.

[@J_Birds]

Thank you! I'm glad you were able to learn from this video. Have a good one!

[@SeniorHiker77]

Great information.thanks

[@J_Birds]

Thank you so so much :)

[@khangarbirds471]

So sweet to watch. Thanks for sharing. +5

[@J_Birds]

Thank you very much!

[@luiguiluigui6913]

I adore pigeons 💕💕💕💕💕💕

[@oneminutebirding]

That's a great research and thank you for making this informative video and I love your narration... Great footage... And in ancient times, Pigeons were used as messengers and even today there's a sport called pigeon racing which is so famous in some parts of India...

[@J_Birds]

Thank you so much for your kind words, I'm glad you enjoyed :) That's so interesting! Here in the US, they were also used as messengers in war times in the 1900s. I've heard of that sport before but didn't know it was in India! Thanks for letting me know, that is so cool

[@artmeoww2393]

thank you for sharing such inspiration!! I love your videos specially when you talk about these beautiful birds 🐱 meow friend here

[@J_Birds]

Hello my meow friend! Thank you so much for saying that, you are too kind! I really appreciate your love and support :) I hope you have a nice rest of your weekend and take care!

[@artmeoww2393]

@@J_Birds you are welcome.. ♥️

[@JenniferLupine]

Great video - very well put together - thanks! Lots of interesting info. Why do you suppose there are so many that flock up together? Good food sources? Another bird like that in our area is the Canada Goose, they hang out in parks and I think their poops get all over the place. Thanks for the video! 👏👏👏 👍25

[@J_Birds]

Hey Jen!! Thank you so much, it was my pleasure. I had a lot of fun making this one. If I were to guess, it would be because they thrive in their urban environments and predators are less accessible to them. Plus humans are able to provide a lot of food. Oh that's so true! There are so many of them grouped up in areas as well. Thank you and have a good one :)

[@Megaherpawati]

Thank for information of the pigeon

[@J_Birds]

Most welcome

[@FOXYCompilation]

Thank you for this amazing presentation. 👍👍👍 You made it incredibly ineteresting.👍👍👍 Liked and subscribed for more 💖👍

[@J_Birds]

It's my pleasure! Thank you so much for watching and showing your support by subbing. I really appreciate you and I hope you enjoy your stay :)

[@donroy7825]

Thanks for this thoughtful, well researched look at the Rock Dove, pigeon; its history and peoples attitudes !! Do you think they are more reviled in the States than elsewhere ? I think their is a very wide range of opinions in the U.K. and Europe. “Pigeon Fanciers”, is a thing here, where people maintain pigeon lofts of “homing/racing pigeons”, and regularly take part in the sport of pigeon racing, National and international !! This used to be a predominantly working class activity, it is now less common but more widely respected and organised. During World War l & ll carrier pigeons took messages across the battlefields and were awarded Military Medals for their bravery !! In U.K. City centres some people delight in have their photograph taken surrounded, as they feed the flocks of pigeons. Young children like to run and chase the City flocks. In the suburban district, where I live, a Rock Dove Pigeon is very rarely seen, we do have resident Wood Pigeons. I suspect that seagulls are the least popular birds in an urban setting here in the U.K. Thanks again for this great video 😊. Cheers, Don 👋

[@J_Birds]

It's my pleasure! I had a lot of fun researching this topic haha. I definitely think they are more reviled here in the states, but for the most part, I think people are ok with them but just don't wish to be around them. It's either they are looked down upon or looked over in general. That's so cool! I don't think that's as big of a sport here but I could be wrong. I've never heard of it until researching this video so maybe there are those in the US who like them too! Yes, carrier pigeons are so fascinating to look back upon and it's crazy to think they went from war heroes to what they are considered now. I see I see, people here like to see the pigeons in huge numbers too and are okay with feeding them! But it's whenever they do nasty things like eat food off the ground where people are grossed out about them. Wood Pigeons are super cool and I wish I could see them! I think we may have them here in the states but only in certain areas. Wow, it's interesting that it's the seagull for y'all. The seagull is probably the second one for us to be honest haha. You're welcome, thank you for your amazing comment and have a good one, Don :)

[@redpillproductionscanada5563]

I've been living in an area where the pigeons are getting a disease which spins there head backwards and I believe they starve and dehydrate to death, it's very sad, I've tried to save them but the end result is all the same, even with proper feeding and hydration they just seem to last longer but they still die, if anyone has any information about this or can point me in the right direction please do, I would love to save atleast one of these guys this year instead of watching many slowly die. On a sidenote I know atleast me and Mike Tyson still love pigeons, that's a start...

[@J_Birds]

Oh no that's so terrible to hear!! I'm so sorry if you or any others around you had to witness that. You have such good in your heart for trying to save them but it is so unfortunate that it was to no avail. I wish I had some advise on what to do but I simply just don't know enough :( I wish them all the best however and hope that disease goes away somehow. I applaud your efforts, and hey I like pigeons too!!

[@XiELEd4377]

Paramyxovirus?

[@XiELEd4377]

Paramyxovirus is very deadly and contagious with chickens and pigeons. Best you can do is vaccinate them before they get hit by it.

[@alexandrapatricio2727]

I am so sorry for the piegeons, i can imagine your afflition. Hope you will get some luck and the disease stops.

[@ex.9ml]

Amazing

[@J_Birds]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@rainsoundsalliarti]

Hello my new friend, good job. Keep going like this, thanks for you sharing my friend. Stay connected, greetings :)

[@J_Birds]

Hi there! Thank you so much for saying that my new friend. You are very kind and I'll make sure to stay connected :D

[@NatureStories]

So true

[@goldisgallery2912]

Wow !! Great video again 👍🏻👍🏻 your videos reminds me of a Fiction titled " Pigeon Feathers" by John Updike These are the lines."His grandmother asks him to kill the pigeons in the barn. As he shoots them, he has the sensations of a creator. As he buries the birds he sees their beauty & is robed in this certainty: "that the God who had lavished such craft upon these worthless birds would not destroy His whole Creation by refusing to let David live forever" thanks for this amazing video.

[@J_Birds]

Aw you are too kind my friend :)) Wow... such powerful words. Thank you so much for sharing that, that is a powerful text and I've definitely have to give that one a read! I'm glad I was able to remind you of that and I am glad you shared that with me. Have a good one!

[@scandinaviannaturediaries8892]

Great video 👍 I don’t think about pigeons like that, but I guess they can be a nuisance in cities. No reason to hate any bird or animal though in my opinion 😊

[@J_Birds]

Thanks! I'm glad you saw them in a new light. This is the general view of pigeons here in America. Amen to that! All animals are special in their own way and deserve to live :)

[@Krachbumm-Ente]

But are pigeons "dirty" or unhygenic? Could you safely pet a common pigeon in the park for example (provided it lets you)?

[@mattmatty4670]

Cool thanks mate

[@thuyfamilycuocsongophap]

Wow rất nhiều chim bồ thanks like

[@Fortheloveofbirds2020]

Pigeons are the cause of quite a few accidents on roads, no wonder they are called pests. Great video, once again from you.

[@J_Birds]

So very true, I wish they weren't in such a light but they can troublesome with their large numbers. Thanks for your kind words as always my friend

[@alexandrapatricio2727]

People driiving fast are the cause of some accidents not piegeons fault.

[@MyPersonalCoachingClub]

Nice history, pigeons are still cool !

[@J_Birds]

Yes they are! I wish they weren't as looked down upon here in the US. Their history is so rich and some people only see the bad

[@that1corvid]

I still love pigeons, I feed them pellets

[@ryandowling1045]

i like to buy a bag of sunflower seeds and watch them all clean it up in like 10 seconds, they are natural street sweepers

[@olivia.a7730]

humans are the real rats who kill the whole earth. They wish they were as beautifull as this pigeons. they cant transfer illnes on humans by the way. People have to stop killing abusing and starving this beautifull souls. Shame on humanity.

[@jpalberthoward9]

Where I live, they will fine you thousands of dollars and put you in jail if you feed them, but if you want to kill them, they will give you bags of POISON birdseed and even send a truck to pick up the dead ones. My heart is filling up with hatred for this rotten world and the murdering, money grubbing, bloodthirsty, narcissistic egomaniac nitwits who run it. There are still a few good people out there, but humans are degenerating into turds with arms and legs.

[@scottdow5171]

Nice video. However - I should point out that the pigeons you showed numerous images of with orange bellies are passenger pigeons. A completely different and currently extinct wild species.

[@raphlvlogs271]

pigeons often live in old or abandoned buildings or bridges.

[@bucksauvageau]

💜

[@coldcoffee4879]

I love pigeons they are not hostile

[@benben8054]

I thought house sparrows was just baby pigeons ?

[@123four...]

#pigeon gang

[@kuyaedwinschannel]

A young Pigeon is a medicine for low blood pressure cook it grilled. Thank for information about pigeon. New friend here

[@J_Birds]

That's so cool! Are these pigeons raised on some sort of farm or at least domesticated? Or can they be feral too? Thank you for your information too! And you have a new friend here as well :)

[@XiELEd4377]

@@J_Birds I think it's called a squab? I'm not sure how they're prepared, though.

[@Buionpo]

How are pigeons rats with wings when BATS are right there

[@fortheEmpire666]

Why not just eat them?

[@fade6215]

Who just came from TikTok