Pigeons: Underrated And Smarter Than You Think

Pigeons are amazing and get undeserved spite. Join me in celebrating pigeons and giving them the love they deserve!
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[@faribakhan6744]

Pigeons don’t have bad reputations where i’m from.. most households have a huge flock of pet pigeons whom they let freefly every afternoon.. sometimes pigeons bring gf/bf from other’s flock lol. Also there’s a myth “if wild pigeons make their home in your house somewhere maybe under the ceiling or in some sort of hole, they bring good luck to the house” sorry my english is bad.. and i’m from Bangladesh if anyone’s curious

[@kimbookish]

Your English is very good! I think that pigeons have a bad reputation in the USA because the huge flocks in the city poo on everything, but I'm glad to hear that's not the case in Bangladesh. Thanks for the information!

[@shannoneustice3085]

Your English is better than most Americans’. And now I want to move to Bangladesh.

[@Shenron557]

I'm from India, and this video is the first time I've heard that pigeons have a bad reputation. There are pigeons in my city too, but people let them be and don't complain about them. That said, one can often hear people complaining (and shoo-ing them away) when crows come and perch on the cloths line when there are clothes on it, fearing that the crows will poop on the freshly laundered clothes 🤣.

[@scrubjay93]

More people used to keep pigeons in the US in the past, but keeping pigeons is very popular in the Middle East--and now I see from Bangladesh too :) I have had a flock in the past and hope to get another flock sometime. It's lovely to let them out in the morning and watch them fly up in circles.

[@galaxydriftermark007]

Well we Indians also have the same belief..

[@Indiegayass4666]

People make fun of me for how much i love pigeons. They are so freakin cute and smart. I go to parks and hang out with them a lot❤️

[@madhatt3r93]

Wholesome and good

[@Kyenta]

Lucky :) mainly get geese and ducks where I currently live

[@iciajay6891]

My fav bird. I generally bond with ppl over them. Iive in Northern Ontario Canada. They stay year round even in such cold weather.

[@kristieroybal4888]

ME TOO! 🙂

[@TweetyTwT]

I love pigeons too, nothing wrong in loving them or any animals in that matter! I really like to feed pigeons and see them around 😊 Some big ones comes to my balcony everyday to get some seeds

[@wwaxwork]

We rescued a pigeon that had fallen in a river, we took him home to dry out & he decided he was in love with one of our bantam fluffy chickens & never left. He just moved into the chicken coop of his own free will. When she got broody, he built a nest of sticks for her & would sit next to her softly cooing & singing to her as she sat on her eggs. When the chicks hatched he was the proudest father ever, but as they'd left the nest he thought they could fly like him so he'd keep trying to get them to fly up to join him in a tree. Through all this the bantam hen just stoically carried on with the grim determination & focus that I didn't even know chickens had. The babies finally grew up and every night he was in the coop, roosting next to his beloved, singing to her as she glared straight ahead ignoring him. It was the most epic but one sided love story in history.

[@ivanwesteurope]

wwaxwork, that is amazing, thank you for recsuing that pigeon.

[@thadonis.]

all she wanted was some good cockerel.

[@adrianomaly1760]

This was a beautiful story

[@incanusolorin2607]

Pigeons mate for life, so he will probably hang around for a long time haha

[@AlPootis]

Big thanks for rescuing him!

[@xxxnenechanxxx]

2 years ago,When I turned 21, I got my major Mitchell's cockatoo, belle. She had previous trauma from being in her original home despite being only 4 months old. She was anxious, a screamer, and wouldn't let me touch her for well over a year. At the time I was also affected by domestic violence within my immediate family. One day I was hiding in my room when the main source of this violence walked in. I had scooped up my 2 little dogs at the time and was trying to hide them under the bed. Belle undid her cage door an attacked him. And then rested on my head. From that day on I was able to work towards our now inseparable bond we have now. And we are now free of that situation. She changed my world. She will be my life long partner, she's been through thick and thin with me and I love her with every ounce of my being. 💕

[@tom-ss2mn]

I love how animals are there for you when no one else is. Their love is unconditional

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Wow! What a spectacular bird! In appearance and in character!

[@samhaines8228]

@@sandrastreifel6452 so true

[@dodosquidbreath5307]

That’s amazing!!!!

[@adrianomaly1760]

Glad you got out of that situation and that your bond with your bird grew

[@HexIsme]

Pigeons are incredibly goofy looking, but living on the 6th floor of a 12 story building next to a parking garage that goes up 5 levels (with a much taller elevator shaft) has given me the opportunity to observe them that I never got living on the ground floor of anywhere. It's actually pretty funny how human-like they are. I've seen the males go 'dancing' (Twirling) up to a female just for her to straight up NOPE out of there...and then the guy un-puffs and just looks around like he blacked out and has no idea what happened. I've also seen bonded pairs 'making out' (Billing I think it's called? I'm no bird expert), only for a jealous single to rush at them and chase them off. I've also seen a male dance at another male, only for the other male to dance back, and then they just stare at each other blankly like "Oh." and eventually wander away.

[@Kyenta]

😂 sounds like a fun sight to witness

[@HexIsme]

@@Kyenta They are quite entertaining. I will also never forget the time I heard a hawk scream in anger. We get redtail hawks around here, and they tend to hole up in the big redwood trees adjacent to the parking garage and stalk the pigeons from there. The problem comes with that there are a decent amount of crow nests only a few yards away from those redwoods.... and the crows will straight up mob a hawk. I've seen the crows go from a single crow to at least 20 crows all harassing one hawk (It was actually REALLY impressive to watch all these crows come flying in from all corners of the sky to join in, like, wow!). Eventually, the crows either chase off the hawk or the hawk out-waits them. This one time, the hawk had out-waited the majority of the crows, but there was this _one_ crow that had decided to harass the hawk from the branch just a couple inches above the hawks head. It was really going at this hawk, always stopping just short of outright attacking it (They're roughly the same size, and crows can get quite big!). After a few minutes of this one crow getting in its face, the hawk lets out this loud and _obviously really pissed off_ scream and makes a dive for the crow, who gets away safely. The hawk left after that. But, man. I'd never heard a bird get _angry,_ before! I always thought of hawks as being so cool and calm and dignified. xD

[@michellehasty1038]

@Jaded and Empty thanks for sharing these stories!

[@_mortiam]

Another fact: Mating in public is very inappropriate, even in pigeons. I once saw a group of pigeons sitting on the ground, two of them 'billing' (if that's the right term) They got quite busy with each other, but the very moment he began to sit on top of her, all the pigeons around them came running at them! That was fascinating to witness.

[@Tekker2234]

@@_mortiam wait what

[@NuttyRedBaBonkerz]

I have Asperger's and one of my special interests is birds, specifically parrots, water fowl, and pigeons! I always carry birdseed with me everywhere. I absolutely love this video!

[@Conifer_kestrel]

Same 😦 omg I've never related so strongly!!!

[@DaybirdAviaries]

My 14 yo son has Asperger's. He loves all our birds.

[@YujiUedaFan]

I went to a farm today, petted some emus and fed some chickens. Birds are great!

[@randompastacat8452]

I carry birdseed with me too! I feel too guilty if I see birds but don't have any food for them. I mainly feed pigeons and ducks. sometimes the pigeons run up to me when they see me now.

[@victoriasalter1701]

NuttyRedBaBonkerz I’m Autistic, too. And I love pigeons...

[@MaraK_dialmformara]

this reminds me of an old Sesame Street sketch: Bert is teaching his pigeon Bernice to play checkers. Ernie thinks this is ridiculous. Bert says "Yeah, it's not going very well. We've played eleven games and she's only beaten me twice."

[@padrehousecat]

Yes it was classic Bert. I loved Sesame Street when I was a kid. Cookie Monster was my favorite

[@exavian6]

I didn't realize pigeons could pass the mirror test! I was just talking about animals that can pass it with my friend at lunch today. I'll have to let my friend know!

[@evimin5326]

@Joel W Hha

[@ThatCrazyPigeonGuy]

They can also play ping pong! Or at least a version that is adapted to their physical limitations.

[@sudhir911]

What is mirror test? Thank you

[@ThatCrazyPigeonGuy]

@@sudhir911 It tests to see if they can recognise their own reflection. This is actually quite rare in animals and was once thought to be exclusive to great apes and humans.

[@durandjensen5929]

Back in 2001, I rescued my first pigeon. I fell in love with him -- he was the whole world to me, and went everywhere with me. I wouldn't take a job unless they let him come with me (he wore an avian flight suit, and came with his own perch set up). He'd sit quietly while I worked, go to lunch with me, excitedly travel home with me. He loved going to the coffee kiosks, sneaking into Walmart, going into PetsMart, waiting in the car for me to bring back treats. We went on vacations together, and I 'd sneak him into the motel rooms. I could go on and on. One day, he became ill. He had Pigeon Herpes Virus, which usually goes into their nervous system, and they begin head bobbing and rolling around. However, with long-term supportive care, they'll come around. But that's not what happened to my friend. Instead, the PHV went into his liver, and was fatal. WE did *everything* we could, but my vet just couldn't save him. He died January 25, 2006 at 4pm in my arms. He suddenly stirred, and he looked into my eyes. I could see him say, "Oh! I love you! Goodbye!" and he was gone. My life has NEVER been the same since I lost him. My heart is still broken to this day. And in all the intervening years, *not one day* -- *NOT ONE DAY* -- has passed that I haven't thought of him. And sometimes, I still cry. I'm crying now as I write this. I now rescue pigeons in NW Montana. One day I asked my vet if there were any others around the area that rescued pigeons. She looked me dead in the eye and said, "Nope. You're it." If the people who bring the sick and injured pigeons to the vet can't keep them, and if I won't take them, the veterinarians aren't legally allowed to keep and care for them -- they must be euthanized, even if all they need is a little medicine and time. Thus, I NEVER say "No!" I have a LOT of pigeons. I love each and every one. I know its what Hootie would want. And I think Jesus approves; after all, He sends them to me!

[@wolfwaya]

Though not a pigeon, I remember back when I was in my early teens i found a sparrow stuck head first in where a gutter used to lead into a drain. I gently pulled the bird out of the drain and set it on a nearby shrub. a few minutes later the sparrow flew to me when I was on the porch and landed on my hand which i later lifted for it to fly off. IMHO all animals are more intelligent than they are given credit for, and we often compare them to our intelligence instead of other animals that share a similar nitch and social structure.

[@TrishAnderson_NM]

That little sparrow knew you saved it 🤗

[@pigeonlove]

I highly doubt the bird was ok and if the grill was not fixed it would happen again. A better thing to do would be to treat it for shock, ie put it in a dark box, offer it a drink of a cup of water with tiny amounts of sugar and salt, and offer it food to see it through the night. Often they are too weak from the panic and calories burned up to survive. Their heart rate is naturally very high and cannot tolerate higher rates without organ failure and shock. Also, a concussion can result in issues with its eyesight as their eyes are more connected to the brain than ours, that is a death sentence. It may have flown back to you because it could not see properly. Sorry but outside of Disney, a wild sparrow never flies to an unknown human to say thanks.

[@hunterG60k]

Rats are the ones that changed my life. My first pet was a hamster who, unsurprisingly, was not a fan of people. After that I started reading about rats and decided that they were for me. I begged and pleaded with my parents for so long and then eventually got my first pair for my 12th birthday. I kept them for years after that, they're just the most fantastic little creatures. They're so kind, intelligent, entertaining and determined, I love everything about them, except their life spans. I couldn't bare losing the incredible bond I made with each of them after just 2 or 3 years. They're still my all time favourite animal though

[@scrubjay93]

I have had many rats too, most of them from shelters or rescues here in the Pacific NW. They are so affectionate and intelligent and it is hard when you bond with smart little ratties that only get sweeter with age because of their short life. You also need a good rat vet just like having a bird or other animal.

[@tonybates9107]

I got my spawn a rat and agree, they are amazing creatures

[@bratbabyp9370]

Trump closing down ped0 rings arouNd the woRld

[@tonybates9107]

@@bratbabyp9370 what's the relevance to this video!

[@victoriasalter1701]

Laura McKinlay I love rats 🐀, too. Rats 🐀 are cute. They’re my third favourite animals (after dogs and pigeons)...

[@hajarmdn4883]

That baby is just so cute. I love how she is communicating with you and obviously loves you and enjoys being near you.

[@YujiUedaFan]

When I walk around town, sometimes I hear baby pigeons. People say they can't find them but all you have to do is listen out for them and look up.

[@claraalebrook5335]

You wouldn't think they are cute at two weeks of age.. But I do.. Lol

[@samvimes9510]

I love pigeons, but then again, I just love birds in general.

[@HelenaMikas]

same here...

[@saturnVrocket]

I have a pet bugie

[@lisabm18]

I feel this way about chickens! I raised a small flock last spring and it was SO much fun. Each and every one of their personalities was so sweet and rewarding and it was incredible to watch their social structure. They also enjoyed spending time with me almost like my dog and cat. I loved hand feeding them and even had a few that would come and perch up on my shoulder. I especially enjoyed our rooster. He could have his fits here and there but he loved his ladies and it was awesome to watch them look to him for direction and comfort. Chickens are one of the most cruelly treated species and it’s such a bummer because they are incredibly smart!

[@N_0968]

I like pigeons. I find it so sad when people are mean to them. I even think that sewer rats are cute so there’s no way I’d hate a creature just from having a bad reputation.

[@tanatribe]

FairyHedgehog rats and pigeons are survivors, like humans,

[@Oscar4u69]

same ;w; I like almost every animal that I know (except for flies, mosquitoes and other parasites)

[@evimin5326]

Right..

[@evimin5326]

@@Oscar4u69 Me too

[@N_0968]

@rodrigo m @Evi Min Yes, me too. I’m scared of snakes and big spiders but I don’t want any evil to them either. Animals are sweet and innocent. They don’t do harm on purpose.

[@Faroresama]

This video means a lot to me as someone who kept a rescue pigeon for 4.5 years. She was an escaped domestic who happened to run into a window and was taken to my city's shelter, where I adopted her. She had such an energetic but sweet personality and kept me going through some rough patches. I agree that their amazing traits are worth celebrating, but the most important thing to me about pigeons is just their heart and friendliness.

[@pigeonlove]

Keeping any bird alone is just selfish 😉

[@SociallyDistantnow]

Just thinking about that character, Pigeon Man, from “Hey, Arnold!” He was on to something.

[@AH-nz3gm]

He was a really sensitive and kind soul!

[@peterwyman5837]

Completely forgot about hey Arnold !!.hahaha!...thanks

[@melissameadows4503]

When I was a teenager in high school, I got the chance to volunteer for a wolf sanctuary in North Carolina. I had wanted to meet a wolf for so long, and it was incredibly rewarding. They taught me love, patience, and what it truly meant to be part of a family. I never wanted to leave. It changed my life.

[@fkrkf]

Republicans here worked tirelessly to make sure landowners could shoot the extremely endangered red wolves without any consequences just as long as they said the magic words, "I thought it was a coyote". red wolves are now extinct in nc. If you love animals and want to protect them, it's your duty to vote against republicans until they move back to the center.

[@death5913]

The lone wolf dies the pack survives

[@lilyraimey3499]

My mourning dove died almost a year ago and I still miss him dearly. His name was Duck, and he was such a good boy.

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

My apartment looks out on the roof of a church, and I love my pigeon neighbors! They make a lot of fun sounds at just the right volume to be pleasant and never annoying. My favorite thing they say is “awooga”!

[@yltraviole]

The soft cooing of pigeons is one of my favorite sounds. Perfect to wake up to on a sunday morning

[@Turnbull50]

Your so full of love for these creatures your enthusiasm is contagious. I had a cat called max about 20 years ago who would play hide and seek with me and the children. he would patiently sit and wait downstairs for us to hide. when we shouted ready he would come running up the stairs to find us one by one. Then it was his turn to hade so we said your turn now and we would go downstairs for a few minutes then we would go upstairs to look. The only problem was that if you got within a few feet of wherever he was hiding he would give himself away by purring loudly. I really loved that cat.

[@valerieherman9075]

On the other hand, I always liked that pigeons and doves are just dumb enough to accept a human as their foster parent. I can take in a pigeon/dove chick that's already feathering and they're all like "hmm, my mom is now a featherless giant that makes weird noises, sure, okay, as long as it feeds me." They're like feathery puppies.

[@louiscampbell7667]

A robin will do the same

[@fizzyb0mb]

Honestly earning bird trust is one of the most rewarding things. I have a dove and got her pretty young and I remember thinking she would never bond with me because she would always avoid my hands and not come near me willingly. The moment I sadly voiced it, she moved to my shoulder and preened me. I love her so much and now she willingly sits on my and loafs/leans to one side and it's so, so heartwarming to know I have her trust.

[@Mother_of_Pigeons]

I have a rescued pigeon as a pet! I had rescued her from being used for live dog hunting practice as a baby. Her name is Miss Bolin and she is absolutely amazing. She is like a little cat with wings honestly. She is cleaver, cuddly, sweet, and goofy. She has free reign of my apartment and is always up to something cute or entertaining! They are such intelligent and silly animals. She brings so much joy to my life!

[@CucumbersSC]

Churro! How cute! ;w; The little feathers on her feet being all beat up makes her look like she is full of energy. And such an endearing story about your pigeon experience!

[@leonthebleh]

Pigeons are amazing! My granddad has always had racing pigeons, and I loved going down to see them and getting to hold the chicks. As I got older I got to be more apart of it and I've also looked after them for two weeks when they were off on a rare holiday, there they started to recognise me and where a lot more relaxed around me. Though still got pecks and wing chops from the parents when cleaning around the nests. Still great birds to interact with and it's amazing to experience them flying so far in so little time.

[@uabir8338]

I want to pet and kiss this pigeon so much. Such a cutie!

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

A pigeon aviary is known as a "dookit" in Scotland, while pigeons themselves are known as "doos". And you're correct - they are fascinating and often wrongly maligned birds.

[@kristieroybal4888]

I adore pigeons! The only thing that got left out of this delightful video was how loving they are! With us as well as with their mates. Very (and I do mean VERY amorous!). They are so loyal and so engaged & good spirited. I'm definitely a fan. They make terrific indoor pets if you let them hang out with you. They poop a lot, but it is really easy to pick up - much easier than hookbill poop. Thank you for spreading the word!

[@giusepperesponte8077]

The title encapsulates everything I’ve been telling people for years. They have so much individual personality.

[@uabir8338]

I miss my pigeons😢 Best 17 years of my life ❤️

[@adushack1982]

I really enjoy pigeons as well! I find them smart and fun. They're navigational abilities amaze me.

[@jessnw5441]

Wonderful story, thank you for sharing it. I DO already think pigeons are awesome, having observed them (among other amazing behaviors) waiting for the "walk" signal to cross the street--at the crosswalk, no less! I do have a first animal interaction story, not counting pets: I had a summer job doing data entry at an urban wild-bird rescue/rehab, where I just fell in love with the many rescued--or accidentally kidnapped--Canada goslings. I got to watch several flocks progress from cute, inquisitive balls of fluff through awkward adolescence and even participated in some releases, when they were reintroduced to the wild. They have a permanent place in my heart--I don't even mind the giant poop splatters during migration season!

[@YESTERDAYNE]

Thank you so much for this! Churro is such a lovely baby. Pigeons are my favorite domesticated bird, they make wonderful pets and companions and I wish more people were open to them! I know someone who even has one that helps detect low blood sugar and alerts her like a service animal. They're beautiful birds, and it's our species fault that they pollute the streets, much like feral dogs or cats, but since pigeons are such a classically hated animal unlike the others, people don't see them the same way! I hope Churro can change people's minds and have them rethink their hate on pigeons! Also, for anyone who is curious, the pigeon's droppings that you see on the street is due to their poor diet when feral. Pigeons are strictly seed eaters, and when fed the right foods, their droppings are actually very nice, easy to clean hard balls that don't make a big mess.

[@YESTERDAYNE]

For anyone considering pet pigeons, consider looking up "The Ramsey Loft" on Facebook or Tumblr! She's an amazing breeder who lets her pigeons pick their own mates despite their breeds, and hand raises all of the peeps to be tame when sent to their owners. She cares a lot about her birds and has a lot of knowledge on the species!

[@timy.9512]

Also consider a pigeon-friendly rescue (like Palomacy, if you're in the SF area). Consider adoption first, if you can!

[@FiatVentusCreations]

I grew up living in a rural home with lots of barn cats. One of my favourite memories of them was when we had to move their barn one year and I showed Milo (the matriarch) that the barn had moved and told her to tell the others and she went trotting off, and then came back with Sweetheart (her daughter) and Ghost (her granddaughter). Learning that animals communicate in different was and understand some of that language helped me with my interactions with people too. Not everyone communicates the same, even between humans. Haha

[@elliegreen872]

I have an Australian crested pigeon we rescued from mynah birds as a squab, when he grew up, we tried releasing into wild, he kept coming back and we still have him 16 years later. So loving and responsive, he wing chops too when we go into his cage, we call him “whoop whoop”after the noise he makes on greeting us.

[@MJFeehan24]

I just see pigeons as "The cute things in the sky that go coo"

[@HollyBerry0202]

Churro is my new favorite bird. She's like a little puppy, but with wings!

[@sweatpantsprincess3239]

I think I definitively fell in love with pigeons when I discovered fancy pigeons. Those feather pants are too goshdarn cute! The more I looked at different kinds of pigeons, the more I appreciated them. I also think it's interesting that in the US, many people don't know doves are pigeons. That's something I feel would change some minds about the species.

[@banndsand]

Ahh, I love pigeons and doves so much and this was really a delight to watch! Churro is so adorable as well. I wonder if Churro will become a pet or be mainly an animal ambassador? Both are such good options when it comes to pigeons!

[@DogsaladSalad]

i love pigeons! if pigeons are the rats of the sky thats ok with me because i love rats!

[@N_0968]

Cool Kid Same.

[@barbaratrevino535]

I love pigeons and rats too.

[@evimin5326]

Right me too

[@bahaar2825]

🤗💜💜💜💜

[@CabbyHat]

Ohhh, churro is such a cutie pie! I'd love to get a pet pigeon someday when I'm well enough to care for an animal, I've heard so many good things about them.

[@kristieroybal4888]

Pigeons are very low maintenance if that helps. They do need oyster shell and fresh foods as well as seed, and I lined the bottom of the cage with paper towels, and I would just roll it up and pop in a brmew strip every morning. They would love to sit with you, share your meals and watch TV. I have health issues too, and they just require a good diet, a clean cage and your companionship. I would recommend just getting one. That way they will bibd deeply with you. They have lots of love to give.

[@timothygreer188]

I raised pigeons starting at age 5. My dad built me a very large flight and I was on my own after that. Unless I was sick, I fed and cleaned up after them every day. I wound up showing them in 4H and won prizes. People always commented on how calm my birds were. I even trained white pigeons & doves for my friend's magic shows. I graduated to more exotic ones like Australian Crested Doves & Green Doves. Thanks to my first love (Columba livia domestica), I went on to raise, train and show birds from tiny finches and button quail to parakeets and macaws, and the not as smart as a pigeon and glad they can't wing-slap me, emu. Pigeon wing-slaps are startling and sting, especially if they smack you in the face. The worst wing-slap I ever got was from a wild tom turkey I was rehabbing. He actually sprained my wrist and bruised my entire arm really bad, then jumped on my back for good measure. I gave the OK for him to be released into a nearby rafter a few days later

[@KMO325]

I recently read a very touching short story about pigeons called "The Girl Who Raised Pidgeons" by Edward P. Jones. Very good timing watching this video now.

[@BlackCat_2]

Love this video! I worked in an animal park too but I was still in high school. It was open a bike ride from my house during the summer. It really changed me and expanded my love of animals so much more than just reading books had. My two biggest influences were the injured rescued crows that had to stay as they couldn't be released back to the wild after they were treated and the skunk. :) The crows were wicked smart and also would talk at random throughout the day. I would be working somewhere else and would smile every time I heard one talking. I came away totally loving skunks after many cuddles with Fatso and just having him be so comfortable with me that he would fall asleep on my lap while I sat with him in his pen. I still love skunks and do not fear them at all. I even had a wild skunk that I considered a friend for a little while. I would leave food out for him. He was small though unlike Fatso. - Heidi

[@mikecoby7546]

I watch your video while at work which is a stressful job. In between my calls you calm me down and just generally make me a happy person. Thank you for being you and helping animals. You’re such a wonderful person.

[@lucasphilipevasconcelosgom902]

Lovely video! I too raised a pigeon on my teen years, Columbus. He flew to my school to see me from time to time: and it was just amazing how he'd just fly back home without any help. Then the neighbor's cat took him... 😩

[@lostlustre]

I absolutely love that you made this video about pigeons! I spent alot of my vacation in Las Vegas following the pigeons. They are such wonderful birds! ❤️

[@jerankorak7997]

I love pigeons, though corvids will always be my favorite bird species. I'd keep them myself, but there are a ton of hawks and buzzards around our valley. They're last five minutes.

[@Ravenzpeak]

My horse changed my life and years later, my bird changed my life again...all for the better. BTW, I'also love Pigeons! Great video. Would love to hear more about when you were first learning about animals as a career, and Agusto's experiences too. 💗

[@amberbunnymama7108]

My two bunnies Edgar and Ally changed my life. They are so sweet and have big personalities.

[@tarae85]

I’ve recently realized my family MUST acquire a pigeon BFF!! Or two? You are so sweet and an excellent communicator! Thank you for this heart warming video!

[@TickTockTimeTraveler]

Thank you for showing off how special pigeons truly are!

[@patriotteacher7254]

I had a major loss and went to an animal park because it had an area next to it where I could be safe and alone. As I sat next to the turkey vulture cage to change shoes a vulture tried to reach a twig near me. I gave it to him and he took it then handed it back. I continued to play give and take till I got a little bored. Then when I went to take it he switched to keep away;) He would drop it but was quick enough to recover it just before I could grab it. Little bugger. When I began to feel humiliated...he tossed it to me. It was hard for me to believe my own experience. But ever since I have had an unusual favorite bird species and have fondly remembered my feathered counselor for fourty years.

[@TrixAreForKicks]

my grandfather has bred pegions my whole life. so when i spendt the summers there. i hung with them all summer and made alot of birdy friends. i LOVE pigeons

[@shannoneustice3085]

Thank you Jessi! I have two amazing pigeons living with me and they are such incredible companions. They make wonderful pets and so many need good homes. Thank you I love you 😭

[@evie5402]

I didn’t know you had children! How awesome would it be to have Jessi as a mom

[@BeholdersBeauty]

Jessi has a couple of kids (two, or three, I'm not sure as it's info that's not super out there), and one of them is special needs. She is a great caretaker of every one, human or otherwise! Also, at the 2:43 time mark, that's Jessi with her husband Augusto.

[@kihella2658]

I’ve had birds (only budgies) all my life, and I love birds so much. No matter what kind, I often talk to them or whistle when I see some out (I sound insane, or maybe like a real version of phoebe from friends haha) Pigeons are everywhere where I live, in the middle of the city, stresses me out how comfortable they are around all the public transportations n stuff. But like u said they are a lot smarter than people think. 🤍🐦

[@amberrichards2778]

I had a pet snake that my mom was taking care of when the local reptile sanctuary didn't have room for him. We immediately bonded. Anybody who says that reptiles can't be great companions clearly have never owned them. That ball python really changed my perspective and taught me a great many things.

[@juczer]

Thank you so much for talking about pigeons!

[@Rubiecat]

I'm so happy to see some pigeon love on such a big channel ! I love these funny lil balls of feathers :-)

[@erukaseven]

PIGEONS!!! What good birbs.

[@iTsEfFiNsTePhh]

First off let me just give you a big THANK YOU for everything you're doing for animals and a big THANK YOU to everyone who's donated to help animals and help animals, it really warms my heart ❤️ I'm new to your channel so i'm not sure if you've talked about this yet or not but I was wondering if you could make a video explaining how you got into animal rescuing? Like how you got into it, tips for people who want to get into it and how people who lack funds can go about getting funds to start it? I've been around animals my entire life and really love them and it's been my dream for years to start an animal rescue. I try to help animals when I can, feed local strays, shelter them when the weathers bad, I even bought a bunch of outdoor heated cat houses that I set up during the winter so they can stay warm, have even taken some to the vet if they have series injuries, give them flea/dewormer meds when I can afford it, basically I do what I can but because i'm not exactly rich and am broke most of the time living paycheck to paycheck there's only so much I can do- I know a lot of people would say to just take them into a shelter but to me I feel like that's no better then killing them because every shelter near me is a kill shelter where they'll be euthanized if they're not adopted within a few days. A lot of my friends and family keep telling me I should start an animal rescue and to get on a fundraising site to raise money to do it but after doing research it's really daunting- there's a lot of scammers on fundraising sites so not as many people are willing to donate and it seems like how many people see it is more important then the actual reason you're doing it and I don't know a lot of people so I don't want to just rely on fundraising sites, just if you could give us some tips 😊

[@emmaesta9444]

Im in FFA and i finally pursuaded my mom to let me get a show rabbit. My friend who has 20+ of them has always treated them like they are dumb and cant understand anything so i didnt expect much. I was so excited to get my new rabbit! He was so soft and fluffy and while i knew he shouldnt be played with that day, i just wanted him to know how much i loved him. He learned his name within a few months (without much formal training like you would a dog, i didnt expect him to know his name) and knew when we were talking about him. He knew when he was in trouble (he often will go in places hes not supposed to, that bugger) and will come running out and act like it wasnt him that i watched hop under something. He quickly learned "come here" or just even "come". What i was most impressed over was that he learned the words "head rub". I combined it with a hand motion (tapping my pointer on my thumb) so i could signal that i wanted to pet him at a show or to better get his attention when hes being defiant. His most favorite thing is getting head rubs. I "trained" him with just head rubs. Thats how we bonded. I thought rabbits were just average intelligence and nothing to be amazed at, something akin to hamsters - they know how to survive and thats about it. But the fact that he knew his name, especially in such a short amount of time, surprised me and my mom. Im definitely his girl just as hes my rabbit. I love him to death, that little boy

[@CricketthePigeon]

Thank you so much for making this video!!! I LOVE pigeons, theyre my favorite bird! I'm watching this hanging out with my pet owl pigeon, Cricket!

[@GraemeMarkNI]

"Homer, there's a bird on your head." "He's grooming me."

[@BarbaraDelGiudice]

Hi, Jessie! Thank you so much for sharing your love for pigeons on here and Chero!!! Chero looks so soft and beautiful!!! I love pigeons and don't understand the negative image people have towards pigeons. They are smart, beautiful, represent God and peace, and very loving creatures!!! I started keeping birds as pets over 20 years ago because I was not allowed to have cats or dogs as pets in my apartment building. I knew nothing about birds. I discovered they are very loving creatures, with huge hearts and personalities!!! They are very good companions and will take up all your time. They are a lot of maintenance and need to be fed properly and make a big mess. But they are worth all the effort!!! My cockatiel, Baby just passed away in Septmeber 2019 - this was so heart breaking and difficult to lose my friend of 22 years and Beenie was really upset too. I now continue taking care of Beenie my 17 year old cockatiel whom I am very bonded to and dedicated to taking care of. Love, big hugs, birdie kisses. Barb, Beenie, Baby spirit :)))

[@klg9549]

Churro is so cute! SHE SCREAM I don't know about life-changing, but I never knew the magic of a dog being super happy to see you especially until the year before last year when I started babysitting a toy Australian Shepherd owned by a friend of my dad's. I learnt so much about dog behaviour (I grew up with cats) from looking after her at the dog park, and I made a good friend with her owner and family. I also started learning how to draw dogs from being used to seeing her so much (I normally just drew people)! I'm back at my usual place overseas now, but I still miss her and I'm happy to be considered her "auntie."

[@MellifexFarm]

Pigeons are some of, if not the second best pet birds out there(chickens are first hehe)! Their combination of trainability, intelligence, aesthetic traits (so many breeds and colors and fuzzy feet!) and the fact that they are domesticated :) PS. the photo of the "dutchess pigeon" is actually called a turkish tumbler pigeon! I've never heard of a dutchess pigeon before.

[@timothygreer188]

Duchess pigeons have been around for 2 centuries. They have long muffs (foot feathers), they're primarily a show breed. Turkish Tumblers (Takla) have shorter, neater muffs that come from the back more than the sides and are a performance breed

[@MellifexFarm]

@@timothygreer188 I literally cannot find a single mention of the breed anywhere. Besides the sketcy one from the 19th century.

[@auriellev8197]

So good to know! I’ve always thought pigeons were smarter than they get credit for.. this confirms it thank you Animal Wonders and thank you Jesse for being so in tune, you are an inspiration! You are a wizard with animal husbandry and training.. the pigeon show sounded spectacular, i love the image of a whirlwind of pigeons circling around you! Excellent episode and thank you Churro!

[@sharathyadav954]

I love pigeons 🥰 Need more of pigeons please including diet & care 💖

[@samistrash6262]

When I first asked my parents for a bird and they said yes, I first did my research on doves. I felt like pigeons were for some reason more special than doves, so that's what I chose. They met my perfect standards. Playful, fits my preferred budget, loving, and great pets in general. I really liked pigeons, but it's quite difficult to find proper care videos on them and I was distraught that I couldn't learn as much as possible, so I switched to hookbill birds. I continued to switch my research between about 6 different birds on and off because I was just unhappy with whether or not they were compatible for me. I give up too easy, I know. I think my FINAL decision is going to be a pigeon but I am not completely positive. Whatever bird I end up with, I better make a decision quick because I've almost earned enough money for everything I need and the bird expo closest to me is April 1st.

[@mikeg9b]

2:19 Churro has incredible feets.

[@foxtailclips2974]

Lol

[@avnrulz]

Our Frizzle chickens had feathers on their feet too.

[@valerieherman9075]

Pigeons and doves were some of my first foster birds I ever rescued. We get bad monsoon storms in Arizona so I'd take in and rehab all the downed birds. I love the "happy screams" they make and how easy and forgiving they are compared to other birds I've fostered. I release my babies and every now and then they'll come back or hang around. They really are special birds. Thanks for sharing.

[@reikiwithcary2682]

Ohhhhh Churro... you remind me how much I miss my Ring Necked Dove Gnubee.... Your smaller cousins are sweet and gentle just like YOU ARE! He never failed to make my life, my dogs and cats and our budgie Buddy happy and filled with laughter every day... thanks for being you Churro...💚

[@peterwyman5837]

I was never a dog guy..I moved into a house with two golden retrievers....changed my life.looove the show.

[@klg9549]

Golden retrievers are angels, I swear

[@peterwyman5837]

@@klg9549 85 pounds of pure love!

[@dovecamp1845]

I love my ringneck doves, ...

[@dovecamp1845]

The Dove symbolizes the work of The HOLY SPIRIT GOD

[@dovecamp1845]

Animals are definitely in HEAVEN ! THE SON OF GOD rides a White Horse in Revelation chapter 19 verse 14 when comes back and other places in the Bible

[@dovecamp1845]

The kid that went to heaven in the book " Heaven is For Real " said he was playing with a Lion , and there were animals in Heaven.

[@dovecamp1845]

When we go heaven by trusting in and accepting JESUS, we can't wear goofy crow heads, GOD gives new look, in the resurrection we who believe , be supernatural , fly etc...

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Your doves bring the Holy Spirit to earth. We can always use more of that!!!

[@SailorGamer]

Pigeons are awesome. There are alot of them where I live and whenever I see one on the sidewalk if they are in my way, I say excuse me and they will normally move. Or when I go to take my dog out and I see a bunch eating or something I kindly tell them not to get worry, that my dog won't do anything and I'll say excuse me and they will normally understand and let us pass. They are so sweet.

[@vivianvilla598]

Love this posting! I rescued Phyllis Diller (found out she is a he) at 10 days old when he was found in an abandoned nest in a warehouse- He's now a year old and absolutely amazing! He spends the day flying around outside then sits on the roof of the house waiting for me to get home from work..super smart and fun (LOVES to play hide and seek) and car rides, he even gets along with our two cats (they know he's in charge).. so overlooked and unappreciated, thank you for bringing attention to this wonderful bird

[@bubbajenkins123]

I love pigeons!!!! Can you also do a special about grackles?

[@hollyodii5969]

Pigeons are awesome and cute too! How are Lollipop and Ophelia doing with the giant exercise wheel? Thanks Jessi

[@hc6157]

My rabbit has been incredibly formative for me as an animal person. My college roommate dumped him to me (long story) and even though I wasn’t really ready for a rabbit, he continues to blow me away with his attachment to me that keeps us together even though I travel often to get to/from school. Your channel has actually inspired me to train him formally so we can have more bonding time together!

[@amberthompson4292]

My little brother is a magician so we own multiple white doves, as well as a wild dove we rescued from a cat when she was a little baby. They're all the sweetest and softest things, and they each have great, distinct personalities! The one I rescued for example always knows when I open the door to leave the room and rushes to land on my head to keep me from leaving, and she loooves ear scratches and gets mad and pecks at my fingers when I stop scratching her (though of course her little pecks don't hurt at all). The white ones have varying degrees of intelligence and personality and it really shows, especially during their magic training that helps us decide which ones are best for which tricks.

[@ladiesman-qh5kc]

pigeons are amazing one of the best birds out there

[@crackhair3998]

Hi Jessi, pigeons are cool, thank you for spreading the word to these infidels

[@MattieAMiller]

I had a pigeon growing up. Her name was Henrietta. She flew into a window on our house and sprained her wing. Because she was unable to fly and winter was closing in, we decided to take care of her. She wasn't very trusting at first, but in a couple months she loved to sit on my shoulder, covered by hair. She recovered her flight, and I could even get her to fly from one outstretched arm to another if enough treats were involved. Come April, we decided to release her back into the wild, because we also had a dog who was increasingly agitated by the smell of a prey animal in the house. I saw Henrietta visiting our bird feeder for years after. Sometimes she would even fake a gimpy wing for extra treats.

[@1929modelagirl]

I rescued a young pigeon years ago, he had been attacked by other birds and lost an eye. Normie ended up blind, he rode in my truck with me for many many years. There are truckers everywhere who met him. He was fearless, he had no difficulty in my truck or at home, my cats learned to ignore him. I think pigeons are amazing creatures. Normie was the first pet bird I had, since followed by other pigeons, the meanest white dove and parrots, chickens and ducks I had forgotten about that little squeal the babies make. Love it💓

[@stephw6046]

Aaw! Pretty pigeons! ☺️

[@Bunparade]

Churro girl those shoes! Yaaaassss Kween! Seriously, I love Churros and her feathery feeties.

[@chezza81]

I love this video! I too used to train them. They were wild but I taught them how to turn around, knock on the window and fly from one point to another. All for food of course! Haha. They understand pointing too! They trusted me so much that they would bring injured pigeons to me who I had never met and they let me check them over, overlooked by the pigeons I knew. We all used to play fight and they also trained ME too! I had to move to work on sea and I miss them everyday!

[@mmmmmmolly]

Awww, Churro is so sweet. I had 3 rescued pigeons at different times, for the first i was small and i don't remember much, but for the last 2 i was in my teens. One of them was rescued when she quite small and didn't know how to fly yet. She stayed with us for a few months, we fed her by hand and thought her to fly in our garden. She lived in a storage room and each morning she was so excited when we went to see her, she would hop around and then fly in our laps. We secured a box to the window where she could sit and fly if she wanted to. she would start to venture out and cone back, and eventually she flew away. There was a man a few streets who raised pigeons and they would fly in the area a fee times a day and she would watch them with interest, and eventually i think she joined them. It was both sad and happy when she left, because she was really interacting but i was happy that she could go and live on her own.

[@DontTrippMe]

Look up the Bomber Pigeons that were trained to pilot missels during I THINK ww1 but could be ww2

[@mamasplayinhookie3131]

That was in ww2, the pigeons were spot on with their training but they never guided an actual missile. That would have a been a 1 way trip and no one wanted to sacrifice the birds.

[@DontTrippMe]

@@mamasplayinhookie3131 thank you, yes!

[@andresymedio625]

First of all, love your videos!!! Always such a good vibe and love in what you guys do! However, I've got a question. I've literally seen many pigeons mating with many (I think) female pigeons, and they didn't seem monogamous at all, so my question is, could they have learned this behavior in some way? Thanks!! Greetings from Bogotá, Colombia.

[@hunterkat]

Andrés Guerrero they’re monogamous in terms of choosing a mate and only raising young with that mate. However they will mate with anyone- it’s like having a wife and several side chicks

[@Shaggy-lu6dz]

This video came out right after i talked to a philosophy prof from my local uni about his pet magpie and pigeons. Great timing.

[@jamescale3399]

I never interacted with pigeons until a fancy all white Andijian pigeon landed in our backyard dazed, confused, hungry & thirsty. We took him in & nursed him back to a healthy life. He has become a family member & we absolutely love him. He is the most entertaining pet I could have ever imagined. He is a very proud bird. He marches on the ground, can hover with ease in one place, not afraid to fight with his beak (harmless) or Easily fly wherever he wants to in our household. We respect his space in the Pigeon cage he now calls his home. We ❤️ him.

[@JUMALATION1]

For me it was zebra finches, or actually birds in general. In 1998 when I was about 4 years old, my uncle had rescued a small zebra finch. My uncle couldn't keep him, so he gave the zebra finch to us. He had named him Rudy and Rudy lived for at least 10 years (we have no idea how old he was when we got him). Since then, our family has never been birdless. I recently moved in with my boyfriend and he shares my love for birds, so we decided to get a pair of cockatiels, which is a slightly smarter bird species than zebra finches but also much more tameable. We're doing clicker training with them now to make sure they know we aren't a threat. Soon we will let them out to explore the apartment :)

[@diyaparikh6440]

I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL KEEP IT UP

[@alrightykayla]

Just found your channel through 2 beautiful pigeons moving onto my balcony, and now I’m soaking up all I can about them :) Love your enthusiasm; I just applied to volunteer at my local farm sanctuary and am really excited about being able to spend more time with animals. They’re the best, love your excitement about them! 🐦

[@Gastrocnemious]

I found a juvenile pidgeon with a broken leg, thank God I managed to find a vet who knew a lot about pidgeons because I was clueless. Well I received many wing chops and then pecks while cleaning and giving him his medicine. He stayed with me for a month and then I contacted a rescue and they gave him some vaccines and decided he was healthy and ready to be released in a safe place. Even though he was really mean with me I loved him so much and learned a lot, I named him Kakaroto :)