Don’t Buy into These Common Myths About Pigeons

It’s no secret that pigeons are a nuisance to humans. Over the many years that pigeons and humans have occupied the same cities, many myths and misconceptions about these animals have developed. In this article, you’ll get a look at a few of the more common pigeon-related myths that you may encounter as you try to manage a pigeon problem on your Arizona property.

Myth: Pigeons’ stomachs can explode if you feed them rice.

You may have heard that allowing birds to eat uncooked rice can cause their stomachs to explode, because they cannot digest it. Though some smaller birds are not able to digest rice, none will explode as a result of consuming it. Pigeons can, unlike smaller birds, digest a variety of grains—including uncooked rice—so don’t assume that you can use this food as a method of diversion for birds on your property.

Myth: Pigeons are peaceful creatures.

Because pigeons have grown accustomed to the presence of people, they are often relatively fearless when it comes to approaching humans, and in doing so, they appear quite docile. And while pigeons do not necessarily seek out opportunities to be aggressive, they will attack if they feel that they or their nests are threatened. That means that trying to remove pigeons from your property can quickly become dangerous work, so you should leave it to the professionals.

Myth: Pigeons can fly thousands of miles per day.

Legends exist of pigeons flying thousands of miles in a day, and though this is certainly an exaggeration, there is some truth to this myth. Pigeons have been clocked flying well over a hundred miles in a day, and they have an uncanny ability to find their way home after such long journeys. That’s why they always seem to know how to return to your house or business where they’ve nested.