Courtship Behaviors

Feral pigeons display courtship behaviors throughout the year although they are more likely to mate in late winter and spring. Once a pair has formed a "bond" they will stay together for life. By recording the colors of pairs of pigeons involved in courtship displays, a participant can help Lab of Ornithology scientists determine what color males the females choose for mates.

Illustrations by Julie Zickefoose

Cooing: during courting pigeons make many sounds, such as "coo-cuk-cuk-cuk-cooo."  Listen to a pigeon coo!¹

Bowing: a male puffs out his neck feathers, lowers his head and turns around in circles

Tail-dragging: a male spreads his tail and drags it while he runs after a female

Driving: one pigeon runs closely behind another

Billing: when a female puts her beak (or bill) inside the male's beak during courtship

Mating:  when mating, a male stands on top of a female

Clapping: After mating, a male pigeon may make a display flight. In this display, he "claps" his wings twice behind his back.