Guide to a Pigeon's Natural Diet
My neighbor is an old lady who visits the park daily. She usually takes a bag of grains with her for the grand purpose of feeding the pigeons over there, who by now regard her as their benefactor and flock around her the moment she steps foot in the park. She takes a fistful of grains from the bag, scatters them on the ground and then steps back with the calm demeanor of someone who knows what's about to happen next. The pigeons gather around and start pecking away. It is a fascinating sight indeed.
Of course, pigeons love to eat. It is what allows them to defecate and leave their mark all over the city. Considering that these birds are tamed as pets and detested as pests in equal measure by us humans, it is important to understand their natural diet to deal with them appropriately.
Pigeons are granivorous birds, which means that grains and seeds are a staple of their diet. They prefer to eat cereal grains, corn, sunflower seeds, wheat, barley, millet, and peas. As it happens, this preference depends on the season to some extent. For instance, during the winter, they like to peck on oil-based seeds because this kind of diet helps them to stay warm.
Cereals
Consisting of 70% carbohydrates, 10% protein and 5-7% fats and other minerals, corns form a huge part of a pigeon's diet as they not only serve as a great source of energy, but they are also readily available.
Wheat, pulses, and peas
For pigeons living in or near grain farms, corn, pulses, and peas are easily available. Wheat is rich in carbohydrates, while legumes are rich in proteins as well as phosphorus and calcium salts. Peas are preferred because they are easily digestible and serve as great sources of proteins.
Oil-based seeds
During the winter season, pigeons will seek out and gobble up sunflower seeds, with the black oil variety being a definite hit among them. The reason is simple: these seeds are high in fats, which makes them an excellent winter dish.
Fruits and veggies
A pigeon's relationship with fruits and vegetables is slightly different from that of a human being's. They will certainly eat them, especially if they are chopped up, but there are a few varieties which they will avoid. Avocado, for instance, is reported to be potentially toxic for a pigeon, while pale vegetables like lettuce and celery offer little nutritional value.
Meet the scavengers
Pigeons which dwell in the city tend to scavenge for food throughout the day. It is not uncommon for them to feed on a piece of fried chicken lying on the pavement or peck on rotting berries in parks. In fact, they will taste everything you throw away, as long as it's edible.
Also read our other bird tip:
Do Mothballs Really Work Against Pigeons?