07/06/2025
Weâve always had resident wood pigeons. Love them. đ
𧏠The Real Science Behind This Photo Taken By Ernesto Orellana Will Blow Your Mind
đ¸: instagram.com/ernestopfoto
These arenât just âordinary pigeonsâ - theyâre walking science experiments that researchers have been studying for decades.
What youâre seeing are Wood Pigeons, and the discoveries about them have changed how we understand animal intelligence, navigation, and biology.
Hereâs what science has actually proven about these birds:
THEYâRE LIVING GPS SYSTEMS đ§
Wood Pigeons have tiny magnetic crystals in their beaks that work like biological compasses. They can sense Earthâs magnetic field and use it to navigate thousands of miles. They also detect sounds too low for humans to hear and read polarized light patterns in the sky.
Research source: Wiltschko & Wiltschko studies on avian magnetoreception
THEIR BRAINS ARE SURPRISINGLY POWERFUL đ§
Scientists have tested pigeons and found they can count, recognize themselves in mirrors, learn abstract concepts, and even understand probability. Some studies show they perform better than young children on certain cognitive tests.
Research sources: Wasserman et al. (University of Iowa), Epstein et al. (Harvard), Herbranson & Schroeder (Whitman College)
THEY SEE COLORS WE CANâT IMAGINE đď¸
While humans see three primary colors, pigeons see four - including ultraviolet light. This means they see patterns on each otherâs feathers that are completely invisible to us. Itâs like theyâre living in a world with extra colors weâll never experience.
Research source: Bowmaker et al. studies on avian tetrachromatic vision
THEY PRODUCE MILK (YES, REALLY) đĽ
Unlike mammals, very few animals produce milk. But pigeons do - they create a protein-rich âcrop milkâ in their throat to feed their babies. Only pigeons, doves, flamingos, and emperor penguins can do this.
Research source: Gillespie et al. studies on avian crop milk composition
THEYâRE FASTER THAN YOU THINK âĄ
These chunky-looking birds can fly over 60 mph in sustained flight. Engineers study their wing mechanics to improve drone and aircraft design because theyâre incredibly efficient flyers despite their size.
Research source: Pennycuick studies on pigeon flight mechanics
THEY HAVE COMPLEX SOCIAL LIVES đ
Long-term studies show Wood Pigeons form lifelong partnerships, but their âdivorce rateâ changes based on environmental stress. They choose mates based on territory quality, health indicators, and even past breeding success.
Research sources: Johnston & Janiga behavioral ecology studies
THEY COMMUNICATE IN WAYS WEâRE JUST DISCOVERING đ
Pigeons use different types of calls for different purposes - some we can hear, others we canât. They can recognize individual voices over long distances and have specific âwordsâ for danger, territory, and courtship.
Research source: Ballintijn & ten Cate vocal communication studies
WHY THIS MATTERS:
These discoveries arenât just cool facts - theyâve led to:
⢠Better GPS and navigation technology
⢠Advances in artificial intelligence
⢠New understanding of animal consciousness
⢠Improved aircraft and drone design
⢠Better urban wildlife management
THE BOTTOM LINE: That âcommonâ bird outside your window is actually one of natureâs most sophisticated biological systems.
Next time you see pigeons, remember - youâre looking at living proof that intelligence and remarkable abilities exist everywhere in nature.
What surprised you most? The milk production or the UV vision? đ¤
MAIN RESEARCH SOURCES:
⢠Wiltschko, R. & Wiltschko, W. (2019). Magnetoreception in birds. Journal of Comparative Physiology
⢠Wasserman, E.A. et al. (2001). Conceptual behavior in pigeons. Journal of Experimental Psychology
⢠Bowmaker, J.K. (1977). The visual pigments and oil droplets of the pigeon retina. Vision Research
⢠Gillespie, M.J. et al. (2011). Functional similarities between pigeon âmilkâ and mammalian milk. PLoS ONE
⢠Pennycuick, C.J. (1968). Power requirements for horizontal flight in the pigeon. Journal of Experimental Biology
