Most people will recognise the Rock Pigeon, also known as the City Pigeon.  It can be any colour from light to dark grey or a mix of these colours (mainly from interbreeding with Racing Pigeons or Dovecotes).

These birds can be found all over New Zealand but are associated with cities and built-up areas. They will nest on any available ledge on buildings, hence the installation of spikes to deter them to avoid the damage their large numbers can cause.  However, they are also found in the countryside where they will nest on rocky outcrops, cliffs or banks.  Their nests can be an odd assortment of building materials including old bits of metal and nails.

Their navigational skills make pigeons great long-distance messengers as they can fly over 2,000km to get home. This ability has lead them to be used to send secret messages during times of war over many centuries.

What do Rock Pigeons eat?

While it is often frowned upon to feed pigeons plenty of people still do.  Unfortunately many will feed bread which isn’t good for the birds and can also attract rats.  Pigeons do enjoy a variety of seeds and grains and will eat some fruits and insects too.

If you do want to feed the pigeons then Kohab Wild Bird Seed will make them very happy and provide them with additional nutrients. But please don’t feed them bread.

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