Odd Pigeon Behaviour + id help

tWITCH · #1 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 04:16 PM

Good evening all, I ask for your help once again

Very odd thing happened this afternoon whilst I was out stalking another glimpse of waxwing. I was in the centre of town when I noticed an odd looking pigeon at the side of me. Equipted with only a zoom lens I tried to capture a shot of this bird. However I was too close so I kepted backing up to get focus length. It wasn't having any of this and kept walking towards me. This went on for a few minutes and then it flew right at me, and quite frankly I legged it as I was unsure of it's intentions LOL.

Can anyone explain this behaviour and also identify this bird.

Images are not great but do display the crest or collar, red legs and eyes.

Cheers folks

IMG_6477 - Wild About Britain Pics

tWITCH · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 04:22 PM

Apologies for the image overload!

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 04:29 PM

It's a breed of domestic Rock Dove (from which domestic/feral pigeons are derived) + is probably an escapee who associates people with food- I guess that's why it was approaching you. Given all that snow maybe having tough time getting food.

tWITCH · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 04:59 PM

Funny enough I did feed the pigeons close to this spot yesterday (didn't see it then however).

faz · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 05:12 PM

it looks like a MAG as in magpie(black and or red and white ) in pigeons mine used to roll when flying as opposed to tumblers which tumble

it may think you are a food provider as it is so close to humans it will come to you for food or if it thinks you have food

tWITCH · #6 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 05:44 PM

Never seen a pigeon with a collar! Really mad that I did'nt have any seed on me. I was on my way back home from visiting my mum (had seed with me as I'm trying to tempt them into her garden) saw waxwings. Got home grabbed a different bag containing zoom lens be no seed and headed out.

Here's a stupid idea... do birds recognise people? Did it see me throwing seed yesterday and thought yee har she's back? This is the centre of town with many people and it only approached me!

Don't get me wrong I don't think I'm a bird whisper!

aeshna5 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 06:08 PM

They certainly do recognise individuals + will come to people who feed them, though whether after one feed it would remember you, well possibly.

tWITCH · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 06:20 PM

Thanks folks for the comments. Looks like I'm about to because Sutton's 'Crazy Bird Lady'. I'll report back after a couple of weekend feeding sessions.

werdnal · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2010, 07:22 PM

Looks like its a domestic pigeon breed, known as a Nun - due to the ruff around its neck. As others have said its probably an escapee, used to being fed by humans, and probably hungry due to the very cold weather. They are not used as racing/homing pigeons as they homing instinct is not good. Chances are its not travelled far, but may have been chased by sparrowhawk or similar and now cannot find its way back home.

Do you know of any pigeon clubs in the area you could contact, as someone might be looking for it!

tWITCH · #10 (**permalink**) 30-12-2010, 10:38 AM

After several attempts of looking like a crazy bird lady, stood in the middle of town feeding the pigeons to find this bird again.

It appears to be a breed called Old German Owl. I have reported it to the local pigeon strays association. The bird is unringed and hanging old with the local pigeons one of which was a fantail. Funny how we dismiss pigeons so easily, when if we just take a minute to really look at them we might see something unusally.