A pigeon without tail???

I haven't had the time yet to tell you about this but beginning of December I realized something very strange: our Mr.Neighbour - one of our largest ferals who belongs to our balcony flock - suddenly looked very strange. At first I did not even recognize him and then suddenly I noticed what was wrong - he had not a single tail feather any more. It was a miracle - I thought - that he even could fly and navigate although a bit clumsy. I also noticed that his behaviour had become quite shy and reluctant as if he had lost his self-confidence:







I could not see any injuries which would have told me that he was attacked by a predator. So this appeared very strange to me as I have never seen a pigeon losing ALL his tail feathers in a moult.

It also took ages - at least 6 weeks - until his tail feathers started to grow back - only recently he's got all his feathers again.

Do you have any explanation for this?

Hi Petra,
It's possible something did try to ctch him, and lucky for him only got his tail, thus pulling out all the feathers.

Over the years I have seen a couple pigeons without any tail and no visible signs of any injuries. Each time I took them in until their tails grew back and neither of them became sick so my only thought was the above.

It took them about 6 weeks as well to grow back their tail.

He's a handsome fella.

Is the last photo a recent one (I can't tell if he has a tail yet)? The reason I ask is because he looks like he's feeling a bit under the weather. Just a little fluffed and his eyes look tired. Or could it be that it was cold and he is just trying to stay warm?

It was very cold Cindy and one of the first days with a little bit of sunshine - so all the pijjies tried to get some of it. He still did not have his tail in this pic

pigeonwriter wrote:

It was very cold Cindy and one of the first days with a little bit of sunshine - so all the pijjies tried to get some of it. He still did not have his tail in this pic

Think Cindy's right. Something probably caught him by the tail, and luckily he was able to break away.

I do know (I've seen it happen) doves have a way of releasing their tail feathers if something has grabbed ahold of them. This allows them to fly away while the predator is left holding either a handful or mouthful of feathers.

Yes - I think so too - and that might also explain his change in behaviour - having some kind of trauma????

pigeonwriter wrote:

Yes - I think so too - and that might also explain his change in behaviour - having some kind of trauma????

That's certainly possible and justified.

I remember a long time ago, Dan trying to catch a pigeon in the garage and he grabbed him by the tail. All of the feathers came out at once and Dan was left with a hand full of feathers, rather than a pigeon. That was the first time I realized dropping of the feathers is a natural defence against predators.

Matilda wrote:

I remember a long time ago, Dan trying to catch a pigeon in the garage and he grabbed him by the tail. All of the feathers came out at once and Dan was left with a hand full of feathers, rather than a pigeon. That was the first time I realized dropping of the feathers is a natural defence against predators.

Well it's a good defense.

It sure is...I'll never forget the look on Dan's face. ...


Me...I had to say...what did you do that for! Gosh...that must have been about 1990...a long time ago.

NiteOwl wrote:

Matilda wrote:

I remember a long time ago, Dan trying to catch a pigeon in the garage and he grabbed him by the tail. All of the feathers came out at once and Dan was left with a hand full of feathers, rather than a pigeon. That was the first time I realized dropping of the feathers is a natural defence against predators.

Well it's a good defense.

Yes indeed.
I'm glad they have it. At least some will be able to escape predators.

The same happened to one of mine, a feral who came into the veranda one evening and decided to stay the night -- every night!
She had no tail feathers whatsoever, so I called her Manx (like the Manx breed of cats that have no tails). Her tail feathers have all grown back now, but although she flies to her heart's content during the day, she's always back indoors at meal times and at night! She's also courting George, which upsets Abby... pigeon love triangles, eh!

Your rescue is a handsome pidgy, Petra! Let us know how he's doing.

Teresa - yes he is and a very proud one too. But he is not a a rescue - he belongs to our balcony flock and comes in for feeding all the time.

Btw - they have all (approx. 15-20) learned to come inside for feeding - about 3-5 pijjies at a time - I am no longer feeding outside any more. This way the amount of pijjies stays stable and does not grow and the stupid neighbours will never know.
I always close the door behind them and let them out again when they want to - waiting at the door. A perfect arrangement they have all learned without getting into panic when the door is closed.

Isn't this amazing - for ferals? They are really intelligent because they know exactly what it means: open door, coming in, getting breakfast versus not coming in when door open, closing door again, no breakfast.

pigeonwriter wrote:

Teresa - yes he is and a very proud one too. But he is not a a rescue - he belongs to our balcony flock and comes in for feeding all the time.

Btw -they have all (approx. 15-20) learned to come inside for feeding - about 3-5 pijjies at a time - I am no longer feeding outside any more. This way the amount of pijjies stays stable and does not grow and the stupid neighbours will never know.
I always close the door behind them and let them out again when they want to - waiting at the door. A perfect arrangement they have all learned without getting into panic when the door is closed.

Isn't this amazing - for ferals? They are really intelligent because they know exactly what it means: open door, coming in, getting breakfast versus not coming in when door open, closing door again, no breakfast.

I love that, Petra.


I wish the general population would come to realize, and admit, just how intelligent pigeons are.

I agree, they're very clever! And lovely!

AZWhitefeather wrote:

pigeonwriter wrote:

Teresa - yes he is and a very proud one too. But he is not a a rescue - he belongs to our balcony flock and comes in for feeding all the time.

Btw -they have all (approx. 15-20) learned to come inside for feeding - about 3-5 pijjies at a time - I am no longer feeding outside any more. This way the amount of pijjies stays stable and does not grow and the stupid neighbours will never know.
I always close the door behind them and let them out again when they want to - waiting at the door. A perfect arrangement they have all learned without getting into panic when the door is closed.

Isn't this amazing - for ferals? They are really intelligent because they know exactly what it means: open door, coming in, getting breakfast versus not coming in when door open, closing door again, no breakfast.

I love that, Petra.


I wish the general population would come to realize, and admit, just how intelligent pigeons are.

I think the problem is that Pigeons are smarter than the "general population".

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

AZWhitefeather wrote:

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

Very true Cindy.

I think that pigeons & pit bull dogs share the same dislike and distrust by the general population.

AZWhitefeather wrote:

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

I don't know. I think people who didn't feel that way weren't swayed by that actors remark. It's just that the ignorant ones that already felt that way, use that remark to back up how they already felt. It gives them a sense that they were right all the time in feeling the way that they do. They can say, "See..............I told you they were like rats."
Like I said, most pigeons, and other animals in general are smarter and nicer than many humans.

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

AZWhitefeather wrote:

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

Very true Cindy.

I think that pigeons & pit bull dogs share the same dislike and distrust by the general population.

I totally agree with you, Robin.
I think we should be more leary of the majority of pit bull owners. JMO

NiteOwl wrote:

AZWhitefeather wrote:

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

I don't know. I think people who didn't feel that way weren't swayed by that actors remark. It's just that the ignorant ones that already felt that way, use that remark to back up how they already felt. It gives them a sense that they were right all the time in feeling the way that they do. They can say, "See..............I told you they were like rats."

Like I said, most pigeons, and other animals in general are smarter and nicer than many humans.

I agree with you tenfold.

My Kizzy is part pit bull. She's a little sweet heart of a dog. Very cuddly and affectionate.

NiteOwl wrote:

AZWhitefeather wrote:

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

I don't know. I think people who didn't feel that way weren't swayed by that actors remark. It's just that the ignorant ones that already felt that way, use that remark to back up how they already felt. It gives them a sense that they were right all the time in feeling the way that they do. They can say, "See..............I told you they were like rats."
Like I said, most pigeons, and other animals in general are smarter and nicer than many humans.

I just don't think that there are many people that are favorable toward pigeons, in comparison with the people that hate them or are on the line. I think that for the most part, those that are on the line are more inclined to be swayed by the negative information and comments.
An article in our paper referred to feral pigeon as ...flying rats, disease ridden and pests There was no reference made by Woody Allen coining the phrase for a movie. Woody Allens contribution has for the most part, long been forgotten.That phrase has caused so much damage.

[quote="Matilda"]

NiteOwl wrote:

AZWhitefeather wrote:

There's no doubt pigeons are smarter than much of the general population.
There are also many capable of learning exactly just how incredible these birds are.
But they just choose not to because of a stupid remark an actor made long ago.

I don't know. I think people who didn't feel that way weren't swayed by that actors remark. It's just that the ignorant ones that already felt that way, use that remark to back up how they already felt. It gives them a sense that they were right all the time in feeling the way that they do. They can say, "See..............I told you they were like rats."
Like I said, most pigeons, and other animals in general are smarter and nicer than many humans.

I just don't think that there are many people that are favorable toward pigeons, in comparison with the people that hate them or are on the line. I think that for the most part, those that are on the line are more inclined to be swayed by the negative information and comments.
An article in our paper referred to feral pigeon as ...flying rats, disease ridden and pests There was no reference made by Woody Allen coining the phrase for a movie. Woody Allens contribution has for the most part, long been forgotten.That phrase has caused so much damage.