Pseudolynchia canariensis, the pigeon/turkey fly

This insect is a blood-sucking parasite which causes a great deal of discomfort to the pigeons, and can cause anaemia and transmit protozoal (and possibly other) infections.

You can always tell when a pigeon has this parasite, because the pigeon will stomp and preen madly, to try and dislodge it.

The pigeon fly is about the same size as a house fly, but thinner, and on close-up there are several differences. The most striking is that it walks more often than it flies, a curious, sideways movement, and when present on a pigeon you can see them darting in and out of the feathers sideways.

Today one of them landed right on my desk -- right on cue, to allow me to video it. Note the way it moves:



These are the best close-ups I could get of it:





I'm sorry to say (no, I'm not!) that the model is no longer with us...

Teresa, thanks a lot to this video, it's really incredible! I'm also starting to get too familiar with this insect, because the feral pigeons that come here everyday, most of them have it (yes... ), and many of them also have strings attached to their feet, and as you know I've been trying to catch them for a few weeks with no sucess yet.... And the thing is, there were a couple of these flies that already came very near me, because I pass some periods of time just standing there, trying to gain trust to catch them, and sometimes they even fly out of the pigeon, so I already got the chance to check them very close, and they way they move is totally diferent from what I've seen till now, because they seem to walk to the side, and even their legs are long, just like if they were a fly with spider legs, it's really

What do you recomend me to do, to help them with this? Should I get a spray and spray them? But you know how ferals are, they run away very quickly, and I'm also trying to catch them to take the strings off, so I really don't know what I should do...

Btw, Teresa: these are really nice pictures, good close ups,

I'm sure the world will aprecciate your effort and work! and video!

Thanks, Rosa!

I know what you mean about trying to get rid of the flies on a feral that doesn't come close enough. I have treated my whole feral flock with Ivermectin, but today I saw a fly on a pigeon -- I don't know if he wasn't here the day the flock was treated, or if the treatment wasn't effective. I'll have to watch the others carefully and see.

The spray I posted a picture of is really the best I've ever tried. But it only works if we can catch the pigeons... or the flies (YUK!!!).

PS. PIGEON FLIES CAN STING CATS AND DOGS -- I wonder if they will sting us too.

What a shock that must have been to see that fly land on your desk.

Thanks for posting the pictures and video. Many people hear about pigeon flies but have never seen one, which is a good thing actually, but it's also good to know what to look for.

Thanks for the heads up about the spray too.

AZWhitefeather wrote:

What a shock that must have been to see that fly land on your desk.

Thanks for posting the pictures and video. Many people hear about pigeon flies but have never seen one, which is a good thing actually, but it's also good to know what to look for.

Thanks for the heads up about the spray too.

Yes it was... horrible things! But at least there don't seem to be any more in the veranda, now I've put up the screens.

The Ivermectin seems to be working...

I saw a fly on Achilles, after he had been treated, but it must have been a new one that had just come in through the window, because if flew off, in a wobbly fashion and disappeared from sight near a bookshelf.
I found it a couple of hours later, dead, on top of my unfinished map!

I'm glad the Ivermectin seems to be doing it's job.
Those darn flies really are nasty little critters.

Guys just a quick tip if you get poultry dust and put it in the area where they land it will kick up in the air and land on their feathers. It will help stop the pigeon fly problem.

I'm not sure how I could do that, as the flies come in through the windows and can be found in any room, often on the walls or ceiling, and they are usually only found after they've landed on a pigeon, another pet, or us. That makes it very hard to know where to put the powder.
I suppose it's the problem we get with pigeons that live inside the house, and areas that can't be systematically dusted because of children and cats.

You could also try putting up Fly paper i've seen a few pigeon suppliers sell that stuff.

I hadn't thought of that! Good idea, thanks!