Male Pigeons Increase Nesting Roles During Food Scarcity
Male pigeons take on a larger share of incubation duties when food becomes scarce, allowing females more time to forage, according to new research.
Male urban pigeons increase their contribution to egg incubation when food availability declines, allowing females more time to search for sustenance, new research reveals. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) found this flexibility in parental roles helps maintain near-continuous nest attendance even under more challenging conditions.
The study examined 75 pigeon nests across three cities with feeding bans. Results showed that when food was plentiful, females accounted for 81% of incubation duties and males for 17%. As food availability reduced, female incubation dropped to 75%, while male participation rose to 22%. This shift ensured the nest remained almost continuously attended.
The research compared freely nesting pigeons, which had to find their own food, with pigeons in managed lofts with reliable food supplies. Weight sensors revealed that females under feeding bans were, on average, 35 grams or 10% lighter than well-fed females, indicating depleted energy reserves. No significant weight differences were observed in males.
Researchers suggest this flexible parenting model may influence urban pigeon population management strategies. They propose replacing eggs with dummy eggs could be a more welfare-conscious approach than feeding bans, which might lead to starvation among young pigeons due to lack of food.