What kind of pigeon is this? - Blanchard, OK; USA (1 Viewer)

[annsrum]

Can anyone identify the type of pigeon this is? She has been living on our home for a couple of weeks before I noticed her (I noticed the droppings first). I was cleaning them and then looked up and was totally shocked to see a ginormous pigeon up on the ledge of our house.

Also, is it really that dangerous (diseases) to have a pigeon living on your home (that is what one of my relatives told me)? We live in Oklahoma so it's not like there are tons of pigeons to come buddy up with her (I'm just calling it a girl since I don't know). So I don't think we are in danger of having a herd of pigeons coming to live with her. Also, I have rarely ever seen pigeons in Oklahoma and I was born here.

Also, can pigeons over winter in a place like Oklahoma? Oh and do they typically do damage to the structures they live on? Would it be a bad idea to feed her ( like would it make her stay over the winter when she should migrate )? And how can I tell if she is a feral pigeon as opposed to somebodies pet or carrier or racing type pigeon?

She is a pretty big bird too for a pigeon. I have not seen one this big before. She looks at least twice the size of the pigeons I saw when we visited Sante Fe one time.

Also, I cannot tell for sure since she tends to stay sitting most of the time, but it almost looks like she has long feathers near her feet like some chickens I once had.

Also this bird does not seem to be scared of me or the hose I was using to clean up the droppings. Even when I discovered her and stopped and stared at her for awhile and took photos she just looked at me with a totally unconcerned look.

I googled around trying to figure it out myself and she kinda looks like the Lahore pigeon as far as its markings. But since i am definitely no expert, that is a total guess.

Oh and I think there used to be (could still be) a person that raised fancy types of birds nearby as we used to regularly hear peacocks calling and there was a sign with birds drawn all over it and advertising birds for sale (sign is gone now).

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab14/annsrum/279865_4583750116461_553599141_o.jpg

Any guesses?

 

[BirdPI]

I'm pretty sure it's a lahore pigeon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore_(pigeon)
They are a type of 'fancy' pigeon. In other words, not a feral. Likely someone's pet that escaped and didn't return. Definitely not a racing pigeon either.

A non-feral pigeon might have difficulty surviving a winter without your help. It also may not be able to find food for itself very well. They can get quite domesticated. If I were you I'd give it a roost, maybe something like this: http://wildlifekate.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/pigeon-26thjuly.jpg , give it some seed, and have a nice pet, assuming no one claims it.

Pigeons poo does not produce disease any more than any other kind of poop. It is a myth that pigeons have super diseased poop:
Much is made of the potential to contract a disease from contact with pigeon droppings, but this is a myth and the likelihood of a human being contracting a disease from contact with pigeons or their excrement is virtually nil. In the main it is the media and the pest control industry that have perpetuated this myth, in both cases for profit. The media needs to sell newspapers and the pest control industry needs to sell its services. In both cases the public is being misled. Most experts are of the opinion that human contact with pigeons and/or their excrement is no more harmful than contact with a caged bird or any other family pet. The only way in which pigeon guano can have a detrimental effect on human health is where an individual who has a pre-existing respiratory condition comes into contact with large volumes of very well dried guano. In these cases it is possible that the inhalation of dust, created when large quantities of well-dried guano are disturbed, may irritate the bronchial passages.

source: http://www.pigeoncontrolresourcecentre.org/html/cleaning-pigeon-droppings.html

 

[stonechat1]

Agree with BirdPI on the ID, no doubt that it´s a Lahore.
There are lots of pigeon seed mixes where your bird will be happy about.
I can´t recommend the roost in BirdPI´s link. This seems to be nothing another that a feeder. I would advice a closed pigeon loft which prevents the bird from cold weather, something like this: http://www.abbeylawn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/10x6-loft.gif

BTW, wellcome at BF!

 

[BirdPI]

I can´t recommend the roost in BirdPI´s link. This seems to be nothing another that a feeder. I would advice a closed pigeon loft which prevents the bird from cold weather, something like this: http://www.abbeylawn.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/10x6-loft.gif

Well that's quite large and expensive for a pigeon that may just take off at any time and may even have an owner. A small shelter that keeps it out of the rain and wind should be suffice as I don't think Oklahoma gets really severe winters (I could be wrong on that).

 

[stonechat1]

Sorry, I didn´t find another image of a pigeon loft. They are all bigger when using any search machine. That´s why I wrote "something like this". For a single pigeon 1/3 of the size in the image is enough. Important only that it can use the wings and that it´s prevented from the weather. Don´t forget that it also needs to drink when temperature drops. I´m not familiar with the weather in annsrum´s country. But I breed racing pigeons when I was a teen and we are keeping a breed with the german name Altorientalisches Mövchen now (http://www.ktzv-n50.at/images/tauben/07 Schwarzgesaeumt.jpg)

 

[annsrum]

Winter's here can be on the mild side sometimes and feel like fall the entire time, but on others we can have ice covering everything in very thick coating that breaks the branches from the trees and cuts of power to people's homes. And sometimes snow that can be drifted into several feet deep. Our weather is somewhat unpredictable from year to year. January and February tend to be the coldest months.

The perch she has chosen is on the North side of the house and would be receiving the full blast of cold North wind if she is still there in the winter.

I will definitely look at the shelters you have suggested and will google the type of food she might want to eat. It is very interesting that she is likely a Lahore. She is very cute. I have been calling her midge. Speaking of which, is there any way to visually tell if it is a girl or a boy?

thanks!

 

[annsrum]

Oh and also she is pretty big. She looks almost the size of a hawk, cat, or small dog.

 

[BirdPI]

I will definitely look at the shelters you have suggested and will google the type of food she might want to eat. It is very interesting that she is likely a Lahore. She is very cute. I have been calling her midge.

The main thing is that the bird is insulated from wind and snow. Pigeon shelters can come in many forms.

Speaking of which, is there any way to visually tell if it is a girl or a boy?

It's tough to tell what sex a single pigeon. It is easier to tell by how they act within a group of other pigeons.

 

[annsrum]

thanks!

Thanks for all the info! I appreciate it! I guess I'll keep calling her Midge for now. :t:

 

[Rufio]

if you could knock something like this up it would be perfect

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...start=40&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbm=isch&um=1&itbs=1

shouldnt take too long either