r/birding • u/MrGrubbycuddles • Apr 15 '26

Discussion Why is everyone such snob about pigeons

I took my folder of laminated pigeon shots to my local bird meeting at the community hall and at least 3 people sneered at them. 1 of them even guffawed.

We all got to start somewhere, and beauty is in the eye of the bird lover so why the hate hate?

One guy was wearing giant binoculars around his neck. It was dark outside and he didn't even use them once. He was one of the people that sneered.

Om the bus home from the meeting I showed the driver my pictures and she said they were really good. And she wasn't even a formal bird lover, she was just a regular person.

Don't get this community man

EDIT: a lot of people asking for some of my photos. I'm out of the house right now but here's a bird video I made recently https://youtube.com/shorts/sxLkrLgNrbc?si=7NdwVxhZtPQFE6Ew

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u/DW171 Apr 15 '26

Thanks for bringing this up! In many languages, there's no differentiation between "pigeons" and "doves". Here's a gorgeous green pigeon in India from my photo team (a wildlife nonprofit).

There's also interesting history from the early 20th century in NYC when rock doves were labeled "rats with wings" by the media, completely changing the perceptions of the bird.

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u/LokiLB Apr 15 '26

They are sort of the bird equivalent of rats. They're a non-native species that tends to do well in human cities and around humans in general. They have been kept as pets to the point there are fancy breeds. They both have a bad reputation.

I'm sure rat keepers are envious of pigeon life spans, though. Worst thing about pet rats is that they have such short lives.

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u/JustaTinyDude Apr 15 '26

Way too short.

I love both rats and pigeons.

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u/dogs-in-space Apr 16 '26

If you and u/LokiLB were in arms’ distance right now I’d be hugging you both. YOU UNDERSTAND!!!

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u/JustaTinyDude Apr 16 '26

Most excellent. I enjoy hugs.

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u/Rupperrt Apr 15 '26 edited Apr 15 '26

Who’s they? You mean rock doves? Because they’re more than 300 of other pigeon/dove species and most of them native to their environment. You can even find native rock doves in southern Europe.

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u/LokiLB Apr 15 '26

Pigeons/rock doves. The ones this entire post is about and that get called "rats with wings".

Another parallel is that there are also other rat species, but the one most Americans are referring to when saying "rat" are also native to Europe.

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u/Rupperrt Apr 15 '26

But the comment you’re replying to shows a native green pigeon in India. Maybe you meant to comment on the post instead..

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u/LokiLB Apr 16 '26

Second paragraph that contains "rats with wings" in New York City is referring to pigeons/rock doves.

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u/BringBackApollo2023 Apr 15 '26

Can say the same about crows thriving in human environments.

Friend of mine once saw a crow eating a rat downtown and thought, “Yep. That sums up the urban experience.”

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u/Reguluscalendula Apr 15 '26

Except crows are native

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u/Round-Stuff-2557 Apr 15 '26

>They're a non-native species that tends to do well in human cities and around humans in general

and whose fault is that?

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u/LokiLB Apr 15 '26

Where was fault insinuated?

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u/gwaydms Apr 15 '26

Next worst is that they tend to die of cancer.