pigeons in love
By jb78000
@jb78000 (15139)
December 29, 2009 7:23am CST
well we have already discussed the rather unromantic habits of greek tortoises and i think a lot of people have seen pigeons courting - the male fluffs himself out and chases a clearly uninterested female down the pavement (if you haven't i have put a link in at the end).
however the romantic life of some animals is a lot more spectacular/interesting than this. some birds put on very dramatic displays or give the females pebbles. a lot of mammals concentrate rather more on fighting with the competition (deer for example) and even snails spend some time getting to know each other before getting down to business.
so romantic behaviour by animals have you witnessed and what was your impression - spectacular, cute, or rather silly?
and here is mr pigeon trying to impress mrs pigeon, who is more interested in her lunch by the looks of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_KCvSRGlD0&feature=related
4 people like this
10 responses
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
29 Dec 09
I mean Not so much the discussion subject,but bearing her phobia about using links in mind..how are you going to get Her to watch Mr Pigeon totally failing to impress?
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Dec 09
ShepherdSpy, I don't like flying rats so I won't be pressing the link, I know what jb's on about already so don't need to watch it. It would be much more watchable anyway if she had used tortoises.
Rabbit, your link doesn't work, please provide a synopsis.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Dec 09
Hi jb, well I'd presumed that the tortoises may have been being romantic at some point before being disturbed in their activities by my happening along, which is one reason I thought Mr Tortoise could have stopped what he was doing and scarpered up hill at amazing speed. Then you had to go and spoil it by telling me Mr Tortoise would rather not be doing it in the first place. But being an optimist I like to think that Mrs Tortoise found it all a romantic experience before he cleared off in a hurry.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
29 Dec 09
thea i never told you about the male tortoise's feelings on this matter. i have no idea how mr tortoise feels about it. you are either making stuff up or confusing dreams with mylot. again. anyway i will shortly go looking for a link to tortoise courtship rituals and add it here
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Dec 09
hi jb blue bunny you. I think its the grouse where the male bird makes his tail feathers look twice the size they are then does '
a convoluted dance trying to get the bored little lady grouse
to pay some attention, He even makes some odd sounds and she 'goes on picking up bugs. I never could figure out how the boy
grouse made his tail seem so much bigger as it was not that big
looking to me before he went into this odd exotic little dance. when he finally got close to the lady grouse, I left the courting couple to their own party.he he he.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168136)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Dec 09
We sure got a kick out of that! I made the comment to my grandson after watching it:"So, you will know what I mean when you are older and getting ready to go out and I ask you if you are getting ready to go pebble giving you will know what I mean-?" Got a laugh. I remember seeing elk and rams in rut. Looks like headache time to me!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168136)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Dec 09
It is. I have a special attachment to pebbles since as a kid I would find ones I liked polish them and had them in a coffee can under my bed for the longest times. Tortoises are resourceful little reps.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
30 Dec 09
Hello, Judith. The pigeons in Cornwall are more interested in fighting over Cornish Pasty crumbs than impressing lady pigeons. I've seen quite a few birds doing courtship performances in the orange groves here, and it usually involves some singing as well, which is lovely to hear.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
30 Dec 09
We don't have Greggs down in Cornwall, Judith. It's more a northern thing, I think. We do have lots of lovely independent bakeries, though, and the locals buy their pasties from them. Visitors go for Ginsters, because they can get them all over the country, and they think they're proper pasties! 
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
30 Dec 09
I find the courting of all animals that I see around me cute and amusing. And in all cases, I see the male chasing a supposedly disinterested female…and it makes me think whether the females are really not interested or do they play hard to get! I think it’s the latter and just goes to show how all animals (included us humans) are so alike in most of our basic instincts.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
30 Dec 09
i think it is like this with a lot of birds (and others). the males would not be bothering if the females were definitely not interested, however the females are looking for the best possibly mate so the mr pigeons are going to have to make a huge effort. if you look at tony's bowerbird video you'll see something similar.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
30 Dec 09
Yes, I've seen this behaviour in local pigeons and it's really quite funny! I think it's real cute! Sometimes I wish I was a pigion as I'm sure it doesn't have any inhibitions when trying to attract a mate! There are times when you are waiting at a bus-stop and there's this pigion that suddenly flies close to you and then another one and then this wacky behaviour begins! I find it very funny particuarly when I look upon the face of others and see their responses! Andrew
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
30 Dec 09
Courting birds are hilarious, but then I bet those same birds think that courting humans are also hilarious...and we really are when you think about the primping and simpering and such we do.
@cecila (11)
• India
30 Dec 09
why are you trying to focus pigeons love especially? are you a animal psychologist? interesting to read your discussion. each one has different style of their love making to impress their partner! Good observation!
