Perhaps this happens all the time, but I’ve never seen it. I looked out my window yesterday morning expecting the regular songbirds at my feeder station but instead I found this monster staring back at me:
Not that we don’t see pigeons in the neighborhood; a house down the street often has a dozen perched on its ridge and they periodically make sorties over our place. I’ve never seen one eating at a feeder before though, and I wouldn’t have guessed that my hopper could accommodate a bird of this carriage. The Morning Doves have enough trouble squeezing onto it.
I have a confession to make. I’m actually fond of pigeons. When you see them somewhere other than a strip mall parking lot you can appreciate their fundamental dove-ness, and their plumage can be quite beautiful.
Sure enough, it fits! Between the pigeon and an invasion of House Sparrows my feeder was cleaned out in a few hours. I suppose it’s time to switch to black-oil sunflower for a bit, though I’d hate to think that we’d fail to attract American Tree Sparrows this winter.
Rock Pigeon
South Burlington, Vermont
October 2013
Canon 400mm f/5.6L at f/5.6, 1/800s, ISO500
Tags: chittenden county, rock pigeon, south burlington, yard birds
Pingback: Marginalia » Unusual Feeder Bird!