Mating Rituals

Several weeks ago when we spent a few relaxing days on the east coast of Whidbey Island, I watched mesmerized as pairs of pigeons performed mating rituals on the deck outside our room. According to the article, "Pigeons: Masters of Pomp and Circumstance" in the publication Zoo-goer (Smithsonian National Park), Howard Youth observes...

"Spend a few minutes watching pigeons, and you'll likely witness the behavior leading to copulation. Sexually active birds, usually males, frequently clap their wings together in a sort of advertising flight, and may combine the claps with an ostentatious glide, with wings held in a "V" and tails spread. On the ground, a male "drives," or chases, his mate away from other prospective suitors. A male then struts around his mate, eventually standing up, spreading his tail, and bowing to coo at her. Other intimate pigeon behavior includes billing, often a prelude to mating, when the female sticks her bill down the male's throat and takes an offering of regurgitated food, and allo-preening, when pairs lightly preen each other's heads. Once paired, pigeons may mate for life."

We witnessed this billing behavior regularly between female and male pigeons as well as preening of heads. As we observed quietly from behind the glass door, they remained oblivous to our interest.