Woodpigeon's Silent Courtship

In a surprisingly silent manner this pair of Woodpigeon engage in pre-copulatory courtship feeding, followed by copulation and a bout of mutual carressing, billing and preening. Apologies for the passing train. The clips are un-edited and sound was taken via a shotgun microphone directed towards the birds. Distant traffic and other birds in the vicinity can be heard quite clearly, but the Woodpigeons are strangely silent.
In the past, Woodpigeons used to nest in late summer as their breeding success depended on the autumn wheat crops. Changes in farming practices since the 1960's and the subsequent changes in cereal crop harvest times may have resulted in Woodpigeons adapting to a new regime. I haven't come across any study material on this subject, but I suspect this may be the case.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Woodpigeon
• Columba
• palumbus
• courtship
• sex
• copulation
• preening
• billing
• caressing
• stephen
• cummings
• Luddenden
• Calderdale

[1065chris]

You say this was courtship feeding with pigeons no food is passed between its just kissing it just reinforces the pair bond

[TheBaldIbis]

@1065chris Whilst you may be correct, and the angle of the camera prevents us seeing exactly what is happening, I must disagree. Quoting R.K. Murton ..."Nestling wood-pigeons...stimulate the adults to produce food by nibbling at the feathers surrounding the adults crop...(causing)..retching in the adults....submissive posturing....involve the female adopting juvenile food begging responses and the same seems to be the case in pigeons. Caressing may be followed by courtship feeding, but the....

[TheBaldIbis]

@1065chris ......frequent appearance of caressing without this suggests another ritualised display." from The Woodpigeon 1965

Notice at 0.09, 0.18, 0.25 and 0.33, that the male is opening and closing his bill rapidly and making what appears to be retching actions. Unfortunately we cannot see a corresponding swallowing action in the female as she is hidden by the male and the tree branch in the foreground.

[TheBaldIbis]

@1065chris Have a look at the video of two pheasant pigeons courtship feeding on The Internet Bird Collecttion

[ZimoP]

Adorable! 1:14 is the absolute climax of all cuteness :)

[mmbmbmbmb]

Astonishing and beautiful film! Thank you!

No need to apologize for the train. That in fact makes the following silence even more effective and apparent.

[vegunited06]

i wish i was a pigeon