Pigeons mostly fight over space, nest sites, mates and food. Males (cocks) do most of the fighting, especially in spring when they are claiming nest boxes, and they slap with their wings and peck at each other’s heads. Most squabbles last a few seconds and do no harm, but birds kept in a crowded loft or cage can injure each other.
Fights can cause serious injuries that are costly to treat, so if you keep pet pigeons, knowing the causes helps you prevent them.
1. They Are New to Each Other
Chances are that if you introduce new pigeons to each other, it will take a bit of time for them to get used to being together.
This can result in some pecking and fighting as each of the birds exerts dominance and claims its space.
Fortunately, pigeons are generally pretty easy going and enjoy interacting with each other, so this initial bickering should go away once the pigeons get used to one another.
2. They’re Being Possessive
While pigeons do tend to get along with each other for the most part, sometimes they can get possessive, which can lead to fighting.
If you have a pigeon who prefers a certain perch, nest, or feeder, you may notice that it starts nitpicking the other pigeons if they try to take a place on that perch, nest, or feeder.
This does not usually result in violence and the birds tend to make their own peace and give each other space when this happens.
3. They Want to Be First
Much like human children, you will notice that some pigeons want to be first at the feeder to eat or first to get water when you refill the water source.
If the pigeon feels like another bird is trying to take his first place spot, there may be some fighting as a result.
Again, this usually doesn’t turn violent, but it helps the pigeons learn to get along with one another and provide each other with the space needed when eating and drinking.
4. They are Marking Their Territory
Fighting over territory is likely something you’ll see more among feral pigeons than pet pigeons, but you might still notice that your pigeons squabble over who gets to be where from time to time.
If you’ve recently introduced a new pigeon to the enclosure, the other birds might battle it out for space until they all get used to each other. This is normal behavior and doesn’t usually turn into a big problem.
5. They are Protecting Their Babies
Naturally, parent pigeons will want to protect their babies so if another bird gets too close to the nest where eggs or hatchlings are, a fight is likely to break out.
The babies won’t get involved in the fighting, but the mother or father pigeon will peck or otherwise fight with another bird that gets too close.
This ensures that the babies survive until they are ready to leave the nest and is totally normal behavior among pigeons.
6. They Fight Over Food
Chances are that if you have pet pigeons, you provide them with adequate food for their needs so you might not see them fighting over the food supply.
However, feral pigeons will often get into arguments over food, especially if it’s scarce and the birds are hungry.
When other pigeons approach that food, a squabble can break out if one sees the other as a threat.
Hunger is a driving force for many birds and fighting over food is fairly common, but rarely turns deadly or dangerous.
7. They are Asserting Dominance
Another reason why pigeons might fight is to assert their dominance over other pigeons.
This is most common when a new bird is introduced. The birds that are already there will try to claim their space and keep the newcomer from taking over.
This is common among both pet pigeons and those living in the wild but doesn’t tend to last too long or get too violent.
Generally, the birds get used to each other and the squabbling stops.
8. They are Claiming a Mate
Pigeons mate for life so if they worry that another pigeon may be trying to steal their mate, they naturally go into fighting mode.
Pigeons very rarely leave one mate to go with another, but pigeons will still stand strong and claim their mate if they feel like another pigeon is trying to claim him or her.
Fighting or courting?
Courtship can look rough. A cock chasing a hen, puffing up, bowing and cooing, or a pair pecking at each other’s beaks (billing), is normal mating behaviour, not fighting. A real fight usually involves two birds facing each other, slapping with raised wings and pecking hard at the head and neck, often until one runs off.
When to step in
- One bird is bleeding, especially around the head, eyes or cere.
- One bird is cornered and can’t get away.
- The same bird is attacked again and again, or is kept off food and water.
- A bird is attacking squabs in another nest.
Separate the birds, check for wounds and keep an injured bird on its own until it heals. Deep or bleeding wounds need a vet. See what to do with an injured pigeon. With wild pigeons, it is best to leave squabbles alone unless a bird is clearly hurt.
For pet pigeons kept indoors, the US rescue Palomacy advises that only a mated pair should share a cage (opens in new tab).
How to Prevent Fighting Among Your Pigeons
Naturally, you don’t want your pigeons to hurt each other or be scared of their environment. That means breaking up fights and making sure your pigeons are treating each other well.
If you are introducing a new pigeon to the roost, try using a piece of chicken wire to divide the enclosure so they can get used to being around each other without being able to fight.
You should also limit the number of pigeons you have in one location. The more birds you have, the less space each has available, which increases the risk of fighting among them.
When your pigeons are mating, incubating their eggs, or taking care of their babies, make sure they have some space away from the other birds so they don’t feel the need to fight to protect their mates and babies.
When it comes to wild pigeons, there are some steps you can take to keep them from fighting as well. Don’t feed them as that just encourages large groups of pigeons to continue coming back to the same place. And the more pigeons there are the more fighting is likely to occur.
Blocking the ledges and gaps where feral pigeons nest also cuts down squabbles over nest sites.
If feral pigeons are a problem near you, our guide to keeping pigeons away covers humane methods that work.
Sources
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Behavior