Pigeons can be trained. Pigeons are intelligent birds with good learning and memory skills for a bird, and in a 1981 experiment trained pigeons appeared to pass a version of the mirror test, although scientists still debate whether this shows real self-recognition.
Racing pigeons have a well-developed homing instinct, but they still need training. Owners handle the chicks every day, encourage them to leave the loft at about six weeks, feed them on a regular schedule with a command signal or sound, and release them at gradually longer distances from home.
Training or Tricks?
Because of their noted intelligence, pigeons have featured in experiments in the fields of comparative psychology and animal cognition.
They have been trained to press levers or peck at buttons to receive a food treat.
Once they had learned the basics of the exercise, the controls releasing their rewards were changed.
Some had their positions changed and others were hidden, but in many cases the pigeons quickly learned to find the correct button again.
Pigeons Can Be Trained In Tumor Detection
Pigeons have amazing visual skills.
This is linked to how they find their way when flying.
It is said that homing pigeons can easily memorize landscapes while flying.
In one of the famous experiments using pigeons, they could accurately distinguish between paintings by Monet and Picasso.
Taking this idea, researchers wondered if the pigeons’ abilities extended to X-rays.
In a 2015 study, they trained pigeons to look at microscope images of breast tissue.
The task was to tell whether the tissue was malignant or benign.
Individual pigeons were about 85% accurate, and the combined votes of a group of pigeons were about 99% accurate.
Pigeons haven’t been used as frontline diagnosticians as yet, despite their success, but who knows what the future holds?
How to Train Your Pigeon?
Any kind of animal training takes bags of patience and time.
Training should be done with kindness, not cruelty.
Rewarding them with treats is the best way to get their attention and imprint what you want them to do on their minds.
Pigeons are quick learners and can distinguish between voice commands or the use of clicker devices.
Pigeons are also very observant: they use their visual abilities every second they are awake.
Pigeons Can Learn To Dance
Pigeons are said to like music so training them to dance is by no means impossible.
If you want them to dance, it’s best to use music with a good beat or rhythm.
Pigeons are thought to sense the earth’s magnetic field when flying.
They also hear very low sounds that people cannot hear, though there is no evidence that they enjoy a beat the way we do.
Of course, it wouldn’t work on some feral pigeon that you’ve picked out in some inner city square.
The pigeon will have to have a close relationship with you. A relationship of trust and friendship, like a pet.
Putting on some music and shouting ‘Dance’ isn’t going to work.
The thing about pigeons is that they are intelligent enough to follow instructions, but they have to be shown first.
Dancing to the beat of the music in front of your pigeon, plus command signals and rewards will give them the idea.
That and a lot of patience.
What Other Tricks Could A Pigeon Learn?
As pigeons have the ability to distinguish between different objects, you could train your pigeon to make choices on command.
Maybe choose your clothes or fashion accessories?
Maybe train your pigeon to come or go on command?
Parrots can be trained to talk or at least imitate sounds, but pigeons don’t have that kind of vocal ability, so that’s out.
Other birds can be trained to wave by lifting a wing. With the intelligence of pigeons, that shouldn’t be so difficult.
If your mind has a criminal bent, you could train your pigeon to be a pickpocket.
Magpies have a reputation for nicking shiny things, although studies suggest this is largely a myth.
Surely, a pigeon could be trained to pick a pocket or two?
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Training