This page answers the most common questions about how a pigeon’s body works. For the beak and cere, see pigeon beak and pigeon cere. For eyesight, see pigeon eyesight.
Do pigeons have teeth?
No. Like all living birds, pigeons have no teeth. They swallow seeds whole. Food goes to the crop for storage and softening, then to the gizzard, a muscular stomach that grinds it against small stones the bird has swallowed. This is why kept pigeons need grit (see do pigeons need grit).
The tooth-billed pigeon of Samoa is named for the tooth-like notches on its lower bill. They are part of the beak, not real teeth.
Do pigeons have ears?
Yes. Birds have no outer ear flaps, but a pigeon has an ear opening on each side of the head, a little behind and below the eye, covered by soft feathers. Inside are a middle ear and an inner ear similar in function to ours. The inner ear also controls balance.
Pigeons hear very low sounds well below the range humans can hear (infrasound). Researchers have suggested this may help them navigate, though that is still debated. See how do pigeons navigate.
Do pigeons blink?
Yes. Pigeons have upper and lower eyelids, and they also have a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane. This is a thin, almost clear membrane that sweeps sideways across the eye to clean and moisten it, often while the head is moving. It is fast and transparent, so you rarely notice it.
Do pigeons have tongues?
Yes. A pigeon’s tongue is small, narrow and pointed, and sits in the floor of the lower beak. It helps move food to the throat. Pigeons are also unusual among birds in how they drink: they keep the beak in the water and draw it up in one go, rather than scooping and tipping the head back.
Pigeons have taste buds, far fewer than humans, and can tell some tastes apart.
Why do pigeons’ wings make a noise when they fly?
The clatter you hear when a pigeon takes off comes from the wings hitting each other and the air at the top and bottom of each beat. In some species the sound carries a message. A 2017 study at the Australian National University found that the crested pigeon has a narrow eighth primary feather that makes a high note on each wingbeat. When a bird flees, the faster beat changes the sound and other pigeons take off in response, so the noise works as an alarm.
Do pigeons fart?
There is no good evidence that they do. Birds have a short gut and food moves through it fast, which leaves less time for the bacterial fermentation that makes gas in mammals. Researchers have not studied it closely, so the honest answer is that pigeon farts, if they happen, have never been recorded.
Other quick facts
- Feathers: the green and purple shine on a pigeon’s neck comes from the structure of the feathers rather than pigment. See iridescent feathers.
- Eyes: the eye colour of a pigeon can be orange, red, pearl or dark depending on breed and age. See why do pigeons have red eyes.
- Feet: feral pigeons often have damaged or missing toes, usually from string and hair wrapped around them. See why do pigeons have bad feet.
- Size: see how big is a pigeon.
Last updated 21 October 2026 · Facts