Pigeon whistles are a small device that is attached to a pigeon that emits a whistling noise while the bird is in flight.
Best known from China, they are used mainly for their sound, and some keepers believe they help deter birds of prey.
What Is a Pigeon Whistle?
A pigeon whistle also sometimes known as a pigeon flute, geling 鸽铃 or geshao 鸽哨 in China, is a small, lightweight whistling instrument that is attached to the tail feathers of a pigeon and then carried by the bird to create an eerie, flute-like sound when it is in flight.
Traditional whistles were made from lightweight materials like bamboo (opens in new tab) and hollowed-out gourds and were attached using toggles to ensure no harm was caused to the bird.
Early uses of pigeon whistles are said to have ranged from attaching them to birds in order to deter predators who might be in the mood for an easy pigeon-shaped snack, to incorporating pigeons into human warfare and battle strategy by using them to create a tactical diversion against an enemy army.
Today, they are used mainly for the sound they make in flight.
How Do Pigeon Whistles Work?
The device is fixed to the rear of the bird.
This places the whistle in the stream of air that flows past the pigeon in flight.
Then the passage of air through the device makes a sound – in the same way as blowing a musical instrument like a flute.
At a suitable speed, air enters the openings that face forward and strikes a sharp edge inside, which makes the air in the chamber vibrate.
The result is a tone that lasts as long as air keeps flowing through.
The tiny tunnels and holes (apertures) in the pigeon whistles can vary in width and this can shape the airflow differently as it leaves the chamber.
What results from these varying apertures is a different note as the pigeons fly around.
In practice, a flock carrying whistles with different notes can produce chords.
Sound can vary with different flight trajectories as well as speed.
During turns and tumbles, air can pass the whistle without entering it, and the whistle goes silent.
It can be a bit of a learning curve to learn about the individual style and acrobatics of your pigeons, so you’ll need a few experiments and unsuccessful tries until you find the most aerodynamic spot on the pigeon’s rear to produce the best range of sounds.
The History of The Pigeon Whistle
Pigeon whistles were first used extensively in Asia but have seen a decline due to urbanization and pigeon-keeping regulations.
The origins of the pigeon whistle lie in ancient Chinese history.
Although they were probably used much earlier, the earliest known written mentions date back to the Northern Song dynasty, which lasted from 960 to 1127.
According to these records, the army of the Western Xia kingdom used pigeons with whistles as a signal when it attacked the Song army.
By the middle of the following Southern Song dynasty, which lasted from 1127 to 1279, pigeon whistles had become common among ordinary people, not just soldiers.
Closer to modern times, the early part of the Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912) was a period of relative peace in China.
During this period, the soldiers enlisted in the Eight Banners regiment had more leisure time than ever before and were stationed in Beijing instead of being constantly on the move for various campaigns.
They received allowances of both grain and money from the state, and as a result, several different hobbies and interests began to develop that included the raising of animals like crickets, fish and, importantly, birds!
The more time the Chinese people (and soldiers in particular) were able to spend on their hobbies, the more they could perfect them, and this is when things like pigeon whistles were refined and became a completely mainstream part of Chinese and pigeon fancying culture.
The creation of pigeon whistles was so popular because the materials needed to create them were inexpensive.
Some well-known whistle makers are said to have refused to take on apprentices, so many people worked out how to make their own whistles, which may explain why whistle designs vary so much.
This secrecy may also have contributed to the decline of the craft.
Today, very few craftsmen can make a high-quality pigeon whistle by hand.
The pigeon whistle has seen some interesting uses.
Taiwanese pigeon fanciers used to use them on their racing birds and there is anecdotal evidence that at one point, the American army used them on their carrier pigeons.
A popular story says that old banking houses in Beijing used pigeons to exchange messages, and that these birds carried whistles carved with animal heads that could play several tones at once.
A flock of pigeons carrying whistles is said to have been released in Tiananmen Square in 1986 to mark the official state visit of Queen Elizabeth II to China (opens in new tab).
In recent decades, their use has declined.
Pigeon whistles were once very common in Beijing; today they are rare.
The Pitt Rivers Museum (opens in new tab) in Oxford, England has an interesting collection of sound recordings and also examples of traditional whistles from China and Indonesia.
These inspired the museum’s composer in residence, Nathaniel Mann, to make music with pigeon whistles. He has since demonstrated them at pigeon events around the UK and helped revive interest in them.
Where Can I Buy a Genuine Chinese Pigeon Whistle?
There are plenty of modern pigeon whistles available for a range of prices online.
Some are made from plastic and other synthetic materials that have been completely machine manufactured and won’t cost you much more than a few pounds or dollars on the big-name retail sites.
On the other hand, the more ornate, hand-crafted wooden pigeon whistles that are still made by master craftsmen in China are at the complete other end of the spectrum.
If you find an old one for sale, expect a high price, depending on its age and history.
You can also find tutorials online that teach you how to make homemade pigeon whistles from things like old film canisters!
Last updated 24 October 2026 · Facts