Pigeons bow, or bob, mainly as part of their mating ritual, and it is most pronounced in the mating season when young cocks are looking for a mate. Pigeons also bob while walking: their legs are set far back on the body, so the movement helps them balance, and because their eyes are on the sides of the head, it keeps their view steady.
The Act Of Bowing
The cock starts his courtship ritual by puffing out his neck feathers, he then lowers his head in a bow and turns in circles to catch the attention of the female.
It’s very much like a young macho human on the beach, flexing his muscles for the girls to admire.
At first, the female often seems to ignore him.
Tail Dragging
When the female pigeon walks away, head in the air, the cock, desperate not to be ignored, turns to other measures to gain her interest.
The young male will spread his tail feathers and drag them along the ground, pirouetting and bowing to capture her attention.
Driving
Next, he tries to separate her from the flock.
He runs closely behind the female, herding her away from the other partner-seeking males.
He keeps up this rapid walking and repetitive cooing, until she is ready to accept him.
Billing
Billing is essentially a pigeon kiss, it looks very much like kissing or pecking. At the end of the chase, the boy finally gets the girl and they kiss.
In actual fact, the male feeds the female with regurgitated food. Sort of like taking her out for a meal.
The female puts her beak into his beak to take the food. Usually, some preening takes place too.
Mating
Mating between pigeons is a brief and awkward affair.
The male has to climb on top of the female and flap its wings to balance.
Clapping
That accomplished, the cock is so happy that he shows his joy by a display flight.
To make sure the world knows, especially his mates and rivals, he soars into the sky and often claps his wings loudly while in flight.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Behavior