Strange behaviour of wood pigeons

[Peter James]

This was posted originally to "uk.rec.gardening" and I thought to
re-post it here as one of the resident "gurus" might have an answer.

"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."

Peter

[Malcolm]

Post by Peter James
This was posted originally to "uk.rec.gardening" and I thought to
re-post it here as one of the resident "gurus" might have an answer.
"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."

Sunbathing or anting.

[Peter James]

Post by Malcolm

Post by Peter James
This was posted originally to "uk.rec.gardening" and I thought to
re-post it here as one of the resident "gurus" might have an answer.
"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."

Sunbathing or anting.

If they were anting wouldn't they have their wings spread or semi
spread? The OP definately said in a later posting that their wings were
fully folded.

Do birds actually sunbathe?

Peter

[Malcolm]

Post by Peter James

Post by Malcolm

Post by Peter James
This was posted originally to "uk.rec.gardening" and I thought to
re-post it here as one of the resident "gurus" might have an answer.
"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."

Sunbathing or anting.

If they were anting wouldn't they have their wings spread or semi
spread? The OP definately said in a later posting that their wings were
fully folded.
Do birds actually sunbathe?

Yes. A paper in British Birds in 1969 on sunbathing in birds listed over
170 species of 48 families across the world, with a couple of dozen
species in the pigeon/dove family, including Woodpigeon.

[unknown]

Post by Peter James
Do birds actually sunbathe?
Peter

I'm very used to seeing robins and blackbirds sunbathing in my garden,
sometimes together. They are particularly easy to photograph while doing so!

Mike.

[Michael J Davis]

Post by Peter James
This was posted originally to "uk.rec.gardening" and I thought to
re-post it here as one of the resident "gurus" might have an answer.
"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."

Not anting, here. Yesterday I was watching a pigeon sitting in the area
below the bird feeders, where it regularly gleans dropped seed. However
while it was sitting it was picking up twigs and dropping them casually,
and trying to reach (without getting up) some that were further away.

Yes it was sunny, but the bird was half in the shade.

My conclusion - laziness! ;-)

Mike

[Gordon H]

Post by Peter James
This was posted originally to "uk.rec.gardening" and I thought to
re-post it here as one of the resident "gurus" might have an answer.
"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."
Peter

I don't know why, unless it cools them off on a hot day, - they have
been doing the same on my lawn, but more often they sit in the bird
bath, that might be a clue. :-)

[Darkside]

In article <3Eqrt.27086$***@fx14.fr7>, Gordon H <***@g3snx.demon
.co.invalid> writes

Post by Gordon H

Post by Peter James
"Does anyone know why wood pigeons lie down in the grass on our lawn?
We've seen several of them do it but can't say we've noticed it
particularly before this year. It doesn't seem to matter whether the
grass has just been cut or not, nor whether it's rained or is dry.
They're alone when they do it and often remain stationary for several
minutes. We haven't noticed that the collared doves do it, only the
wood pigeons, it seems."

I don't know why, unless it cools them off on a hot day, - they have
been doing the same on my lawn, but more often they sit in the bird
bath, that might be a clue. :-)

Sometimes a bird just has nothing to do. It isn't breeding, it's had
enough to eat. So it can roost in a tree, or if there's a place where
it's safe from ambush by predators it can sit there.

[yttiw]

Yes. I always assume that (just like many mammals) birds that have
eaten a large amount tend to feel lethargic and may just sit and rest
somewhere in order to digest the food they have eaten.

I have never noticed a wood pigeon just sitting on my lawn doing
nothing, but they do seem to just walk around by the pond and
occasionally peck at a few leaves without seeming to take much interest
in what they are doing.

On a slight tangent, this morning I was watching a parent great tit
scurrying around the garden feeding four fledglings which were sitting
on branches of the plum tree. One baby seemed quite content to bury its
head in its wing feathers and presumably doze off for a short while. It
did not appear to be ill, and took food if the parent flew up and
disturbed it.

I think we all know that "phew, I just need to rest here for a while" feeling.

[s***@googlemail.com]

Iv got one my back garden right now it hit the window and is fearless about me being out there next to it started turning it's head right round backwards and bowing a bit then just ran in circles for a little bit ran into my leg as if it wasn't even there. On redcar uk

[j***@gmail.com]

I have seen this recently about 3 hours after I've watered the lawn. I think that the pigeons are sunning on top with their claws cool.

[j***@gmail.com]

Very pretty -covid confined and limited things to observe in my garden.