Updated at: 28-08-2022 - By: Jane Brody

Pigeons are commonplace in urban areas, therefore most people have encountered them before.

Everybody can pick up on their sounds, a unique cooing.

While the cooing probably won’t drive anyone crazy like a squawking parrot might, some may find it distracting.

Why Does A Pigeon Coo

This is typically the case for residents in areas where pigeons build nests.

There are various motivations for a pigeon to make a cooing sound:

to share information, to mate, and to warn of danger from a neighboring predator.

Our focus in this post will be on the following

  • Why do pigeons coo (In detail)
  • What other noises to pigeons make?
  • How do you stop pigeons cooing.

Find that intriguing?

Great!

Okay, so let’s begin!

Do Pigeons Coo?

Yes, pigeons do coo, and you would likely hear them frequently, especially if you frequently encounter them in the wild or on the streets.

It can feel endless at times.

I can now deduce what you’re thinking.

The cooing of pigeons begs the question: why?

Hmm, let’s investigate

Why Do Pigeons Coo?

Why Does A Pigeon Coo-2

Pigeons coo mostly to share information with one another.

Pigeons utilize cooing sounds to convey meaning to one another, just like people use spoken language to communicate.

Pigeons, in particular, are known to make cooing sounds when trying to woo a potential mate or assert their territorial claims.

When you hear a group of pigeons cooing, it’s probably because they’re trying to attract mates.

Pigeons coo to attract females, just as other birds may dance around a potential mate to woo her.

Check out my essay, Pigeons Kissing (What does it mean? ), which I think you’ll find fascinating.

Of course, there are many contexts in which cooing is not employed for sexual arousal.

When a pigeon colony discovers a predator in its midst, the birds will coo together to warn their fellow pigeons.

Flocks of pigeons will also coo at each other to scare away predators or other intruders.

Do Pigeons Coo When They Are Happy?

Pigeons are vocal both when they are hungry and when they are satisfied.

This noise is basically utilized for diverse purposes and has different connotations depending on the context.

Pigeons will make a cooing sound when they are content, such as when they have located a good perch, like your balcony.

The act of feeding is another time when they are content and make happy noises.

When pigeons eat, either individually or in a swarm, they often make a cooing sound.

They all coo, which may be a sign of contentment.

Do all pigeons solely make the cooing sound?

Also, do they produce any other sounds?

Hmm, let’s investigate

What Other Noises Do Pigeons Make?

Why Does A Pigeon Coo-3

In spite of the fact that the coo is the sound most commonly associated with pigeons, these birds also emit a variety of other sounds.

These sounds may not be as common as cooing, but they are nevertheless interesting to observe.

Even though pigeons don’t have songs like many other bird species, you could occasionally hear one during mating season.

Very similar to cooing, but with a few key differences.

Indeed, such gurgling can have a lovely melody and ethereal quality.

They can also be heard grunting.

When pigeons make grunting sounds, it’s usually because they’re in distress.

When a pigeon is hurt or a predator is nearby, it will grunt.

Having a pet pigeon that grunts on the regular is not a good sign; if this is happening, it’s time to visit an avian vet.

Now that we understand pigeons’ underlying motivations for making their distinctive cooing sound and other vocalizations, let’s have a look at those sounds and noises.

You may be curious in or interested in finding out how to silence the pigeons.

Most notably if they have a nest in the area of your residence.

Keep reading to learn more.

How Do You Stop Pigeons Cooing?

Since cooing is an innate behavior for pigeons, it is hard to entirely silence one.

It would be inhumane to somehow prevent it from ever cooing again, given that this is its primary means of communication with the rest of the flock.

However, a pigeon’s constant cooing outside your home from its nest can be extremely bothersome.

There are measures you may take to prevent pigeons from roosting in your neighborhood.

Most pigeons visit buildings in search of food, thus removing any potential sources of that will discourage pigeons from hanging around.

Don’t feed the birds any scraps, and keep your bins closed.

Smart as a whip, pigeons will rapidly learn to associate your home with free meals if you keep providing it with scraps.

Installation of spikes around window ledges, on the roof, and other potential roosting spots can deter pigeons.

As a result of the spikes, pigeons will be less likely to make that area their home.

Another option is to install reflective surfaces around your home, which will cause the pigeons’ eyes to be bothered as they circle your property.

Why Do Pigeons Coo In The Morning?

I’ve always assumed that pigeons coo before sunrise as a means of establishing social bonds with one another.

It is possible that the pigeons are making their calls to advertise their territory or to attract potential mates.

They may be calling out to the other pigeons all morning because they can’t find them.

This is likely why pigeons caw so early in the day.

Wrapping Up 

While it can be annoying when pigeons won’t stop cooing, the sound is really fairly normal for these birds.

In order to mate and stay safe, the flock communicates with one another in this way.

The greatest way to reduce the amount of cooing you hear around your home is to prevent pigeons from roosting there.

Do not provide pigeons with food and remove sources of it from their environment.

Putting up spikes or shiny surfaces can also help deter birds.

 

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