Are Pigeons Related to Dodos . . .? (And Other Fantastic Facts)
You might not know this, but pigeons are included in a family of animals called Columbiformes, and this family is made up of quite a few different species. There are over three hundred bird species contained within, all doves and pigeons, and there is one very famous bird that also belonged to the same group — the dodo.
How do we know that pigeons are related to dodos? There are a few familiarities in the makeup of the birds themselves, and it is even believed that the extinct bird still has one very close relative, closer than other types of doves and pigeons — the Nicobar pigeon. (Take a look online for pictures of it; it is a wonderfully colorful bird!) Experts and scientists have also performed a number of experiments, and a DNA test showed that the dodo and doves/pigeons are indeed related.
Of course, pigeons and dodos have two VERY big differences — one of them is one of the most prolific pests, behind rats and other rodents, across the globe, while the other is absolutely extinct. Dead as a dodo, as the old saying goes.
There are actually some pigeon/dove species that ARE endangered, and the dodo isn't the only member of this family to have gone extinct. The "wild pigeon" or "passenger pigeon" is a species that was found in plentiful numbers across North America, believed to have gone extinct at some point in the early to mid 1910's. The reasons given for the extinction of this particular species is their high level of social ability, deforestation leading to massive loss in habitat, and hunting by humans.
We must remember that pest pigeons could easily become extinct, just as the passenger pigeon did, as a result of OUR actions — deforestation, building new residential and commercial/industrial land zones, and hunting to extreme. Things can change for these animals in the blink of an eye, and populations of almost ALL pigeon and dove species are decreasing at a rapid speed, according to experts.
What does this mean for you — the average property owner — with a pigeon problem?
In the United States, pigeons aren't covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and this is because they are a non-native bird, introduced by humans, along with some sparrows and starlings. That doesn't mean you're entirely in the clear, however. Pigeon and dove species that are considered to be threatened or endangered will be protected, at a state and potentially federal level. Before taking any action, you must check first the species of your pest, and then the conservation status of that pest.