Pigeons are everywhere. They are seen in nearly all urban cities around the world, living and interacting closely with humans. But, have you ever wondered how much does a pigeon weigh?
Weight varies depending on the size of a pigeon. Aside from this, it can also vary according to the bird type. Typically, the average weight of a pigeon that we commonly see is around 250-350 in grams and 0.6-1 in pounds.
Table of Contents
All About a Pigeon’s Weight
1. Baby pigeon
Meanwhile, the newly hatched baby pigeons only weigh at an average of 15 grams. Throughout their development, the hatchlings must gain 4 or 8 grams daily.
Based on the weight chart of pigeons, once they reach 20-24 days old, they should have a weight of 300 – 350 grams.
2. Male pigeon
Female and male pigeons differ in a lot of things. Aside from a rounder and thicker appearance, males are also heavier and considerably larger in size. They have an average weight of 280-320 grams.
3. Female pigeon
A female pigeon can only weigh up to 240-260 grams, as it is slightly smaller in size compared to its male counterparts.
Pigeon Types
Now, to dive into different types of pigeons, let’s first learn that typical pigeons birds have a healthy weight of 300 grams. However, this can still differ according to the specific species or type of pigeon, as they can all vary in size.
1. Wood pigeon
First, we have the wood pigeon which is one of the larger pigeon species. They can weigh two or three times more than the average weight of a common pigeon. Wood pigeons’ normal weight is around 300-615 grams.
2. Stock dove
The stock dove also belongs to the pigeon family. This is a medium-sized pigeon commonly seen in woodlands and in farmlands. The average weight of a stock dove is 300 grams.
On the other hand, a dove weighs an average of 120-170 grams. However, just like the pigeons, this can also vary across the smaller and much larger species of doves.
Just to add, the mourning doves are the most common type of dove across North America. They are often described as slender, graceful, and plump-bodied. Mourning doves’ weight ranges from 96-170 grams.
3. Homing pigeon
Third, the homing pigeon is a domesticated pigeon that has been bred and trained to have a homing instinct, or the ability to find its way home even after traveling extreme distances.
The homing pigeons are simply derived from wild rock pigeons which have a weight of 238-380 grams.
4. Racing pigeon
Lastly, racing pigeons are those pigeons that have been carefully selected and trained to have speed, strength, and stamina so they could compete in races. Generally, a racing pigeon weight in kg is about 0.45kg which converts to 450 grams.
Some Facts About Pigeons Weight
1. Heaviest pigeon
The Guinness World Records has named the Victoria crowned pigeon, world’s largest species of wild pigeon, to be the heaviest with a weight that exceeds 3.5 kg.
2. Lightest pigeon
At the other end of the spectrum is the New World Ground Dove, the smallest member of the pigeon/dove family, which only weighs less than 40 g.
3. Pigeons can become obese
Even pigeons can be affected by obesity. If a pigeon’s weight is 15% more than the normal ideal weight of 250-350 in grams. This can also be noticeable if a pigeon’s neck is hard to see because of excess fat.
Pros and Cons of Pigeons Weight
Pigeons, being heavier than most birds, makes them better and competitive hunters for food compared to other birds. However, because of their free access to food, they can be at risk for obesity.
If a pigeon gets too obese, it will make it hard for them to take flight, making them vulnerable to predators.
How Much Weight Can 1 Pigeon Carry?
Generally, pigeons can carry 10% of their total body weight, which means that a 300g pigeon can carry 30g while a 400g pigeon can carry 40g. However, this number can increase if a pigeon is trained enough to do so.
Their ability to carry additional weight combined with their navigating skills, pigeons have been widely used as messengers to deliver letters, small parcels, and even illegal substances.
Conclusion
Now that we have answered the question of how much does a pigeon weigh, it can be concluded that it entirely varies depending on the species of the pigeon or doves. Some of them might be larger or smaller than the others.
In addition, those pigeons who are trained to have specific skills also have their own healthy weight to maintain in order to fulfill their role. Basically, the healthy average weight of most adult pigeons is 250-350 grams.
If you have any insights or questions about a pigeon’s weight, feel free to share them below.
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