Hobbies And Interests
Feeding Habits
Although passenger pigeons were omnivorous, the majority of their diet was made up of foods such as nuts, fruits and seeds. However, passenger pigeons also consumed insects, snails and worms in smaller amounts. These foods could be found in their forest habitats where they mostly foraged on the ground, using sight and their beaks to search for food amongst fallen material. The passenger pigeon also used its beak to pluck food from trees and other plants. Passenger pigeons flew to different areas of forest, foraged and ate in large flocks. The largest of these flocks could contain thousands of pigeons.
Flight and Migration
Passenger pigeons were well adapted to flight. Their long tails and wings, small heads and powerful muscles used in flight helped them to fly quickly, gracefully and for long periods of time. Passenger pigeons could reach speeds of up to between 60 to 70 miles per hour in flight. Large flocks of passenger pigeons flew together and performed skillful movements as a group to avoid predators --- such as hawks in flight. Large flocks were the major form of defense for passenger pigeons. In the fall, flocks of passenger pigeons migrated from northern areas including Nova Scotia and Quebec in search of greater supplies of food and water in southern locations including Georgia and Florida. Passenger pigeon flocks migrated back to their northern habitats in the spring.
Mating Habits
The passenger pigeon breeding season began shortly after the birds had arrived in their northern habitats after the spring migration. The courtship rituals of these birds featured the male calling to the female, lowering his wings, sweeping his wings and then flapping them very quickly. The male passenger pigeon then held himself against the female's body. If the female was happy to mate with the male, she would also push her body against his. The male then stood on the female's back and flapped his wings until the female consented to mate with him.
Nesting Habits
Passenger pigeon nests were made from many sticks and twigs and measured around 12 inches in width. Smaller, finer twigs lined the nests. Female passenger pigeons constructed these shallow, loose nests over a period of between two and four days while her mate brought the building materials to her. Passenger pigeons nested in colonies in large hardwood or evergreen trees. A single tree could contain hundreds of passenger pigeon nests. Female passenger pigeons produced one egg in each breeding season. Male and female passenger pigeons shared the responsibility of incubating the egg for up to two weeks. After hatching, passenger pigeons developed very quickly and were capable of surviving independently after a further two weeks.