Exact Answer: 6 to 15 years
As much as humans are seen across the world, animals and birds are also seen everywhere. Yet, some animals and birds are more seen across the world than others. Some people adopt these animals and birds as pets, while some consider them as pets. Some birds have been around for 100 years, and they are still alive. There are some extinct species, and some are on the verge. One bird that is still seen everywhere around the world is also known as the sign of peace, is the pigeon.
The lifespan of a pigeon can depend on many factors, and like every other animal or bird, pigeons live longer as pets and in captivity than how long they live in the wild. While some birds live for a duration much closer to their average lifespan in the wild, pigeons, however, do not. They are not hunting birds and can be easily hunted by their other predators, both birds, and land animals.
How Long Do Pigeons Live?
| Location | Time |
| In the wild | 3 to 6 years |
| In captivity | 9 to 15 years |
| Average lifespan | 3 to 15 years |
There are many types of pigeons in the world and some of the most common names of pigeons are the common pigeon, rock dove, rock pigeon, and domestic pigeon. Pigeons belong to the species and genus of Columba Livia, the family of Columbidae, and the order of Columbiformes.
Pigeons can be sighted anywhere in the world, and some people think pigeons are native to North America, but they are not. Pigeons were somehow introduced into North America during the early 16th century and according to history and facts, pigeons migrated from Europe to other countries.
After migrating, they started landing on ledges, buildings shaped like rocky cliffs similar to the structures back in their home. Pigeons have quite a long history with humans, as they were used for entertainment and even food in some regions. Pigeons, when they do travel, form flocks, and sometimes even other similar birds will join them, and there are also different types of pigeons in different colors. Even their feathers differ from type to type.
Why Do Pigeons Live That Long?
Homing pigeons are very well known for their ability to fly at high speed for long distances and reach the location they were intended to. Even though they have the ability to fly long, pigeons don’t leave their nest or home region for some reason.
The size of a pigeon is around 11 to 14 inches, and their wingspan is around 20 to 26 inches. Pigeons weigh around 9 to 13 ounces, and they can be seen in different colors. Pigeons have a rounded tail, but their tips can be dark for breeds. Though humans love seeing pigeons, there are some risks of growing pigeons and they do create quite a mess with their feces.
Pigeons are seen all over the world, some people love them for their beauty and grow them as pets, but some people in the city and farmlands can consider them as a nuisance because they lay droppings everywhere and mess up with the crops. Just like other birds, pigeons have different names in different regions. They also, like others, belong to a certain species, family, order, and genus. The one thing that pops up into anybody’s mind, is the image of pigeons carrying messages all over the place, which was a regular thing in the old days.
Pigeons defecate on buildings and when the droppings are in high amounts, it can create a foul, pungent odor, and pigeons do consume a large amount of food.
Conclusion
Another fact about pigeons that many people don’t know about, is that they sometimes carry and spread diseases through their droppings, which can affect both humans and animals. As urbanization is increasing, the population of pigeons is increasing along with it, and according to the recent census and surveys, it has been calculated and found that there are more than 400 million pigeons in the world at present.
When kept in captivity or grown as pets, pigeons can live for more than 15 to 20 years, as their average lifespan is around 10 to 20 years. Yet, in the wild, if they eat well and manage to fend off the predators, they can live for 10 to 15 years healthily.
