Pigeons are among the wonderful birds we have in the world.
In fact, these birds are one of the species that are able to clearly express their sadness.
They are said to have clear emotional intelligence and act sometimes in emotional situations.
With that said, do pigeons really grieve whenever a companion has died?
The answer here is yes.
Pigeons can feel grief and they are able to express their mourning whenever someone in their flock dies.
It is much more extreme when it is their mate who died because, apparently, pigeons have a strong mating relationship or bond with their partner.
These birds stay together as mates forever until one dies.
Whenever a mated pigeon dies, the other one will mourn for a couple of days, crying out for the death of their companion.
Pretty interesting right?
Carry on reading as we get into much more detail
Do Birds Grieve When Another Bird Dies? (In Detail)
Birds also have emotional intelligence and some species are intelligent enough to possess self-awareness.
All birds have the capacity to feel emotions as well, and that includes grief and sadness.
These animals just have their own way to express their feelings.
However, this is something that is not scientifically proven, but rather only argued.
Based on all the pieces of evidence gathered, many experts are still torn between the thought of whether a bird can really feel sadness or is just mixing it with confusion.
Still, in some cases when a deep emotional bond has been established, birds behave extremely unusually suggesting that they, indeed, can grieve.
How Do Birds Grieve?
Birds have their own ways of expressing their grief and devastation over a sudden loss.
There are responses when a bird may only cry out loud over their dead companion, showing that it is mourning for the loss.
Some cases happen when a bird will stay by the side of the deceased bird for only a couple of days, before leaving it alone.
However, there are also instances when you are able to feel the extreme pain that a bird may feel.
This usually happens on birds that are known to develop strong emotional bonds to their mates.
For instance, there has already been few reports that a bird, like swan, pigeons, and other emotionally-attached species commit suicide once their mate died.
Do Pigeons Feel Sad?
Pigeons are among the bird species that have high emotional intelligence.
In fact, these birds are also self-aware and also aware of their bird companions.
Pigeons are also among the birds that have a strong sense of companionship to their mate.
Naturally, these birds also feel sad and they also grieve too whenever the death of their companion
Some pigeons even express their devastation through loud calling and staying by their partner’s side even at death.
What Do Pigeons Do When Their Mate Dies?
Pigeons are known to develop strong emotional attachment to their partners.
Hence, it is extremely hard for them when their partner dies.
In fact, there are instances when a widowed pigeon will refuse to leave their mate’s side even if it is already dead.
There are also instances when a pigeon will weep and mourn for the loss, nudging and calling out to their partner.
Overall, they all experience grief, but it also depends on how strong their relationship is.
Some pigeons may only need a couple of days or weeks before looking for another partner again.
Some may even also refuse to bond again with another bird forever, but on rare occasions, some pigeons cannot withstand the pain they are feeling, choosing to commit suicide.
How Do You Comfort a Grieving Bird?
If you own a bird that is known for having emotional attachment to their companions, it is important to know what things you should do to comfort them.
After the loss of their companion, it is possible that they will feel devastated over it.
You can comfort your grieving bird by being by their side talking to them in a calm and soothing voice
Give your bird more toys and food that will help them feel happy, ensuring that they will not feel too immersed in the death of their companion, prolonging their devastation.
Most importantly, give your pet bird extra care, attention, and affection to show him they are not alone and you are with them
Do Pigeons Get Depressed?
Pigeons and even other birds that place an importance on companionship may get depressed.
Due to the sudden loss of a very important attachment, they may feel devastated that it will impede their everyday life.
Some pigeons may feel extreme grief and pain, causing them to behave abnormally.
Actions such as loss of appetite, lethargy, and sometimes even committing suicide happen when they get depressed.
Wrapping Up
Pigeons are among birds that possess self-awareness and have high emotional intelligence.
They also place a lot of importance on companionship and tend to develop deep bonds with their mate.
Once their mate dies, the lonely bird will grieve and feel devastated.
All birds have their own way of mourning.
In the case of pigeons, they will cry and stay by their partner’s side.
They may even refuse to find another mate again because of their deep connection with their deceased love.
Some pigeons can also feel that they can no longer take the pain and sadness, ultimately choosing to be with their dead partner in the afterlife.
