Pigeon dance

[marmaduke]

What are those haughty fat-necked pigeons doing to the poor hapless little pigeons when they bow to them and block their path a number of times? The little pigeon never seems interested in this charade, and tries to get away. I saw it happen again recently, and they both forgot what they were doing when they saw a tasty crumb in the grass.

[Robinia]

It's what passes in the pigeon world for a courtship ritual!  There's a lot of strutting by the males going on at the moment but most of the females in my garden just give them that look that says 'B*gger off you've got no chance!'  Occasionally one gets lucky, there's a very speedy flapping of wings, it's all over & they walk off, lean against the line post & have a ciggy!!

[Cetti]

As Robby says it is the courtship ritual, and the Wood Pigeon dance can be very elaborate and almost balletic with it's many twists, turns and much bowing.  This particular bird has no special breeding time, so it can be seen any month of the year doing it's stuff.

It's the only bird that sucks up water rather than tilt the head back like other birds. Isn't that interesting? ;-)

[brachiopod]

They are on the pull.