Have you ever seen a pigeon sitting or nesting on a tree? Probably not! It’s quite fascinating to observe that pigeons never make their nests on trees, as we have known (or taught) that birds make their homes or nests on trees. But, it seems to be there are quite many possible reasons for it! Just take a look at them once!
Now many of you may claim that pigeons do nest on trees, the possibility is that you might have seen it somewhere in a rural area which has a lot more trees as compared to cities. Those pigeons are called Band-tailed pigeons which live in wooded areas, so they have no problem nesting on trees, and like it. What people normally refer to as ‘pigeons’ is actually the Rock Dove (Columbia Livia).
1st Possible Reason:
In ancient times, people used pigeons to send messages via letters. The message was tied to their legs or on their back and they would simply fly back towards their home. Given the fact that they have a large number of natural enemies, pigeons in urban areas prefer to make their nests or homes inside buildings rather than on trees in order to protect themselves.
2nd Possible Reason:
The pigeons that we see in cities are actually the Rock Dove. The original Rock Doves came from Europe, and their natural habitat was near rock cliffs (hence the name being ‘Rock Dove’). Buildings, windowsills, bridges, etc., are the closest things to cliffs near the city.
Cities with their fast food restaurants provide food for the pigeons, unlike most of the rocky places in North America, like out west in the mountains. Most of the places in N. America that are anything like cliffs are hot, dry, and not home to the seeds and grain pigeons live off of in the wild. This is probably the main reason why you only see Rock Doves in the city. You may see a few elsewhere, and they’ll nest where they have to – preferably a cave of some sort, an old barn or building, and a tree if they have nowhere else. Back in England where they have the rocky cliffs near the sea, you’ll find flocks of the closest things to the pure Rock Doves. Over time, wild Rock Doves have been bred with the lost domesticated ones to where they have lost their native nature. The modern Rock Doves in cities aren’t near as afraid of people as the true wild ones are, and they have adapted to the city life. The ones in the rocky cliffs of Europe and whatnot have reverted to their wild instinct and live as the first Rock Doves did before they were domesticated.
You see doves (like the Mourning Dove for example) living in trees and the areas around it because they are smaller and have an easier time manoeuvring through the branches.
3rd Possible Reason:
There is a slight possibility that they might have lost muscle power in their feet and thus can’t grip on branches (in the course of evolution, just like we humans lost our feet muscle power and now we can’t grip objects like how apes do with their feet).