Le comportement reproducteur du pigeon voyageur (Columbia livia domestica)

The main bulk of data on the reproductive behaviour among the family Columbidae relies on research using Ring doves Streptopelia risoria. Apart from research on learning, orientation and navigation, the domestic pigeon has been neglected by scientists, whereas a popular skill in rearing and training homing pigeons is widespread in Western Europe. This domestic species is particularly well suited for ethological investigations, thanks to empirical technical improvements by pigeonkeepers allowing pairing as early as december at the beginning of winter. Precise description of behaviour patterns is a prerequisite to detailed analysis of the reproductive cycle and of social behaviour. We have explored this neglected area.

The breeding cycle may be devided into four main successive phases. Establishing the pair-bond (with bowing-display and display-coo ; ritualized preening, billing, begging and ritualized feeding ; crouching, mounting and copulation) ; building the nest (invitation to the nest-side, twigs bringing and nest building interrupted by wing twitching, allopreening, bowing) followed by laying and incubation (which is shared by both parents) and ultimately young rearing. The newly hatched squabs are fed first with crop-milk, then with grains ; when they are fourteen days old, the squabs learn to peck for grains ; when they are twenty one days old, the parents are beginning to ignore them and start a new cycle.

Our observations claim for a detailed analysis of the vocalizations intricated with the described gestures ; they are supposed to play an important role not only in releasing correct responses and in preparing next phases, but also in the synchronization and individual recognition between partners as well as between parents and youngs.