This Is Why NYC Pigeons Don’t Migrate In The Winter
Whether you carry them in your purse, feed them in the park, or try your best to avoid them altogether, you’re bound to cross paths with a pigeon or two (or ten) when walking around NYC. But when the city’s temperatures are at their most frigid, have you ever stopped to wonder why NYC pigeons don’t migrate in the winter?
Well, whether you’ve wondered that or not, we’re gonna tell ya.
It all comes down to their ability to adapt–and, well, how plentiful food scraps are in the city.
Ranger Adam Rodriguez, with the NYC Parks Department, told PIX11 News, “Pigeons, they have some special adaptations. But most birds are really equipped for the winter.”
According to Rodriguez, the reason most birds migrate is not because of the cold weather. When looking at pigeons specifically, their normal body temperature is between 103ºF and 107ºF, plus their feathers are naturally insulated and their feet have special scales that help their tolerance to the cold.
The real reason birds migrate is because they’re looking for food–and pigeons don’t have any issues finding food in NYC (especially considering more and more restaurants keep popping up around the city).
Moreover, Rodriguez told PIX11 News that pigeons have been accustomed to humans for thousands of years, and they can thrive in any environment.
“Where there [are] people, there [are] going to be pigeons,” said Rodriguez.
More information on New York City’s pigeon inhabitants can be found here.
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