There has been a tribe of Woodpigeons around the back gardens since at least 1995. Large and stately, they are placid around other birds but can be quite fierce with each other, or where food is concerned. They were especially fond of pecking elderberries from our old Elder tree, venturing far out onto the tips of the branches to reach them.

Woodpigeon face-off with Street Pigeon on high table

SUMO WRESTLING WOODPIGEONS
Woodpigeons battle at high table in the morning for grated cheese & soaked, crumbled seedy bread. Two of them will stand in opposite corners of the table, drawing themselves up to their full height with chests out, each trying to intimidate their opponent.

They bring their beaks down to the centre of the table, pecking the air in front of them rather than each other. If there are only two Woodies, this is enough to keep both opponents in opposite corners of the ‘ring’ while they gobble up bread and cheese. Often a Starling or Sparrow will land & peck up some food while the Woodies keep their attention fixed on each other.

VIDEO – PECKING ORDER AT BREAKFAST BIRDTABLE

Some Street Pigeons now also appear for breakfast, but only the feistiest will take on the Woodies. Late arrivals trying to land on the table will be pecked by the Woodpigeon in situ. The Woodies spread their wings & snap them loudly, flapping & thumping into one another – each trying, like a Sumo wrestler, to unbalance its opponent & knock it out of the enclosure.

Any bird unable to fight its corner is bumped off the high table. In a welter of flying food & belligerent cooing, the dislodged bird falls, flapping, from the table. It lands on a branch, the birdbath, the ground… gathers up its dignity & tries again. This goes on till all food on the high table has been eaten. Then the Woodpigeons fly to one of the nearby trees or land on a roof, where they will sit quietly and sleep.

VIDEO – WOODPIGEONS AT BIRDBATH