Pigeons: The underdog of the sky

Pigeons are wildly underrated.

They might actually be the underdogs of the sky.

Let’s be honest: people dislike them for reasons that aren’t entirely invented. They’re everywhere. They steal fries. They build chaotic little “nests” that sometimes look like three twigs and a questionable life decision. In cities, they’ve become background noise.

But the story of pigeons is much more interesting than the reputation we’ve given them.

For one, pigeons can find their way home from hundreds of kilometres away. Very few birds have this level of homing ability. Humans relied on this skill for centuries. During wartime, messenger pigeons carried critical information across battlefields, saving lives when other communication failed. Some of them were even awarded military medals for bravery.

Yes. Medals.

They’re also extraordinarily intelligent birds. Pigeons can recognise human faces, distinguish between different artistic styles in paintings, and even solve simple mathematical problems. In laboratory tests, they’ve been able to tell the difference between works by artists like Monet and Picasso.

On the personal side, pigeons are surprisingly tender creatures. They mate for life and raise their chicks together, sharing the work of incubation and feeding. In fact, pigeons produce a milk-like substance to feed their babies — and both parents produce it, which is extremely rare among birds. In the pigeon world, co-parenting is just how things are done.

And visually? They’re gorgeous if you actually look at them. The classic “city pigeon” isn’t just grey. Their feathers carry subtle flashes of green, purple, silver, charcoal, and soft pink that shimmer in the light. Quiet iridescence hiding in plain sight.

What I also love about pigeons is their lack of pretence. They don’t try to be elegant swans or majestic eagles. They are slightly messy, stubborn, adaptable, and deeply loyal.

In other words, they’re incredibly real.

Maybe pigeons are disliked not because they’re bad birds, but because they’re too comfortable living among us. They didn’t stay distant and romantic like other wildlife. They chose the city. They chose proximity.

And now we call them ordinary.

But if you look closely, pigeons are small urban wonders — brave war messengers, devoted parents, clever problem-solvers, and shimmering little survivors of the concrete world.

Not bad for a bird people pretend not to see.

Maybe that’s why I’ve always had a soft spot for pigeons. They’re colourful, stubborn, adaptable, a bit chaotic — and unapologetically themselves.

Honestly, I find that very relatable.

Long story short: pigeons deserve better PR. And maybe that’s also why my latest works at Art by Pulu ended up becoming four pigeon portraits!

In frame: Series of acrylic paintings on canvas, 20 x 20 cm. Espoo, 2026 Originals now available on my webstore.