Purring noises

[blackpied]

When spending some quiet time with my pigeons,when feeding I have noticed them making a quiet "purring noises" not just one of them but all of them.They are a picture of health and has come throught the moult excellant.I have never had any health problems treating the norm as others do.

 

I want to know is this normal as I noticed it before more so in cold wet weather,or is there a health problem.  

[GROVEHOMER]

I,ve noticed this before, the birds seemed to be excited, usually when I was about to feed them. The birds doing it were in excellent condition, so it didn't concern me......I would like to know  why it happens though!

[Bilco]

LOL.  Congratulations lads on your observance.  The noise is created in the throat by pigeons and betokens pleasureable excitement. If you feed a tasty trapping mix every day at a certain time, you can watch the birds all doing it just before you feed them it.  Same as a cat purring, the noise is probably unconsciously created.  You can even see the throat vibrate if you look.  Nothing to worry about at all.

[westy]

have you got big pigeons? if yes they have swallowed a cat. ;D ;D

na i dnt know mate never noticed it.

[Guest]

Maybe thats because you feed the birds on the floor, Westy.

 

Wouldn't describe what I've heard as purring, more a kinda clicking, noticeable when you call the bird up to the nest box to feed it, hear a clicking or croaking from the throat for just a split second after it lands on the nest box floor and before it dives into the gallipot.

 

Must admit I wondered about it, wondered if it was a touch of respiratory, there were no other AND signs, bird was basically jumping, so put it down to nothing more than over-worry on my part.

 

But it is reassuring to know that its normal.