The Science of Pigeon Pecking Behavior: Computer Crumbs Reveal Smart Birds

Pigeons are everywhere in large cities. They rest on statues, flap around public squares and peck at the ground in the search of miniscule crumbs. Now, researchers have explored the science of this crumb pecking. New research has revealed that these birds make highly intelligent choices when in comes to where to peck, sometimes with problem-solving skills to match.

In order to examine pigeons' pecking behavior, researchers used a longstanding, standard test of intelligence that involves attaching a treat to one of two strings and seeing if the participant can reel in that treat by pulling the correct string. Yet they didn't do this test literally; instead, researchers placed pigeons in front of a computer touch screen with square buttons connected to dishes that appeared to be full or empty. If the bird pecked the correct button on the screen, the virtual full bowl would move closer. Eventually, the pigeon would be rewarded with real food.

So how did the bird brains do? It turns out that pigeons are adept at picking what will get them food. In the experiments, the birds chose correctly between 74 to 90 percent of the time--even during the times that involved crossed strings, the most difficult of all configurations.

"We believe that our virtual string task represents a promising innovation in comparative and developmental psychology," said Edward Wasserman, Stuit Professor of Experimental Psychology, in a news release. "It may permit expanded exploration of other species and variables which would otherwise be unlikely because of inadequacies of conventional string task methodology or sensorimotor limitations of the organisms."

In fact, the new computer system that administers the string test could be a powerful tool when testing other organisms. Yet it also shows something else--pigeons are smart. They can contend with a broad range of demanding patterned-string problems, which helped eliminate many alternative interpretations of their behavior.

Next time you see a pigeon pecking at the sidewalk, don't think of them as dumb birds. Instead, think of them as advanced problem solvers that are determined to get that last crumb from a dropped bagel.

The findings are published in the journal Animal Cognition.