How To Catch An Abandoned or Lost Pigeon

So you’ve found an abandoned or lost pigeon! First of all we would like to thank you for taking the time to help a flighty friend in need. Now, it’s important to act fast in these situations as domestic pigeons do not have the survival instincts to last very long on their own in the wild. With our tips and tricks you will have a much better chance of catching your pigeon quickly and safely. 

Penguin chilling on a perch in the aviary.

#1 Waiting Until Nightfall

The best and easiest way to catch a pigeon is waiting until the sun goes down. Pigeons do not have great eyesight in the dark and sit still on their night time roosting spot making this the perfect time to catch them. However,  if you are unsuccessful at catching the pigeon and they fly off they could land somewhere more dangerous for them to be at night so only try this trick if you are confident with your catch.  

To have the best success you want to monitor where the pigeon has chosen to sleep, if possible, and then attempt to grab them while they are there. If you need to use a light source to see, we recommend doing so as little as possible as to not give away your position or intentions to the bird. Turn off the lights around your house and don’t talk while approaching the bird. A net or towel may assist you, but a lot of times we find it easiest to just grab them.

Pigeon plush with a net on the grass

Catching With a Net

If you have any sort of netting that isn’t too heavy, this is an easy way to trap the pigeon while doing no harm. Common nets you may have laying around can include a pool cleaners or fishing nets. When using this method it will be easier if you can get them into some sort of corner as well. Be careful not to hit the pigeon in the head with any hard piece attached to your net and be aware of their wings once caught. You want to act fast so they aren’t able to out fly your attempt. If you are able to catch the bird, transfer them into a cage so you can better see their condition and allow them to calm down.   
 

The dog cage is now closed using the rope. The important thing is that pressure is retained on the rope as you walk closer to the cage so it does not bounce open.

Cage Method

For this method you will need a see through cage, a very long piece of string or anything you can tie to the door so you can pull it closed while you are a good distance away, and food.

It’s crucial to have a cage that is see through such as a wired dog cage. If the cage is covered and dark the pigeon will not be able to see the food as well and they tend to be less eager to step in. Which leads to the next step, once you have said cage you will need seed to lure the pigeon in. It’s still important to know what seeds are safe. Specifically pigeon seed which you can often buy at a pet food store or online is best, however a safe alternative is cut up (thawed) frozen peas, safflower seeds (found in the wild bird food aisle), or wild bird feed in a pinch. Bread is very unhealthy for birds so we do not recommend feeding this.

Once you’ve figured out what food you will be using, you’ll need to put the food directly in the middle of the cage, if it’s too close to the door they may not step in the cage and if it’s too far back or to the sides, they may try to get the food through the sides of the cage instead. 

Next may be a bit of a waiting game, you will need to hide somewhere out of sight but close enough for you to observe the cage. Try not to be too eager, you don’t want to slam the door as soon as the bird gets one foot in the door. Once you see the bird fully inside then you can pull the door closed behind them. Keep pressure on the string so the door doesn’t bounce back open though then lock the cage door after approaching it. Do not attempt to grab the pigeon out of the cage while still outside to transfer them elsewhere as they may escape. Bring the cage indoors and then you can transfer them to a different cage if wanted.

 

The photo shows a green large basket propped up at an angle with a stick and a long rope tied to the end of the stick that allows for you to pull the stick out from afar. Under the propped up basket is a seed cup directly in the center and a plush pigeon. A laundry basket often works best for this

Box or Basket Method

If you don’t happen to have a cage around but you do happen to have a light weight basket or box then this could work too! It will be essentially the same set up as the cage method. However instead of attaching the string to a cage door, you will need something similar to a stick to prop up one side of the box/basket which you will tie the string around. Same goes for this method, you need a pigeon safe food to put in the middle of the space underneath the box/basket to lure the pigeon in. Next, find a place to hide where you can see the trap and hold the string but you are out of sight. Now you wait until the pigeon makes it’s way to the food where you pull the stick out from underneath the trap and hopefully you have the pigeon inside!

 

Valiant looking dashing inside. She has a reddish brown body with a white head like a bald eagle and short white pantaloons.
Valiant

 

If You Think The Pigeon May Be Sick, Just Catch Them.

Most domestic pigeons that have been abandoned in the wild will not be doing well. Domestic pigeons do not know how to find food, water, shelter and evade predators meaning that most get very sick, injured, or may have not eaten for days. If you find that the pigeon isn’t flying around or moving too much they may be sick and you may be able to catch them with some ease. Still, you do not want to try running up to the bird and catching it with your hands because you might not be fast enough. Instead, it’s very helpful to use something such as a towel or a sweatshirt to toss over them so that you have a few extra seconds to grab them. Alternatively, you may just be able to pick them straight up if they are very sick. As a note: When directly handling a potentially sick animal, it may be best practice to wear gloves.  

 
Knight a Fantail Pigeon
Knight

The Pigeon is Caught! Hooray!

For info about keeping them as a pet, check out these resources.

Building an Outdoor Aviary

Keeping a Pigeon as an Indoor Pets

Click here to go to our bird rehoming FAQ page in case you need to find them a home.

Immediate next steps after rescuing an abandoned or sick bird are here:
Image reads, "What To Do If You Find An Abandoned Domestic Pigeon If comfortable, try to catch them and bring them into safety Do not feed them unless advised by a rescue to. If they are showing neurologic signs, do not give them a water bowl Call a local shelter or sanctuary to help You can call us - 845-239-7257 for advice whether local or not. @dreamingofachanceny The infographic has a dark green background with a white square in the middle that holds the black text. There is a white pigeon graphic flying in the top left corner and a blue bar pigeon graphic pecking seed in the lower right corner. Lime green and bright turquoise blue line graphics are placed in the two other corners.
The image reads: Pigeon Rescues: Dreaming of a Chance - NY Palomacy Pigeon Rescue - CA Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue - IL Olive's Place Sanctuary- OK Avian Underdogs - CA Wildlife Rehabbers That Help Pigeons Look at your state's DEC for list Wild Bird Fund - NY Evelyn Alexander - NY @dreamingofachanceny The infographic has a dark green background with a white square in the middle that holds the black text. There is a white pigeon graphic flying in the top left corner and a blue bar pigeon graphic pecking seed in the lower right corner. Lime green and bright turquoise blue line graphics are placed in the two other corners.
To learn more about common rescue situations, check out these articles on Pigeon Racing and Dove Releases.
 
To help you find out if you have a domestic or wild/feral pigeon needing help, check out this article.
 
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