What Is the Average Life Span of a Pigeon?

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While a pigeon living in the wild has a life span of three to five years, a domesticated pigeon can live for an average of 15 years.

In the wild, pigeons often fall victim to larger predators or human interference, which significantly lowers their life expectancy. A domesticated pigeon, however, is able to live up to five times longer than its wild counterpart because it is safe from predators. The most notable predator that preys on pigeons in the wild is the peregrine falcon. Also contributing to a pigeon’s shorter life span in the wild is that its primary habitat is urban areas. A pigeon’s diet consists of seeds, fruit, insects and worms, all of which are increasingly harder for them to find in urban areas.