How to identify a feral pigeon
- 31–34 cm long, smaller and slimmer than a woodpigeon
- Plumage varies widely: often blue-grey with two bold black wing bars, but also chequered, brown, white or near-black
- Green and purple sheen on the neck, with no white neck patch
- Many birds show a white rump in flight
- Nests are flimsy platforms of twigs and droppings on ledges, beams and under panels, usually holding two white eggs
What it's often confused with
| Look-alike | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Woodpigeon | Woodpigeons are bigger, with a white neck patch and broad white wing bands in flight, and they nest in trees and hedges rather than on buildings. |
| Stock dove | Stock doves are smaller and evenly blue-grey with a metallic green neck patch, short black wing bars and no white rump, and they nest in tree holes. |
| Collared dove | Collared doves are slim and sandy-buff with a thin black half-collar, and rarely gather in large groups on buildings. |
Signs of feral pigeons
- Droppings building up
- White and green droppings on sills, ledges, patios, cars and roof tiles below solar panels.
- Nesting under solar panels
- Twigs and feathers spilling from under the panels, with cooing and scratching on the roof.
- Blocked gutters and downpipes
- Nest debris and droppings stopping water flow, leading to overflows and damp patches.
- Regular roosting
- The same group returning to a ledge, chimney stack or roof ridge every evening.
- Mites or insects indoors
- Bird mites, carpet beetles or moths coming from an old nest in the loft or roof space.
Where it lives and how it behaves
Feral pigeons descend from domesticated rock doves, a cliff-nesting bird, so buildings suit them perfectly: ledges, roof voids, balconies, bridges and the sheltered gap under solar panels. They are strongly tied to a site and keep coming back to a ledge or nest spot even after being moved on. Pairs usually lay two eggs and can breed in any month, raising several broods a year when food is plentiful. They feed on the ground on spilled grain, bread, takeaway waste and bird-table scraps, so where people feed them, numbers build up quickly.
Health and property risks
Pigeon droppings are corrosive, messy and slippery when wet, and build-up on steps, fire escapes and walkways is a genuine slip hazard. Nests and droppings block gutters and downpipes, causing overflows and damp, and nests under solar panels can damage cabling. Dried droppings can carry organisms linked to illnesses such as psittacosis and cryptococcosis, so heavy accumulations should be cleared with protective equipment, never dry-swept. Old nests also harbour bird mites and fabric pests that can move indoors.
What UK law says
All wild birds, including feral pigeons, their eggs and nests in use or being built, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. In England, Natural England's general licence GL41 allows an owner or occupier, or someone they authorise, to kill or take feral pigeons and destroy their nests and eggs to preserve public health or public safety, subject to its conditions. General licences are reissued each year, so check the current version. Proofing that harms no birds or active nests needs no licence.
Can you deal with it yourself?
Small jobs are reasonable DIY: cleaning a sill with gloves and a mask, fitting spikes to a low ledge you can reach safely, and not feeding the birds. Take care with anything at height, and don't remove a nest with eggs or chicks unless you are sure the general licence covers your situation. Netting a building, wiring ledges and fitting mesh around solar panels involve ladders, roofs and fixings, and done badly they trap birds rather than keep them out. That is the point to call us.
How Pest Perfection treats it
After a free inspection of the roof, ledges or panels, we confirm the species, locate nest sites and work out how the birds are using the building. Proofing comes first: netting over courtyards and recesses, spikes or sprung wire on ledges, and mesh skirts around solar panels. Nests are cleared in line with the current general licence, with care over active nests and dependent young, and fouling is removed using protective equipment. We avoid lethal control wherever proofing will do the job. You get a written record of the work carried out, and we recheck the site where needed. Work starts from £90.
Free inspection · from £90 · guaranteed for at least three months
Call 01727 400025How to prevent it
- 1Don't feed pigeons, and ask neighbours not to; a steady food supply drives numbers up
- 2Fit mesh guards around solar panels, ideally before birds find the gap
- 3Proof ledges, sills and chimney breasts with spikes or sprung wire
- 4Keep loft vents, broken tiles and gaps at the eaves closed off with mesh
- 5Keep bin areas tidy and clear up spilled food quickly
- 6Act on the first nest; a site that has raised chicks keeps attracting birds
What we see on our jobs
Rooftop solar panels on Hertfordshire homes have given feral pigeons new nesting space: the gap between panel and tiles is dry, sheltered and hard for predators to reach. In town centres such as St Albans and Watford, flat roofs, shop signs and railway bridges support larger groups, and nearby homes, especially where someone puts out food, see more birds.
Areas we cover: St Albans · Harpenden · Hatfield · Welwyn Garden City · Watford · all areas
Feral pigeon: questions
Is it illegal to kill pigeons in the UK?
It is illegal without a legal basis, because all wild birds are protected. In England, feral pigeons can be controlled under Natural England's general licence GL41 to preserve public health or safety, by the owner or occupier or someone they authorise, following its conditions.
Can I remove a pigeon nest?
An empty, disused nest, yes. A nest in use or being built is protected, although feral pigeon nests and eggs can be removed under the general licence where its public health or safety purpose applies. If there are chicks, get advice first.
Do plastic owls and spikes work?
Spikes and sprung wire work well on ledges when fitted properly. Plastic owls and hawks give short-lived results at best, because pigeons soon learn that they never move.
How do I stop pigeons nesting under solar panels?
Fit a mesh skirt around the edges of the array, clipped to the panel frames, once any nests have been cleared. It shuts the gap without drilling into the roof or the panels.
Are pigeon droppings dangerous?
Small amounts pose little risk to healthy people, but large dried accumulations can carry organisms linked to illnesses such as psittacosis. Dampen droppings down, wear gloves and a mask, and never dry-sweep a heavy build-up.
