Animals With Jobs: Carrier Pigeons

Carrier pigeons, also known as homing pigeons, have been used as messengers, especially during World War I. They are blessed with an amazing sensory perception that allows them to track their direction and an innate sense of time as well. Carrier pigeons also have excellent memories of their roosts, or home bases, and can make long journeys very quickly.

  1. The Pigeon Compass

    • Carrier pigeons have an internal clock and an internal compass of sorts. They rely on the sun's position in the sky to determine how much time has passed. This system keeps them moving during their long journeys. Carrier pigeons' internal compass relies on the Earth's magnetic fields, much like regular migratory birds.

    Visual Landmarking

    • Carrier pigeons use their powers of visual landmarking to track where they are and where they are going at all times. They have the ability to learn and remember landscapes they see that are in close proximity to their roosts and other learned destinations.

    Messengers In War

    • Carrier pigeons are widely recognized for their ability to carry messages over long distances. They provided this service during World War I for both British and U.S. troops. Because radio had not been invented yet, and wiring phones in certain landscapes was impossible, these birds were used by commanders to communicate among different battle locations. Each pigeon was given a message that was placed in a tiny capsule and tied around its leg. Enemies who spotted birds with a message in tow immediately attempted to shoot them down before they could reach their destinations. Carrier pigeons went on to be used in later wars by many countries.

    Other Facts

    • Carrier pigeons have amazing eyesight and can fly extremely long distances at speeds up to 50 mph. They have been known to go as far as 1,000 miles in the span of 2 days. If the pigeons' eyesight, which is able to view ultraviolet light, becomes limited in some way, the pigeons resort to their sense of smell to find their way. However, their sense of smell isn't as effective as their eyesight.