These Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) are not native to North America, but they have been around for close to 400 years.¹

These birds are incredibly common in urban areas, and are probably considered pests by some. I think they are beautiful – look at the colors!

One of my very favorite birding activities is watching birds bathe. When I see birds splashing around in the shallow edge of a pond, a stream, or man-made bird bath, it reminds me of children playing in the sprinkler. I imagine that the birds are very happy – they just *seem* happy while playing in the water.

See what I mean?

Although it looks like playtime for the pigeons, bathing is a really important part of a bird’s health. Their feathers are water-repellent…as long as they are kept in tip-top condition. Properly maintained feathers also help keep a bird warm, show off when they want…and blend in when they need to!

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