Pigeons

A paper pigeon on a city ledge.

Fold 3, ages 8 to 10FOLD3AGES 8–10Fold 3 · Early Reader
Ages 8–10

PigeonsBirds of the City Ledges

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Words to know

pigeon
a gray town bird
ledge
a flat shelf on a wall
straw
a thin tube to sip with
crop
where a pigeon makes milk
homing
able to get back home
study
a test to find things out
Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.

Flap, flap! Pigeons land on a ledge up on a big wall.

Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.

What is so odd about a pigeon?

Omar Let's look close!
Paper rock doves on a sea cliff.Paper rock doves on a sea cliff.Paper rock doves on a sea cliff.

Rock doves nest on cliff ledges. Pigeons came from rock doves. So a ledge is like a cliff to a pigeon!

A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.

A pigeon's head is not bobbing as it walks. The head stops still as the pigeon steps. Then the head zips on!

A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.

Stopping still helps a pigeon see well.

Mila Can you walk like a pigeon?
A paper pigeon drinking from a puddle with its beak down.A paper pigeon drinking from a puddle with its beak down.A paper pigeon drinking from a puddle with its beak down.

Most birds tip back to drink. A pigeon sips water up, like with a straw! It does not lift its head.

A paper pigeon drinking from a puddle with its beak down.A paper pigeon drinking from a puddle with its beak down.A paper pigeon drinking from a puddle with its beak down.

Its bill sits in the water as it sips. Most birds can not do that!

Omar Can you sip like a pigeon?
A paper pigeon settling onto two eggs.A paper pigeon settling onto two eggs.A paper pigeon settling onto two eggs.

The nest is a flat pile of twigs and grass.

A paper pigeon settling onto two eggs.A paper pigeon settling onto two eggs.A paper pigeon settling onto two eggs.

A pigeon mom sits on the eggs. Then the dad has a shift. It is a job for two!

A paper pigeon parent feeding its chick in a nest.A paper pigeon parent feeding its chick in a nest.A paper pigeon parent feeding its chick in a nest.

Pigeon moms and dads both make milk for chicks! They make it in a pocket called the crop.

A paper pigeon parent feeding its chick in a nest.A paper pigeon parent feeding its chick in a nest.A paper pigeon parent feeding its chick in a nest.

A chick gets crop milk from its mom and dad.

Mila A dad that makes milk? Yes!
A nearly grown paper pigeon chick peeking from its nest.A nearly grown paper pigeon chick peeking from its nest.A nearly grown paper pigeon chick peeking from its nest.

A pigeon chick hides in its nest. It is there until it is almost big. So it is hidden until it looks like its mom!

A nearly grown paper pigeon chick peeking from its nest.A nearly grown paper pigeon chick peeking from its nest.A nearly grown paper pigeon chick peeking from its nest.

Then the chick hops from the nest. It is almost as big as its mom!

A paper pigeon with a shimmering green and purple neck.A paper pigeon with a shimmering green and purple neck.A paper pigeon with a shimmering green and purple neck.

A pigeon's neck shines green and purple. Step, and the shine shifts!

Omar Can you spot the shine?
Paper homing pigeons at a rooftop loft.Paper homing pigeons at a rooftop loft.Paper homing pigeons at a rooftop loft.

We have kept pigeons for a long, long time. Some pigeons live in a hut called a loft.

A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.

A homing pigeon can get home from far off. It can do it from spots it has not been.

A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.

So men sent notes with homing pigeons. A note sat in a tube on its leg. A famous story says one helped save trapped men.

A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.A paper pigeon flying with a tiny message tube on its leg.

It is like a mail van with wings!

Mila What note would you send?
Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.

When a flock lifts off, some pigeons clap their wings. Clap, clap!

Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.Paper pigeons taking off from a city square.

Flap, flap! The flock lands back on its ledge.

A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.

In the study, one person chased the pigeons. Then the pigeons kept away from that person. They did it even in a different coat!

A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.

Pigeons in the study could tell who was who! So do not chase a pigeon.

A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.

Sit still on a bench. Be calm, and just look.

A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.A paper pigeon pecking seeds while a paper child sits quietly.

A pigeon steps up and pecks next to you. It is not upset!

Omar Can you sit still and look?
A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.A paper pigeon walking along a city sidewalk.

So what is odd about a pigeon? Lots! It sips, and its dad makes milk!

A paper pigeon with a shimmering green and purple neck.A paper pigeon with a shimmering green and purple neck.A paper pigeon with a shimmering green and purple neck.

Pick the pigeon fact you like best.

Mila Will you tell it to a friend?

Quick quiz

  1. What does a pigeon's head do?

    Show the answer

    It stops still, then zips on.

  2. Who sits on pigeon eggs?

    Show the answer

    The mom and the dad.

  3. Who makes milk for a pigeon chick?

    Show the answer

    The mom and the dad.

  4. What can a homing pigeon do?

    Show the answer

    Get home from far off.

  5. In the study, what did pigeons do?

    Show the answer

    Kept away from the one who chased them.

A folded-paper grey city pigeon.

Spot a pigeon on a ledge? Wave hello, and let it be!

The end

Pigeons: Birds of the City Ledges

See the printed pages
Front cover of Pigeons: Secrets of the City Bird, Fold 4The next fold upPigeons: Secrets of the City BirdFold 4 · Explorer · Ages 10–12 All six books

For grown-ups

Read page 3's pictured words together first: pigeon, ledge, straw, crop, homing and study. Each is bold at first use. Most words sound out with first-grade phonics; read head, most, birds, both, green, purple, far, famous, story, mail, person, away, coat and different for your child. Watch pigeons quietly from a bench, and never chase them. Some towns have rules about feeding pigeons, so check before you feed any. Page 30 has a quiz with answers. Before this: Fold 2, Hello, Pigeon!; next: Fold 4, Pigeons: Secrets of the City Bird.

Build independent reading with short sourced explanations.

Ages
8–10
Trim
6 × 9 in
Pages
32
Words
548
Reading grade
0.8
See the printed pages

From the pigeon episode of our video series.