Why do pigeons whistle when they flap their wings? Is it the flapping or what that makes the whistling noise?
I hear the noise, look up and all I see is a pigeon flying overhead, there is no sound when the bird is gliding but a whistle when it flaps its wings. I work outside and never hear any other birds make a similar noise, there is chirping, singing and seagulls screech.
2006-09-01 22:14:36 · 12 answers · asked by torbrexbones 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
It's the wind that whistles as it passes through their wings!!!!!!!
2006-09-01 22:26:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whistling sound is caused by air against their flight feathers. Pigeons are one of the fastest birds in the air -- only some of the shorebirds can equal them in level flight -- and they are designed to cut thru the air with speed and precision. Normal cruising speed for a pigeon can be about 45 mph (c. 72 km/hr). Even a common (feral or wild) pigeon can find its way home from distances of up to 60-100 miles, while specially bred racing (homing) pigeons can return at speed from distances of 500 plus miles in a day.
You might also like to know that pigeons can hear infrasound and they're so good at this that there is evidence pigeons in California may well be able to hear the sounds of the wind rushing thru canyons in the Rocky Mountains. Pigeons can find their way home using sun arc angle navigation as well as sensing the magnetic fields of the earth; and possibly even by scent.
The next time you look up at a opigeon going over, you might wonder also at the marvelously evolved organism that has much more going for it than just that "sound"
2006-09-02 17:42:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the whistle comes from the air goin through its wing on its downward flap
2006-09-01 22:21:02 · answer #3 · answered by bootlepete 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is the way the wind passes through the wings a simple strategey of aeirodynamics
2006-09-02 04:50:17 · answer #4 · answered by Dundee F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pigeons, ar the builders, of the bird world, they are just looking down womens tops...
2006-09-01 22:21:49 · answer #5 · answered by yeah well 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can,t say i noticed, will look for pigeon's and investigate
2006-09-01 22:24:01 · answer #6 · answered by Jane B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To let other birds know that they are coming.
2006-09-01 22:20:19 · answer #7 · answered by Julie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's a natural phenomenon, they use their beaks, just like humans who swing their arms when they walk!
2006-09-01 23:28:50 · answer #8 · answered by Frank S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't know the words.
2006-09-02 04:19:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do?!!
What tune do they whistle?
2006-09-01 22:26:49 · answer #10 · answered by Ratbag 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋