# Pigeons **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigeons/725337 "2015-07-16T16:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crowslot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Crowslot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowslot)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigeons/725337/1 "2015-07-16T16:56:43Z")
Where did pigeons roost before Barns/Buildings were erected? I’ve never seen one in a tree. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigeons/725337/2 "2015-07-16T17:11:08Z")
I would think [domesticated pigeons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_pigeon) have always lived in barns and such. I can’t imagine why you’ve never seen one roosting in a tree, I’ve never seen one because I’ve never really looked for them in trees. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigeons/725337/3 "2015-07-16T17:15:26Z")
In the wild, the [rock dove](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_dove) likes to roost on cliffs and rock ledges. When we built cities, we created a wonderful artificial habitat for them. Look at their approximate native range in that article. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pigeons/725337/4 "2015-07-16T20:46:49Z")
Although Wikipedia redirects “rock pigeon” to “rock dove,” the official common name is now rock pigeon.