Maggie's Farm

The pigeon of cities and barns is actually the European Rock Dove. It's been introduced all around the world. In its natural wild state it was partial to cliffs and mountains so urban settings are comfortable for the species.

The Rock Dove has been domesticated and bred for thousands of years, so today there is much variety in feral pigeons.  People raised them in dovecotes.

Perhaps the best use of pigeons is for shooting practice. I've done that.  Good fun. Second best, raising them for squab. Squab is delicious. I recommend it if you can find it on a menu.  A colleague of mine used to raise pigeons. He would serve rare squab breast on top of a sauteed squab liver, on a bed of lentils. Wonderful.

Pigeons are a favored food of  Peregrine Falcons.  They knock the stuffing out of them in the air, then catch them on their way down.

Jamie Oliver has a recipe for adult pigeon. Nobody wants to dine on a city pigeon, but I suspect country pigeons could be good. 

Below, a pigeon song, not PETA-approved -