Once a pair bonds (they mate for life), the female can lay a new clutch if conditions are right.

The turnaround time is impressive. A pair will often lay a clutch (usually 2 eggs) and, within a month, the squabs are fledged, and the parents are ready to start the cycle all over again. It is an aggressive reproductive strategy that ensures their presence is felt in urban environments.

If you are a pigeon enthusiast, the year-round egg production is a marvel of nature. If you are a homeowner trying to keep a clean balcony, the fact that they lay eggs 12 months a year is a significant design flaw. They are prolific, hardy, and relentless.

Their success as a species comes from this flexibility. So next time you see a pigeon egg in October or a squab in February, you’ll know: they’re just being pigeons.