Oklahoma · Year-round resident

Rock Pigeons in Oklahoma

When rock pigeons are present in Oklahoma, when they nest, which native Oklahoma plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.

Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)Rock PigeonColumba livia

Status in Oklahoma: Year-round resident
Nesting window: January–December
Broods: Up to 6 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 6a–8a

When to expect rock pigeons in Oklahoma

Rock Pigeons live in Oklahoma all year. Mild winters with occasional severe ice storms. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Humid in the forested east, semi-arid in the western plains and Panhandle.

Nesting in Oklahoma

Across Oklahoma, rock pigeons typically nest from January–December. Plan around that window: January for setup, December for clean-out.

Hot summers with strong winds; water is especially valuable in the west.

Rock Pigeons don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as red maple for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after December.

Native Oklahoma plants that attract rock pigeons

Of the regional native plants we track for Oklahoma, these 8 provide food or cover rock pigeons use:

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Feeding rock pigeons through the Oklahoma year

Top foods: None recommended — flocks crowd out other feeder birds.
In Oklahoma's winter: Mild winters with occasional severe ice storms.

Full diet breakdown for rock pigeons · Best feeder for rock pigeons

Frequently asked

Are rock pigeons in Oklahoma year-round?

Yes. Rock Pigeons are year-round residents in Oklahoma.

When do rock pigeons nest in Oklahoma?

Nesting in Oklahoma typically runs January–December, with up to 6 per season. Clutches are 1–3 eggs, incubated for 17–19 days.

What native plants attract rock pigeons in Oklahoma?

Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Red maple are native plants in Oklahoma that provide food or cover for rock pigeons.

Other backyard birds in Oklahoma

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown-headed Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Painted Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Pine Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Bushtit Juniper Titmouse Black-crested Titmouse Black-chinned Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Ladder-backed Woodpecker Curve-billed Thrasher Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Winter Wren Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Yellow-throated Warbler Prothonotary Warbler Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo White-eyed Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Red-cockaded Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Dickcissel Blue Grosbeak Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Brown-headed Nuthatch Greater Roadrunner Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rusty Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.