Pigeons show suboptimal choice on a gambling-like task similar to that shown by humans. Humans also show a preference for gambles in which there are near hits (losses that come close to winning). In the present research, we asked if pigeons would show a preference for alternatives with near-hit-like trials. In Experiment 1, we included an alternative that presented a near hit, in which a stimul...

In the rotation method to break monogamous mating habits, 24 male and female racing pigeons were used. They didved into three groups, each consisting of 8 feamle put separated in huts A, B, C. At first (second mating) hut a moved B; all B C while took place A. The females rotated sequentially times also. With regard percentage fertilization productivity rate, there no significant differences at...

Background: Mycoplasma is one of the most important pathogens of respiratory system in poultry. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to identify Mycoplasma spp. isolated from pigeons. METHODS: Sixteen pooled samples were provided and cultured on PPLO medium and finally the DNA was extracted from the resulting single colonies. RESULTS: Through 16S rRNA gene amplification Mycoplasma genus...

BACKGROUND Tracks of pigeons homing to the Frankfurt loft revealed an odd phenomenon: whereas birds returning from the North approach their loft more or less directly in a broad front, pigeons returning from the South choose, from 25 km from home onward, either of two corridors, a direct one and one with a considerable detour to the West. This implies differences in the navigational process. ...

Avian trichomoniasis caused by Trichomonas gallinae is a serious protozoan disease worldwide. The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is the main host for T. gallinae and plays an important role in the spread of the disease. Based on the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA of this parasite, a pair of primers (TgF2/TgR2) was designed and used to develop a PCR assay for th...