The pigeon is a common urban bird found in cities and towns around the world. It has a plump body, typically gray or brown in color, sometimes with two black bars on its neck and a distinctive iridescent sheen on its feathers. Pigeons have a small head, a short beak, and large, round eyes. They are known for their ability to thrive in human-dominated environments, and can often be seen pecking at crumbs and scraps on city streets. Despite their reputation as pests, pigeons are actually quite intelligent birds, able to recognize and respond to individual humans, and have been used throughout history as messengers and couriers.