Pigeon in a Box: Columba livia as Subject in Behavioral Research

Abstract

Pigeons (Columba livia) have played a central role as subjects in the experimental analysis of behavior since the 1940s. This review considers the use of pigeons by humans across several domains: (1) their early use as a domesticated species and in early psychology laboratory experiments; (2) their rise, and recent decline relative to the use of other species, as a subject in behavior-analytic research published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior; and (3) their influence in research extending beyond behavior analysis. In addition, in the latter two sections, quantitative data are presented to document the frequency of use of laboratory pigeons and their impact outside of the lab, respectively. The review concludes with observations on both the past and future of the pigeon as a subject for the experimental analysis of behavior.