Stringfoot in Pigeons: Identification, Causes, and Prevention
What Is Stringfoot
Stringfoot (sometimes called string-leg) is a serious, non-infectious condition in which a pigeon’s toes, feet, or legs become tightly bound by thread, hair, string, fishing line, or other debris. As the bird walks, lands, or perches, the material twists and tightens, gradually cutting into the skin and restricting blood flow. If not removed, this can lead to swelling, infection, tissue death, and eventual loss of toes, the entire foot, or part of the leg.
What Causes It
Stringfoot is caused by entanglement in human-made materials, especially hair and fine threads. Pigeons encounter these materials while walking, foraging, or nesting in human environments. As they step into or collect them, the strands wrap around the toes, foot, or leg and tighten with movement, eventually embedding into tissue.
The Role of Human Hair
A 2019 study conducted by biologists at the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris surveyed feral pigeons across 46 city sites and found a striking pattern: pigeons in areas with more barber shops and hair salons had far higher rates of missing toes and stringfoot injuries.
The researchers concluded that discarded human hair is the main cause of these entanglement injuries. While string, thread, and fishing line can also cause harm, human hair is by far the most common culprit. Hair is everywhere — much more abundant than string — and extremely strong, thin, and resistant to weathering, making it particularly dangerous once it wraps around a pigeon’s foot or leg. (The Guardian, 2019)
Problems It Causes
Stringfoot can cause intense suffering and permanent disability if left untreated. Common outcomes include:
Pain and swelling from the tightening ligature
Infection where the material breaks the skin
Restricted movement, making walking, perching, or flying difficult
Tissue death (necrosis) from loss of circulation
Partial or full loss of toes, feet, or legs when the constricted tissue dies or detaches
Reduced survival and quality of life, as injured pigeons may be unable to feed, escape predators, or maintain normal posture
All of these outcomes are possible in any affected area — toes, feet, or legs.
The “Toe-Pecking” Myth
A persistent myth claims that pigeons peck each other’s toes off out of aggression or dominance. In reality, this is a misinterpretation of stringfoot and its effects.
When a pigeon’s toes turn black and die from loss of circulation, the dead tissue may dry, fall away, or be picked at after it has already died and detached — not because another pigeon caused the injury.
The underlying cause of missing toes and feet in feral pigeons is almost always stringfoot, and never due to cannibalism or fighting between pigeons.
Not only is genuine aggression severe enough to maim another pigeon relatively rare, it’s not mechanically possible for them to bite or peck a toe off. Unlike parrots, pigeons have very weak beaks designed for picking up small seeds and grains, not for cracking or cutting through tough material.
In general, pigeons are exceptionally gentle and peace-oriented birds, and injuries from fights are almost unheard of compared to the widespread damage caused by human litter.
How to Help Prevent It
Prevention is simple but requires conscientious behavior and public awareness:
Keep environments clean — sweep up or safely dispose of hair, string, floss, and fishing line.
Maintain aviaries and lofts — check perches, bedding, and nest materials for loose fibers or frayed edges.
Provide safe nest materials such as straw, hay, or pine needles instead of fabric or thread.
Inspect birds regularly, especially new arrivals or outdoor flocks, for early signs of constriction.
Educate the public — many people don’t realize that hair and string thrown outside anywhere other than in a trash bin can kill pigeons.
What to Do If You Find a Bird With Stringfoot
If you can safely catch the bird, gentle and prompt removal of the material can save the limb:
Secure the pigeon calmly in a towel or carrier.
Soak the foot or leg in warm clean water (optionally with mild antiseptic) to loosen fibers.
Use fine tweezers or scissors to carefully unwind or lift away the string rather than cutting through layers blindly.
Clean and disinfect the area afterward, and apply an antibacterial cream if skin is broken.
Monitor healing — keep the bird on clean, soft bedding; infection or necrosis may require veterinary care.
Why It Matters
Stringfoot is a vivid example of how human litter harms animals. A few discarded hairs or threads can cause a lifetime of pain for an intelligent, social bird.
Throwing away your hair and string — along with removing these materials from public spaces and educating others — prevents suffering and demonstrates compassion for animals.
