Mysterious green pigeon becomes TikTok sensation

By Adam Dutton

Residents have been left baffled by a mystery bright green pigeon which has become a TikTok sensation in their town, attracting visitors from afar.

The illuminous bird has been causing a flap in Northampton, where it is regularly spotted next to a church in the town centre.

TikTokers have been flocking to the East Midlands to get a glimpse and videos featuring the pigeon have gone viral on the platform, racking up over four million views.

Mystery surrounds how the bird got its unusual color, but the RSPCA has issued a warning about the dangers that online trends can have on wildlife.

The animal charity believes the fluorescent bird could have been deliberately dyed or painted, but others suggested it may be down to its diet.

Local resident Robin Hinkmott snapped the bird in Northampton town centre outside All Saints Church on June 28.

He said: "Me and my partner were playing Pokémon Go that weekend, so wandered that way to see if we could spot the shiny pigeon.

"If I had to guess, it was someone having a laugh, or dyed for a wedding or a some sort of event.

"It doesn't seem to be negatively impacted by it or treated differently. I suppose there's a risk that it might be more visible to predators."

Another local, Alex Zambon, 33, who works in the city center, added: "I often have my lunch around there and there's always people filming it.

"One guy said he'd come up from London, and I've heard many travel long distances to see it, which is a bit bonkers, as Northampton isn't really known for loads of tourists.

"So to have a pigeon as a tourist attraction is quite funny, really.

"I heard one bird expert on the radio say it may be down to what it eats, like seagulls can go a bit pink if they eat shrimps. But it's a bit of a mystery."

Videos of people hunting for the 'famous viral green pigeon of Northampton' have been viewed millions of times on TikTok.

One web user said: "It’s absolutely crazy people are travelling to my hometown just to get a video of a pigeon."

Another added: "Why is it even like that, is it radioactive or something…the Incredible Hulk of the bird kingdom."

Birdwatch Magazine optics editor Mike Alibone said be believed the bird was originally white in color but had been dyed green.

He said: "The reason for this is not clear, but the bird has certainly escaped and joined the resident feral pigeon flock in Northampton town centre.

"Some racing pigeon owners are known to dye their birds, but it is not a particularly common practice that happens frequently in the UK.

"But some pigeons can be dyed pink or blue for a gender-reveal party - a tradition where expectant couples learn the sex of their baby using pink or blue items.

"Green may be a less common color for dyeing, but this might also be linked to some form of 'columbicultura', where a single female pigeon seeks to avoid up to eighty 'gaudily painted' pigeons chasing and seeking to mate with her, which is not uncommon in Spain.

"It's regarded as a sport, so it might be something connected with pigeon racing.

"With regard to how the bird is affected, it depends on the chemical composition of the dye and whether it contains anything poisonous to the bird or whether it affects the bird's natural waterproofing of its plumage.

"It should not affect flying ability. The Northampton bird seemed in fine fettle and was competing successfully with the other pigeons for food being thrown down by people keen to feed them."

The RSPCA has issued previous warnings after seeing a social media-fuelled trend of parents-to-be dyeing birds pink of blue for gender reveal parties.

Birds have died after inhaling toxins in the dye, while it can also impact their flying ability and make them more vulnerable to predators, the charity says.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We suspect this pigeon’s feathers have been painted - something we seem to be hearing about more and more.

“The majority of us want the best for animals, and to treat them with respect, so it’s important to remember that intentionally painting a pigeon’s feathers can be dangerous for the animal.

“It can cause health problems, impair their ability to fly, and make them more vulnerable to predators.

“Dye and paints can be toxic to birds and other animals, and they would be likely to try to clean any such substance from their coat or feathers, which could result in them swallowing it.

"Until its next moult, this pigeon will likely be more at risk in the wild.

“Sadly, from time to time, we do hear anecdotally about incidents involving animals being affected in this way - and sadly, we fear social media trends could be fuelling this.

“To find out what to do if you witness an incident involving dyeing or painting an animal, please visit the RSPCA’s website.

"There's also more information about how to help a wild animal you may have concerns for.”