Why do pigeons climb stairs, instead of flying up?

Depending on where they’re starting from, it’s probably less energy, or seems like it to them. You’d have to ask them to really know.

Using less energy isn’t just a matter of laziness.

People drop crumbs on stairs.

It’s exactly a matter of effort (energy) expended. Not only is it easier but more accurate in landing where you want if you hop. It’s a design thing. You need a hummingbird’s wings (and mass) to better the results.

I love this question loli! I had to look at it again, because it occurred to me that if the goal of the pigeon is to merely go from the bottom of a flight of stairs to the top, wings are the way to go. But pigeons are grazing animals and require an inordinate amount of time foraging. So hop from stair to stair so as not to miss any tidbits.

Birds on the ground, or a solid surface, are constantly looking for food. Its kind of an autopilot process. If they need to get somewhere faster, they will fly for sure.

I need proof of the premise first.

I saw them do it. And no, they were not pecking for anything along the way.

They do indeed do it. But I insist they do it to examine individual stairs. They only “peck” when they find something.

Because pigeons are smart enough to know stairs are for climbing!

Here’s how it is: pigeons use loads of energy if they take off, and fly (especially the taking off part) due to their not so aerodynamic build (they are rather heavy in relation to their wing(s) (force).
They have to peck hours and hours to get enough energy in their system.
One take off uses so much energy that they are behind much time at once.
Or, the ratio energy loss due to taking off versus pecking hours to get a certain amount of energy is is not at all in balance.
I hope my explanation makes sense.
We have many pigeons in our cities, and maybe even more pedestrians and cyclists.
If I cycle or walk through a flock of pigeons, hardly ever one will fly up.
It borders on risking their life for a bread crumb (everything to not take off).

Seriously? I have never noticed this. Now I will definitely watch the pigeons)))

Using the legs AND the wings is easier.
As you probably have noticed by flapping or swinging your arms as you go up/down stairs or when you run

I have given this a lot of thought, and watched extensive video.
I have come to the conclusion that they do it so their penguin pals can keep up.

How many penguins encounter stairs, or for that matter pigeons?

^^ You’d be surprised! We even end up in nursing homes with broken ankles sometimes.

That’s an interesting topic—birds in nursing homes. If you pay attention, you can often see city pigeons with a missing foot or leg.

Up the stairs (just learning)
Down the stairs They have their own Bannister!
Up the stairs. (Like a pro)

Such clever birds!