Britannica Sources used in this answer

How is pigeon’s milk produced in the parents’ crops?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Domestic pigeon (Columba livia) — Columbiform Domestic pigeon (*Columba livia*)

Pigeon’s milk, also known as crop-milk, is a secretion produced by both male and female pigeons to feed their young.12

The production of this substance is regulated by the hormone prolactin, which induces structural changes in the lining of the bird's crop. Unlike mammalian milk, this fluid is created through the breaking down and discharge of the cells that line the crop wall. The resulting substance is a milky fluid containing solid particles that resemble cheese, which the parents then regurgitate to nourish their offspring.21