Pigeons and the World of Fine Art

See also, The Extinction of Carrier Pigeons

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When it comes to fine art, we tend to think that it is something that only humans can appreciate and discern. However, a surprising study published in 2016 suggests that pigeons, yes, the birds commonly found in urban areas, may also have the ability to discriminate fine art apart.

The study was conducted by Dr. Richard Levenson, a pathologist at the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Edward Wasserman, a psychologist at the University of Iowa. They trained eight pigeons to recognize the difference between paintings by famous artists such as Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh, and those created by non-famous artists. The pigeons were shown a set of images and had to peck at the painting they had been trained to recognize.

The results were impressive. The pigeons were able to recognize and discriminate between paintings by famous artists with an accuracy rate of around 80%, which is comparable to that of humans. This suggests that pigeons are able to perceive and discriminate fine art apart, and raises questions about the nature of perception and aesthetics.

So how are pigeons able to do this? One theory is that pigeons have an advanced visual system that allows them to perceive subtle differences in the paintings. Pigeons have a wider visual field than humans and are able to see ultraviolet light, which may allow them to perceive more details in the paintings. Additionally, pigeons have a higher density of photoreceptor cells in their eyes than humans, which may allow them to detect finer details in the paintings.

Another theory is that pigeons may be using different cues to discriminate between the paintings. For example, they may be using differences in texture, color, or shape, rather than the content or style of the paintings. This raises interesting questions about the nature of perception and aesthetics, and challenges our assumptions about what constitutes fine art.

Of course, it is important to note that the study has its limitations. For example, it only used a small sample size of eight pigeons, and the paintings used were limited to a specific set of artists and styles. Further research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings.

Despite its limitations, the study suggests that pigeons may have a more sophisticated visual system and perception of aesthetics than previously thought. It also challenges our assumptions about what constitutes fine art and raises questions about the nature of perception and cognition.