This Brazilian folktale explains why pigeons live near humans. Following his father's advice, the youngest of three sons opens a magical melon near water, releasing a beautiful maiden. While he's away, a jealous servant girl sticks a pin in the maiden, turning her into a pigeon, and tricks the young man into marrying her instead. Years later, the man is wealthy but unhappy, constantly followed by this specific pigeon. When the pigeon is about to be cooked, the pin is discovered and removed, restoring the maiden. The deceitful wife dies, the man marries the true maiden, and she, remembering her time as a bird, encourages pigeons to nest near homes, leading to their tameness.

This Brazilian folktale explains why pigeons live near humans. Following his father's advice, the youngest of three sons opens a magical melon near water, releasing a beautiful maiden. While he's away, a jealous servant girl sticks a pin in the...

How the Pigeon Became a Tame Bird | Folk Tales