Billing and lovemaking in general is a sure sign of mating. The female inserts her beak into the open beak of the male, who then regurgitates some food. Usually billing is followed by mating, the male treading the squatting female. After the mating ceremony, the male indulges in a short, joyous flight, in which he is usually followed by his mate. This nuptial flight is engaged in particularly by pigeons which are kept in roomy flights or which have liberty outside of their lofts.
Mated pairs are generally most productive if cock and hen are of decidedly different ages.
Furthermore, mating a young bird to an older bird often means more successful nesting, since the latter is already experienced in nest building, incubating, and the feeding of squabs. A healthy, mated pair of pigeons, placed in a new loft, will, after a few days of getting acquainted with their strange environment, begin to look for a suitable place to nest. In this activity, the cock bird takes the initiative by inspecting nest boxes in various locations. As soon as he has found one to his liking, he will stay in it, loudly call-ing to his mate to come and have a look at the prospective home. If she shows approval of the site by readily enter-ing it and for some time staying in it with her mate then he will soon start to carry nesting materials to her.