Pigeons were also a popular dish back then
Currently, there are plenty of bird species we have domesticated and now use as food. The ones known by everyone are turkey, chicken, and duck. But plenty of other birds are used as game meat. And pigeon was a common choice for a meal in colonial homes for plenty of reasons.
Even in modern days, pigeon or squab meat is considered a great delicacy in some parts of the world. But why is that? This bird is actually an excellent source of protein, iron, phosphorus, and vitamin B12. So it is no surprise that people were adding pigeons to their daily diets even that long ago.