Clips showing a bright green pigeon are going viral on the video-sharing social media platform TikTok, amassing millions of views and prompting people to flock to Northampton town centre in the hopes of seeing the unusually coloured bird. While the reason behind its colour isn't yet known for certain, it is believed it may have been dyed or painted green.

Robin Hinkmott and his partner came across the bird outside All Saint’s Church in late June. Robin noted: "If I had to guess it was someone having a laugh, or dyed for a wedding or some sort of event. It doesn't seem to be negatively impacted by it or treated differently. I suppose there's a risk that it might be more visible to predators." Alex Zambon, 33, working in Northampton centre, said “people are always filming” the green pigeon.

One man, he added, came all the way from London to see the bird, a decision which the 33-year-old said seemed “bonkers to me, Northampton isn’t really known for loads of tourists.”

While the green pigeon may seem like a light-hearted attraction to some, the RSPCA issued a warning about the dangers online trends can have on wildlife.

The animal charity believes the fluorescent bird could have been deliberately dyed or painted - but others suggested it may be down to its diet.

The RSPCA previously warned of the dangers dying birds can cause after seeing a social media-fuelled trend of parents-to-be dyeing birds pink or blue for gender reveal parties.

They also said: “The majority of us want the best for animals, and to treat them with respect - so it’s important to remember that intentionally painting a pigeon’s feathers can be dangerous for the animal. It can cause health problems, impair their ability to fly and make them more vulnerable to predators.

“Dye and paints can be toxic to birds and other animals, and they would be likely to try to clean any such substance from their coat or feathers which could result in them swallowing it."

Birdwatch Magazine Optics Editor Mike Alibone argued the bird may have escaped captivity, saying: "The reason for this is not clear but the bird has certainly escaped and joined the resident feral pigeon flock in Northampton town centre. Some racing pigeon owners are known to dye their birds but it is not a particularly common practice that happens frequently in the UK.

"But some pigeons can be dyed pink or blue for a gender-reveal party - a tradition where expectant couples learn the sex of their baby using pink or blue items.

"Green may be a less common colour for dyeing, but this might also be linked to some form of 'columbicultura', where a single female pigeon seeks to avoid up to eighty 'gaudily painted' pigeons chasing and seeking to mate with her, which is not uncommon in Spain. It's regarded as a sport - so it might be something connected with pigeon racing.

"With regard to how the bird is affected, it depends on the chemical composition of the dye and whether it contains anything poisonous to the bird or whether it affects the bird's natural waterproofing of its plumage.

"It should not affect flying ability. The Northampton bird seemed in fine fettle and was competing successfully with the other pigeons for food being thrown down by people keen to feed them."

The online response to the pigeon has been huge, with millions of views on videos of the pigeon. One web user commented “it’s absolutely crazy, people are travelling to my hometown for a video of a pigeon.” Another said, “is it radioactive or something… the Incredible Hulk of the bird kingdom.”