Pigeons come in many shades in New York City - but purple is typically not one of them.

That's why animal lover Joe Mora was stunned when he saw a pigeon at a Queens playground that had been painted a violet hue.

The pigeon was taken Friday to licensed wildlife rehabilitator Bobby Horvath. He said the bird is unable to fly because the feathers are completely rigid from the paint. But he says the animal is lucky its mouth or eyes didn't get stained.

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spokesman Joseph Pentangelo says if the bird was intentionally painted it "certainly" qualifies as animal cruelty.

How can you accidentally paint a pigeon? ) Thanks for these news dude, they're hilarious.

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I guess in NYC they paint pigeons all kinds of colors. I have to admit purple is a new one on me as well.

I'm in New York and have seen white, and gray pigeons but never a purple. It would be cruel to paint any animal but I'm not a fan of pigeons. I'm a little afraid of them. I steer clear of them especially when they run around in wild packs. Okay, maybe not wild but they do stick together sometimes.

Pigeons are dirty birds that serve no real purpose, or at least any good ones that I can tell. I don't know why someone would bother painting them but it surely wasn't by accident.