All 200 Flying Rats (Pigeons) in GTA 4 and the Reward
GTA 4 pigeons explained: where the 200 flying rats hide across Liberty City, how to spot and shoot them, and the Annihilator reward at the MeTV building.
The GTA 4 pigeons, called Flying Rats in-game, are the one collectible set every completionist has to clear, and there are exactly 200 of them scattered across Liberty City and Alderney. Find and destroy all 200 and you unlock the Endangered Species achievement plus a free Annihilator attack helicopter. This guide covers what the flying rats are, how to spot them, the fastest ways to kill them, and exactly where the reward shows up.
What are the flying rats in GTA IV
The flying rats are GTA IV's hidden-collectible equivalent of the classic hidden packages and tags from earlier games. Each one is a single glowing pigeon perched somewhere in the world: on rooftops, under bridges, on fire escapes, atop statues, and in plenty of out-of-the-way corners you would never visit during the story.
The pigeons do not move or fly off, so once you reach one you have all the time you need to line up the kill. They give off a soft red-orange glow and a constant cooing sound, both of which are your two best detection cues. There is no in-game counter on the map, so most players track progress against an external checklist as they go.
Collecting them is entirely optional for the main story, but the full set is required if you want 100% completion. Clearing all 200 adds 2.5% to your total completion percentage, the same slice the 50 unique stunt jumps contribute.
Where the 200 pigeons are located in Liberty City
All 200 flying rats are spread across the full GTA IV map: the four Liberty City boroughs (Algonquin, Broker, Bohan and Dukes) plus Alderney. They tend to sit in remote or elevated spots rather than busy streets, so expect a lot of rooftop access, dock edges, train platforms, and bridge supports.
A few clusters make life easier. Six pigeons sit on the Statue of Happiness out in the harbor, so a single boat or helicopter trip there knocks out several at once. Other multi-pigeon spots include shipping yards, the elevated subway lines, and the larger rooftops in Algonquin. Because the birds are static, an experienced runner can clear the whole set in a few focused sessions rather than stumbling on them by accident.
If you want to plan routes by borough, the GTA IV game hub is a good jumping-off point for the rest of Liberty City's content.
How to spot and shoot the flying rats
The two reliable senses for hunting pigeons are sound and light:
- Listen for the cooing. As you get within range, you will hear a distinct, repeating pigeon coo. Cut the radio and engine noise and the audio cue will lead you to the bird before you even see it.
- Look for the glow, especially at night. Each flying rat is highlighted with a red-orange glow that is far easier to pick out in the dark. Hunting at night, or in dim weather, makes the birds noticeably easier to find than under bright daylight.
- Use cover and rooftops as vantage points. Many pigeons sit high up, so getting above street level (via fire escapes, ladders, or a helicopter) often reveals several at once.
Killing a pigeon is simple once you reach it. You can:
- Shoot it with any firearm. A pistol is plenty, and free-aim or auto-aim both work.
- Blow it up with explosives such as grenades or a rocket launcher if several are grouped together.
- Burn it with a Molotov.
- Run it over or crush it with a vehicle if the bird is at ground or ledge height.
A scoped weapon helps for pigeons tucked onto distant ledges you cannot easily climb to. There is no penalty for using whatever is on hand, so bring the loudest, easiest tool for each spot. If you would rather speed-run the hunt with a stocked arsenal, the GTA 4 cheats page lists the weapon spawn codes.
The Endangered Species achievement and 100% completion
Destroying all 200 flying rats unlocks Endangered Species, worth 50 Gamerscore on Xbox 360 and a Silver trophy on PlayStation 3. It is one of the more time-consuming non-story achievements in the game, and because nothing in the campaign points you toward the pigeons, it is easy to miss entirely on a first playthrough.
This task is also a required box for the 100% completion run. The pigeons sit alongside the other completion criteria (story missions, friend activities, unique stunt jumps and so on), and at 2.5% they are too big a slice to skip if you are chasing the full clear.
The Annihilator helicopter reward at the MeTV building
The standout payoff for the hunt is a permanent vehicle spawn. Once all 200 pigeons are dead, an Annihilator helicopter appears on the helipad atop the MeTV building in Star Junction, Algonquin (Liberty City's Times Square analog).
The Annihilator is one of GTA IV's few weaponized aircraft. Operated in-fiction by NOOSE, it is modeled on the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and carries four miniguns mounted on its stub wings, making it the most combat-capable helicopter you can reliably get your hands on in the base game. Having one spawn on demand at a fixed rooftop is a serious quality-of-life upgrade for rampages and tough free-roam fights.
Reaching the helipad takes a little effort. From the ground you can ride the window-washer lift in the rear alley up to the roof, then climb the ladders to the pad. Many players report the Annihilator spawns more reliably if you arrive by another helicopter and land on the pad directly, rather than climbing up via the washer lift, so if it is missing on your first visit, try flying in. For more Liberty City landmarks and rooftop shots, browse the GTA 4 screenshots.
