Praise be to Allaah.
The basic principle with regard to food and drink is that it
is permissible unless there is proof that it is haraam. Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “He it is Who
created for you all that is on earth” [al-Baqarah 2:29].
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The people of the
Jaahiliyyah used to eat some things and refrain from others because they
found them off-putting. Then Allah, may He be exalted, sent His Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), revealed His Book, and explained
what is permissible and what is forbidden. Whatever the Qur’aan has
permitted is permissible and whatever it has forbidden is forbidden, and
whatever it does not mention is pardoned. Then he recited: “Say (O
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): I find not
in that which has been revealed to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one
who wishes to eat it, unless…” [al-An‘aam 6:145] until the end of the
verse.
Narrated by Abu Dawood (3306); classed as saheeh by Shaykh
al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The
second type is that concerning which no prohibition was narrated; it is
permissible, but on condition that it be slaughtered properly, such as duck
and waterfowl.
End quote from Fath al-Baari.
With regard to ducks and pigeons, there is no evidence to
suggest that it is haraam to eat them, so we go back to the original
principle, which is that they are permissible. In fact the permissibility of
eating pigeons can be seen in the fact that the Sahaabah (may Allah be
pleased with them) ruled that if a muhrim (pilgrim in ihram) hunted the
pigeons of the Haram (sanctuary), the expiation for that is a sheep, which
indicates that it is permissible to eat them (i.e., pigeons -- the
prohibition is on hunting when in ihram and within the boundaries of the
Haram).
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Similar
rulings were made by ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn ‘Abbaas and Naafi‘ ibn
‘Abd al-Haarith…
End quote from al-Mughni, 3/247
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Our companions
are unanimously agreed that it is permissible to eat ostriches, chickens…
ducks, sand grouse, sparrows, larks, francolin and pigeons…
End quote from Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 7/22
He also said: Whatever lives in the water and on land,
including waterfowl such as ducks, geese and so in, is halaal as stated
above, but if any of these dies of natural causes (i.e., is not slaughtered
in the proper manner) it is not halaal, and there is no difference of
scholarly opinion on this point. Rather it is essential that it be
slaughtered properly.
End quote from Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, 9/35
And Allah knows best.