The pharmacokinetics of amoxycillin in pigeons (Columba livia) and the efficacy of amoxycillin treatment in pigeon streptococcosis, were investigated. After intravenous administration of 150 mg.kg-1 amoxycillin, the drug plasma concentration-time profile fitted an open two-compartment model. Amoxycillin was quickly cleared from the circulation with a mean half-life of 66 min and showed a distribution volume of 0.9 L.kg-1. The absolute oral bioavailability of amoxycillin was 50.1%. A 5-day drinking water treatment with amoxycillin (1500 mg.L-1, corresponding to 112.0 mg.kg-1.day-1 during day-light hours) significantly reduced the postinoculation morbidity in pigeons experimentally infected with Streptococcus bovis, compared to untreated infected controls.