PHOTOS: What the flock! Huge pigeon sculpture lands on the High Line, 'He's looking right at us'

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A 16-foot-tall sculpture of a pigeon took over the High Line in Chelsea on Wednesday, stunning passersby, who described it as “daunting,” “terrifying” and “cute.”

The hyper-realistic bird, which officially opens to the public Thursday, looms large over the intersection of West 30th Street and 10th Avenue. It’s 21 feet tall in all—if you include the 5-foot base that has displayed previous works commissioned by High Line Art.

Colombian artist Iván Argote said the piece, titled “Dinosaur,” is meant to reverse the typical power dynamic between the birds and humans, who have lived alongside each other for 10,000 years.

“Kind of change that perspective,” Argote told 1010 WINS. “And then we’ll be the ones smaller around the pigeon, and then probably vulnerable, and kind of place ourselves at their feet.”

“Most of the times we make monuments about powerful figures, and it’s always a celebration of power,” the artist said, adding that the work is “also about a gesture of empathy, not only towards pigeons, but [towards] things we don’t necessarily like.”

Surprised passersby stopped to snap photos of the enormous pigeon on Wednesday afternoon. One woman called it “a little daunting.” A man added, “I think it could be terrifying to some, especially if you drive up and see that thing right there.”

Still, many expressed their admiration for the monument to the plucky bird, known for its quirky antics on the streets of the city.

“I love it! I think it’s so, so cute,” said Abigail Childers, who works nearby. “My coworker and I were just talking about how much we like pigeons and how very like ‘the spirit of New York’ they are.”

Childers said she and her officemates are “pigeon lovers” and are trying to come up with their own name for the pigeon. “My vote is Midge, I think Midge the Pigeon is really cute.”

“Street rats,” said Angelo from Brooklyn as he looked up at the towering fowl. “They’re the hardiest birds around, because they can last through cold and snow and heat.”

The sculpture, which is cast in aluminum and hand-painted, will be on view for 18 months, organizers said .

And unlike the real thing, it won’t leave a mess.