Columba livia
The Rock Dove, or common Feral Pigeon, is a robust, medium-sized bird, measuring approximately 32-37 cm (12.6-14.6 in) in length with a wingspan of 64-71 cm (25.2-28 in) and weighing between 238-380 g (8.4-13.4 oz). Its ancestral wild form exhibits a distinctive grey plumage with iridescent green and purple sheen on the neck and breast, two prominent black bars across each wing, and a clean white rump, though feral populations display immense variation in color, often including black, white, ...
Primarily found in urban and suburban environments globally, it originally inhabited rocky cliffs and coastal areas, but readily adapts to human structures as surrogate cliffs. It can be found from sea level to high mountain elevations.
Mainly granivorous, consuming a wide variety of seeds, grains, and small fruits, supplemented opportunistically with human refuse, bread, and insects. Primarily forages by gleaning food from the ground.
Rock Doves are diurnal, spending their days foraging and typically roosting communally on high ledges or within sheltered structures overnight. Their foraging strategy is opportunistic, primarily involving ground gleaning for seeds, grains, and discarded human food. Males engage in elaborate cour...
The ancestral wild Rock Dove is native to the coastal cliffs of Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, spanning from the British Isles and Western Europe through the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, and China. However, due to widespread domestication and subsequent esc...
Least Concern
- The Rock Dove is the wild ancestor of all domestic pigeons, with domestication dating back at least 5,000 years. - They possess an incredible homing ability, capable of navigating hundreds, even thousands, of miles back to their loft at speeds up to 60 mph. - Both male and female Rock Doves pro...