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Rock Dove (Columba livia, Gmelin 1789)
Family: Columbidae
Length: 31 to 35cm Wingspan: 63 to 70cm Weight: 250 to 350g. Lifespan: up to 10 years.
The Rock Dove is the ancestor of the domestic pigeon and is usually referred to as a “pigeon.”
Rock Doves have been domesticated for several thousand years.
The “True Rock Doves” scarcity today, is due to constant interbreeding with feral and domestic pigeons. They are natural coastal birds, feeding in nearby fields throughout the daytime, returning to the safety and shelter of the coastal caves and rock ledges at night.
Habitat: Wide ranging to the extreme, from coastline cliffs to city centres as well as open grass lands, arable land and in parks, foraging for most types of food in large and small flocks or individually. Feeding on seeds, berries, buds, also small invertebrates, usually taken from the ground. In cities and towns, human garbage is also a food source. Pigeons are able to continuously drink from the water’s surface, without having to tilt their heads back, like most birds have to do.
Wild Rock Doves are pale grey, with two black bars on each wing. Markings and colours vary considerably on the feral and domestic pigeon. (Images below, show a feral “White Rock Dove” more than likely recognised as a Dove.).
The True Rock Dove flocks are now only found in North West Europe, mainly along the coastlines. Even in these flocks, evidence of different plumage and colour pattern shows the infiltration of the feral, town and domestic pigeons.
Rock Dove’s, generally keep with their same partner throughout their breeding years, a female lays 2 eggs and have up to 3 broods a year. Nesting is usually constructed from sticks, straw and grasses, usually under cover on a ledge, or in a rocks crevasse, also nesting places can be found on or in various man-made structures. Both parents look after the eggs (incubation period, between 17 to 19 days) and rear the squabs (pigeon chicks are known as squabs and will fledge in about 30 days). Peak nesting times are spring and summer, although given mild-temperatures, Columba livia will breed all year round.
The escaped domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) has increased the populations of feral pigeons around the world, it is thought the population to be around 120 million birds, in Europe alone, estimations of up to 28 million pigeons exist.
Pigeons rarely fly far from their local and familiar surroundings.
The pigeon falls prey to many breeds of raptors, taken from the ground or while in flight. Nests are also raided by gulls and crows, for the eggs as well as young birds. Various climbing animals will also raid nests, including the feral and domestic cat.
Read MoreFamily: Columbidae
Length: 31 to 35cm Wingspan: 63 to 70cm Weight: 250 to 350g. Lifespan: up to 10 years.
The Rock Dove is the ancestor of the domestic pigeon and is usually referred to as a “pigeon.”
Rock Doves have been domesticated for several thousand years.
The “True Rock Doves” scarcity today, is due to constant interbreeding with feral and domestic pigeons. They are natural coastal birds, feeding in nearby fields throughout the daytime, returning to the safety and shelter of the coastal caves and rock ledges at night.
Habitat: Wide ranging to the extreme, from coastline cliffs to city centres as well as open grass lands, arable land and in parks, foraging for most types of food in large and small flocks or individually. Feeding on seeds, berries, buds, also small invertebrates, usually taken from the ground. In cities and towns, human garbage is also a food source. Pigeons are able to continuously drink from the water’s surface, without having to tilt their heads back, like most birds have to do.
Wild Rock Doves are pale grey, with two black bars on each wing. Markings and colours vary considerably on the feral and domestic pigeon. (Images below, show a feral “White Rock Dove” more than likely recognised as a Dove.).
The True Rock Dove flocks are now only found in North West Europe, mainly along the coastlines. Even in these flocks, evidence of different plumage and colour pattern shows the infiltration of the feral, town and domestic pigeons.
Rock Dove’s, generally keep with their same partner throughout their breeding years, a female lays 2 eggs and have up to 3 broods a year. Nesting is usually constructed from sticks, straw and grasses, usually under cover on a ledge, or in a rocks crevasse, also nesting places can be found on or in various man-made structures. Both parents look after the eggs (incubation period, between 17 to 19 days) and rear the squabs (pigeon chicks are known as squabs and will fledge in about 30 days). Peak nesting times are spring and summer, although given mild-temperatures, Columba livia will breed all year round.
The escaped domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) has increased the populations of feral pigeons around the world, it is thought the population to be around 120 million birds, in Europe alone, estimations of up to 28 million pigeons exist.
Pigeons rarely fly far from their local and familiar surroundings.
The pigeon falls prey to many breeds of raptors, taken from the ground or while in flight. Nests are also raided by gulls and crows, for the eggs as well as young birds. Various climbing animals will also raid nests, including the feral and domestic cat.
