Rock Pigeon

Rock Pigeon, Columba livia (col-UM-bah LIE-vih-ah; genus name from Latin, a pigeon or dove; species name: from Latin, blue, blue-grey, or lead-coloured, in reference to its largely bluish plumage,) also known as the Feral Pigeon are among the most familiar birds known to city dwellers. They are native to Eurasia, being introduced to North America, Australia and South America.

Description
This highly variable city pigeon is familiar to all urban dwellers. Multicoloured birds were developed over centuries of near domestication. Heavy-bodied, broad-shouldered, short-tailed pigeon with a relatively short neck and short stubby bill. Folded wings fall just short of the tail tip, but primary extension past tertials very long (which are longer than tail length).

The sexes are similar, but females have less iridescence on neck and breast. Adult males are metallic green and purple iridescence on neck and breast; iris orange to red; orbital skin blue-grey, and feet are dark red. Adult females are like males, but iridescence more restricted and subdued.

Because of being domesticated, the colours of the birds are variable, from all white to all black. Most often dark grey head; iridescent neck and breast; pale grey back; two dark wingbars formed by dark tips to secondaries and dark bases to greater coverts and tertials.

Has hybridised with the Band-tailed Pigeon as well as Mourning Dove and many Old World pigeons and doves.

Similar species
Some Rock Pigeons can be black, resembling the White-crowned Pigeon, but will normally show white on rump and lack the white crown.

Rock Pigeon differs from Scaly-naped Pigeon in having a darker neck than body, grey upperparts, white rump and black bars on upperwing.

Red-billed Pigeon, Band-tailed Pigeon lacks a white rump as well.

Mourning Doves are much smaller, have a long pointed tail, and lacks white rump.

Stock Doves are smaller, with grey underwings, vs the larger white underwings of the Rock Pigeon; smaller black wing patches and blue-grey rump.

Common Woodpigeon is larger than the Rock Pigeon, with a proportionally somewhat longer tail and smaller head, appears fuller-breasted but nonetheless is more elongated.

Behaviour
Rock Pigeons are intelligent birds, being able to discriminate between Monet, Renoir, Cezzane, Braque, Matisse and Picasso's paintings. They can also identify the Peanuts character Charlie Brown.

It is one of the swiftest birds in flight, being clocked in Britain and France at 28 - 82 mph; and up to 82 - 94.3 mph.

Calls
Low pitched, gurgling cucucurooo.

Distribution/habitat
Native to Eurasia, where they inhabit rocky sea coasts and desert canyons.

Also found in cities, parks, farms, bridges and cliffs.