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.

Other names
Feral Pigeon, Racing Pigeon, Domestic Pigeon, Rock Dove.

Description
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).

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. The sexes are similar, but females have less iridescence on neck and breast.

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

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 ; 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.