Bird Guide

Rock Dove vs Speckled Pigeon

Rock Dove (Columba livia)

Rock Dove

Columba livia

Large354 gUrban

Millennia of domestication have greatly altered the rock dove in many regions. Domestic and Feral pigeons, which arose through selective breeding, not originating naturally, have significant variation in plumage from the natural wild birds. This wild type is endangered in many areas; the nominate subspecies C. l. livia persists most notably in the far north and west of Scotland, most strongly so in the Outer Hebrides. The adult of the nominate subspecies of the rock dove is 30 to 35 cm (12 to 14 in) long with a 62 to 68 cm (24 to 27 in) wingspan. Voice: The call is a soft, slightly wavering, coo "crruoo-u", similar to feral pigeons. Variations include an alarm call, a nest call, and noises made by juveniles. When displaying, songs are partly sexual, partly threatening. They are accompanied by an inflated throat, tail fanning, strutting, and bowing. The alarm call, given at sight of predators, is a grunt-like oorhh.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recording: Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nick Chirico · CC BY 4.0
Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)

Speckled Pigeon

Columba guinea

Large352 gShrubland

It is a medium-sized pigeon, at 32–35 cm in length similar in size to rock dove and stock dove. Its back and wings are rufous, the latter heavily speckled with white spots. The rest of the upperparts and underparts are blue-grey, and the head is grey with red patches of bare skin around the eye. The neck is brownish, streaked with white, and the legs are red. The sexes are similar, but immatures are browner than adults and lack the red eye patches. The call is a loud doo-doo-doo.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kjeuring · CC BY 3.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Rock Dove and Speckled Pigeon.