About the Laurel Pigeon
The laurel pigeon or white-tailed laurel pigeon is a species of bird in the genus Columba in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Canary Islands, Spain, and resides in laurel forest habitat. It is the animal symbol of the island of La Gomera.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The laurel pigeon is a dark brown and grey bird of 40 cm; it resembles a very dark wood pigeon. The underparts are reddish, and the tail is pale grey with a broad, whitish terminal band. Extensive green gloss to rear crown and hindneck becoming pink on the upper mantle. The bill is pink with a white tip, and the eye is orange in colour. The similar Canarian species, the Bolle's pigeon or dark-tailed laurel pigeon Columba bollii has a pale grey subterminal band and blackish terminal band to tail.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Western Bronze-naped PigeonColumba iriditorquesA medium sized bird, the western bronze-naped pigeon measures about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length.
Bolle's PigeonColumba bolliiLarger than the common pigeon, a length of 36 cm to 38 cm.
Sri Lanka Wood PigeonColumba torringtoniaeThe Sri Lankan wood pigeon or Ceylon wood pigeon is a pigeon which is an endemic resident breeding bird in the mountains of Sri Lanka.
Learn the Laurel Pigeon for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.