Rock Dove
Columba livia
The Rock Dove (Columba livia) is a common doves and pigeon found in 228 countries, weighing about 354 g. The rock dove, also known as the common pigeon or rock pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae.
About the Rock Dove
The rock dove, also known as the common pigeon or rock pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae. In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although the rock dove is the wild form of the bird; the pigeons familiar to most people are the domesticated forms of the wild rock dove.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
What the Rock Dove sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Central African Republic, Falkland Islands, North Korea, Micronesia, Nauru.
When to see it
The Rock Dove can be seen all year round, with peak activity in January. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Watch the Rock Dove on live cams
Browse all 118 bird cams worldwide, live and seasonal, by region and species.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Rock Dove?
- Millennia of domestication have greatly altered the rock dove in many regions. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Rock Dove?
- The Rock Dove is a large sized bird weighing about 354 g.
- Where can you see a Rock Dove?
- The Rock Dove occurs in 228 countries, including the United States, Canada, India, the United Kingdom and Spain.
- What does a Rock Dove sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Rock Dove on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Rock Dove?
- The Rock Dove is most easily confused with the Common Wood Pigeon, the Stock Dove and the Speckled Pigeon.
- Is the Rock Dove endangered?
- The Rock Dove is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Rock Dove 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.
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