The rock dove, also known as the rock pigeon or common 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.
Region
Worldwide (cosmopolitan); native to Europe, North Africa and South Asia
Typical Environment
In its native form it nests on sea cliffs, rocky gorges, and cave ledges. Human settlements have created abundant surrogate cliff habitat, so feral populations thrive on buildings, bridges, and other structures. It commonly uses agricultural landscapes, grain yards, and urban parks for feeding. It adapts readily to coastal towns as well as inland cities and farmlands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 4/5
Also called the rock pigeon, it is the wild ancestor of domestic and feral pigeons seen in cities worldwide. It has exceptional homing abilities and has been used for centuries to carry messages and in racing. Wild-type birds show a consistent bluish-gray plumage with two black wing bars, but feral populations display many color morphs. Both parents feed their chicks a nutrient-rich secretion known as crop milk.
Illustration by John Gould, 1832
by Adolf Bernhard Meyer, from Abbildungen von Vogel-Skeletten (1879)
A flock perched on a cliffside, showing their petrophillic nature
A flock of rock doves flying, Turgut Özal Nature Park, Malatya
Group of wild birds in Shetland, Scotland, with common starlings. The focal individual is performing a courtship display
A rock dove foraging with hill pigeons (Columba rupestris)
A feral pigeon with entirely missing tail feathers
Temperament
social and adaptable
Flight Pattern
strong flier with rapid wingbeats and agile maneuvering
Social Behavior
Often forms sizable flocks outside the breeding season and gathers at communal roosts on cliffs and buildings. Pairs are typically monogamous and may breed multiple times per year in favorable conditions. Nests are simple scrapes of twigs on ledges or in building recesses, and both parents share incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The call is a soft, rhythmic cooing, often rendered as a repeated ‘roo-coo-coo’. Males perform display coos while bowing and fanning the tail. Wing-claps may be heard during takeoff or display flights.
