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11

Rock Dove

(Columba livia)
Alternate name(s): "Rock Pigeon", "Pigeon*"
German name(s): "Felsentaube"

Size: 29-37 cm; wing span 62-72 cm
Weight: 240-380 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Rock Dove at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "livia"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Rock Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, in June 2016]

Lateral view of a Rock Dove; note the typical dual dark-grey wing bar (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, in June 2016]

Lateral view of Rock Doves (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2018]

Dorsal view of Rock Doves (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]

Rock Doves taking a bath; note the white spots on the backs which are part of their original morphology
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2013]

Lateral view of Rock Doves in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2018]

Lateral view of a large flock of Rock Doves in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Race "atlantis"

This race is almost certainly derived from Feral Pigeons.

ADULT

Sex unknown

Rock Doves/Feral Pigeons in their natural habitat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Rock Doves/Feral Pigeons in their natural habitat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Race "palaestinae"

Photos of Rock Doves, race "palaestinae", were taken by us in Oman.

Hybrids (feral pigeons)

ADULT

MALE

Lateral view of a Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon cock (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Azervadinha, Coruche, Portugal, February 2019]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Aveiro, Portugal, February 2019]

PAIR

Rock Doves/Feral Pigeons - hen in front, cock behind, with another pair behind them (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Sex unknown

Near-dorsal view of a Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon approaching water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

More photos of feral pigeons were taken by us in Oman.

"Release Dove"

"Release Doves" are a special, all-white breed of the Rock Dove, used for release on ceremonial occasions.

Near-lateral view of a Release Dove; note the banding (photo courtesy of P. Brown)

Lateral view of a Release Dove; note the banding (photo courtesy of P. Brown)

Breeding information

Breeding season: Mar - Jun Eggs: 2 Incubation period: 17 - 19 days Fledging age: 30 days

Given the right conditions, Rock Doves can breed at any time of year. They can have up to six clutches per year.

Nest

Type: Rudimentary basket Material: Twigs Height above ground: 2 - 15 m

Rock Doves can nest on (rock) ledges or in tree hollows. Their nests are the basic collection of twigs typical of doves and pigeons.

Rock Dove on its nest in a niche of an ancient building (photo courtesy of C. Pears)
[Near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, June 2010]

Rock Dove at the entrance of its nesting hollow

Rock Dove at the entrance of its nesting hollow

Eggs

Size: 38 x 30 mm Colour: White Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Rock Doves/Feral Pigeons in their natural habitat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Rock Doves/Feral Pigeons in their natural habitat (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sao Jorge Island, Azores, November 2018]

Rock Doves on an artificial "cliff" (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2014]

Mix of Feral Pigeons and potentially purebred Rock Doves flocking (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2020]

Food, Diet

As all pigeons and doves, Rock Doves are strictly vegetarian. When not scavenging from humans, they feed exclusively on seeds.

Near-dorsal view of a Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon approaching water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Almada, Setubal, Portugal, January 2023]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Doves and pigeons do not, like other birds, open their bills when calling, but they rather "hum" through their noses, with the bill closed.

rockdov_20160701.mp3 Male wooing female © MD

More Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.