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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

Europe: Family Group 11 Family Group 11 Table Black-bellied Sandgrouse Rock Dove Stock Dove Common Wood Pigeon European Turtle Dove Eurasian Collared Dove Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names European birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Rock Doves are big, heavy doves with a massive wing beat. The separation of the sexes is usually easiest by studying their behaviour, rather than by appearance/morphology. They have a dark-grey throat and head with narrow light-grey eye-rings. Ontop of their bill they have a characteristic white "operculum" (a membraneous, horny or cartilaginous flap). The sides of the neck are iridescent green, while the nape of the neck and the breast are iridescent purple. The rest of the front (belly, vent, undertail coverts) is light-grey. The back and the uppertail coverts are light-grey, with a white patch on the rump. The most easily identifiable features are two bold dark-grey wing bars, which are not found in other, similar species. The underwings are off-white, with a dark-grey fringe all the way around each wing. The irises of both sexes are orange. The bill is dark-grey. The legs and feet are pink.

Taxonomy, classification See Rock Dove at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Rock Dove is available HERE . Originally Rock Doves were a sedentary Eurasian species. However, these days even wild populations of Rock Doves within their native range are mostly derived from, or have interbred with, re-released domestic feral pigeons, even if they have reverted to their original outward appearance. The native range of the 12 races of wild Rock Doves extends from the Atlantic islands (Canaries, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde) eastward, across north-western Africa (the Atlas mountain range and surroundings), parts of the Sahara desert, the Mediterranean countries South of the Pyrenees, the Alps and through the Balkans, into Asia Minor and onward all the way to far western China and as far South as the entire Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka. They are also found in parts of the Middle East and on the Arabian peninsula. Everywhere else they are introduced. In Europe Rock Doves, race "livia", naturally populate basically the entire Mediterranean, from all of Iberia via the Cote d'Azure, Italy, the Adriatic coastline and parts of the Balkans to Greece. They are also present on all Mediterranean islands and around the Black Sea, and eastward to the Caspian Sea (and beyond). There is also a native population along the West and North coast of Ireland and Scotland and on some Atlantic islands off Scotland. In natural habitats Rock Doves originally have a preference for (near-)coastal cliffs and inland escarpments. However, this species is very tolerant to the presence of humans and is now mostly found in tree hollows in or near urban areas, in particular parks, and on ledges of buildings.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "livia" C. Pears reports spotting Rock Doves, race "livia", near Orvieto, Umbria, Italy, in June 2010. C. Pears also found Rock Doves, race "livia", in Gdansk, Poland, in November 2014. J. Pires reports spotting Rock Doves, nominate race "livia", regularly in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal. D. Wilczynska reports finding Rock Doves, race "livia", near Cala Gonone, eastern Sardinia, Italy, in June 2016. Race "atlantis" J. Pires reports finding Rock Doves, race "atlantis", on Sao Jorge Island, Azores, in November 2018. Race "palaestinae" Rock Doves, race "palaestinae", were seen by us in Oman.

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.

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