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11

Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) Alternate name(s): "Culver" German name(s): "Ringeltaube" Size: 38-43 cm; wing span 68-77 cm Weight: 360-660 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 Common Wood Pigeons are large pigeons. They have a bluish-grey head and an ash-grey to light-grey front, with a purple to violet hue on the chest. The plumage on the back is also mostly grey, except for white shoulder patches and edges on the flight feathers of the wings. Their most characteristic feature is, below glossy-green patches of scaly feathers on either side of the neck, a second pair of white neck patches. These are unique and visible from long distances. The tail is dark-grey. The irises are pale yellowish-grey. The pink bill has an orange tip and a white operculum at its base. The legs and feet are greyish-pink. Juveniles are greyer overall (bill and plumage), in particular they have no or only small, emerging white neck patches.

Taxonomy, classification See Common Wood Pigeon 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 Common Wood Pigeon is available HERE . Common Wood Pigeons are found mostly in Europe, but their distribution also extends into north-western near-coastal Africa, parts of Asia Minor, parts of the Middle East, and eastwards into parts of western, central and southern Asia. In Europe nominate race "palumbus" are permanent residents in the Mediterranean countries and in western/central Europe anywhere westward of a line connecting the German/Polish border on the Baltic Sea with the western edge of the Alps. Anywhere to the East of that line, in northern Scotland and anywhere to the North of Denmark and the southernmost tip of Norway (except the northern-most mountain ranges in Scandinavia), they are found as breeding migrants. Except for Greece and a narrow coastal strip along the eastern Adriatic Sea, they are also breeding migrants in south-eastern Europe, out to the Caucasus mountains. Common Wood Pigeons are also found as residents on the major Mediterranean islands. Common Wood Pigeons tolerate the proximity of humans and breed not only in forests, but also in the vicinity of agricultural land and even in towns and cities. They prefer to feed in open grassland.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "palumbus" H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting a Common Wood Pigeon, nominate race "palumbus", on Fehmarn island, Germany, in April 2016. D. Wilczynska reports spotting a small covey of about 10 Common Wood Pigeons, race "palumbus", near the river Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in August 2016, and near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, in June 2018. H. Dahlem-Senger also spotted Common Wood Pigeons, race "palumbus", in Eltville, Hessen, Germany, in August 2016. M. Thomas reports finding Common Wood Pigeons at the same location in December 2016 and again in January 2019. They were also found near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in September 2020. More were found at Neuharlingersiel, Ostfriesland, Germany, in June 2021. J. Pires reports finding Common Wood Pigeons, race "palumbus", semi-regularly in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal. G. Pinelas reports finding Common Wood Pigeons, race "palumbus", at Landerias, Setubal, Portugal, in December 2016, and at Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal, in March 2017. M. Eaton found Common Wood Pigeons, race "palumbus", near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, and in Hyde Park, London, England, in September 2019. C. Pears reports spotting Common Wood Pigeons, race "palumbus", at Buttermere, Lake District, England, in September 2023. Race "azorica" J. Pires reports finding Common Wood Pigeons, race "azorica", on Terceira Island and Faial Island, Azores, in November 2018.

Photos

Race "palumbus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal portrait of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, August 2016]

Frontal view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]

Frontal view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2017]

Near-lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2017]

Lateral portrait of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Cascais, Lisbon, Portugal, March 2017]

Lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Hyde Park, London, England, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon foraging on the ground (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, December 2016]

Lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Soller, Mallorca, Spain, January 2018]

Common Wood Pigeons adorning ornamental street lights (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, August 2016]

Common Wood Pigeons perched in tree tops (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Common Wood Pigeons perched in tree tops (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2014]

Flock of Common Wood Pigeons perched in tree tops (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]

Lateral view of 4 Common Wood Pigeons in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Parque Ecologico do Gameiro, Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2023]

Covey of Common Wood Pigeons in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2013]

Large flock of Common Wood Pigeons in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]

Small covey of Common Wood Pigeons in flight, with a group of Common Cranes below (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Lateral view of a juvenile Common Wood Pigeon; note the absence of a white neck patch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Dear-dorsal view of a juvenile Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]

Race "azorica"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Common Wood Pigeon banking in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Faial Island, Azores, November 2018]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Feb - Sep

Eggs: 1 - 3

Incubation period: 16 - 17

Fledging age: 28 - 32

The breeding season depends on geographic latitude and is shorter in the northern parts of the range than in the South. They often have more than one brood per season.

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs, grass lining

Height above ground: 1.5 - 2.5 m

Common Rock Pigeon on its nest (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2018]

Eggs

Size: 41 x 32 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Elliptical

Behaviour

Common Wood Pigeons can form large flocks.

Large flock of Common Wood Pigeons in flight (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Landeiras, Setubal, Portugal, December 2016]

Part of a large flock of Common Wood Pigeons in flight (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Landeiras, Setubal, Portugal, December 2016]

Food, Diet

Common Wood Pigeons having a drink and a bath, together with Spur-winged Lapwings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2017]

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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