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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

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 Common Wood Pigeon at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

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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