Rock Dove Bird Facts (Columba livia)

Visual Identification

Appearance

Rock Doves typically display bluish-grey plumage with two dark wing bars and iridescent neck feathers. Their rump is usually white, contrasting with the tail's dark terminal band. Size varies, but they average 32-37 cm in length.

While not strongly sexually dimorphic, males may be slightly larger and have more iridescent neck feathers. Feral populations show diverse colour variations, including white, black, and pied patterns.

Juveniles are similar to adults but have duller plumage, eyes, and legs.

Size

Length

29cm to 37cm

Wingspan

62cm to 72cm

Weight

230g to 370g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Blue

Secondary Colour

White Black Iridescent

Beak Colour

Grey Black

Leg Colour

Pink Red

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Rock Dove can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Rock Dove can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Rock Dove can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Rock Dove is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Rock Doves are found worldwide, thriving in urban environments across Europe, North Africa, and western Asia.

They have also been introduced to North and South America, Australia, and South Africa, where they have established successful feral populations.

While originally cliff-dwelling birds, they now predominantly inhabit cities, towns and villages, nesting on buildings, bridges, and other structures that mimic their natural cliff habitats.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 4,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Rock Dove. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Afghanistan Algeria Andorra Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Bermuda Bolivia Botswana Brazil British Virgin Islands Bulgaria Burkina Faso Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Chad Chile Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Ghana Greece Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Iceland Iran Iraq Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Luxembourg Macedonia Madagascar Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Montserrat Morocco Netherlands New Caledonia Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Oman Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Réunion Russia Saint Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Slovenia South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Syria Taiwan The Bahamas The United Kingdom Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turks and Caicos Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay US Virgin Islands Venezuela Yemen

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Albania Angola Armenia Australia Bangladesh Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Brunei Cambodia China Czech Republic Djibouti Eswatini Ethiopia Georgia Germany Gibraltar Hungary India Indonesia Israel Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Laos Lesotho Liechtenstein Lithuania Malaysia Maldives Mauritius Mongolia Montenegro Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal New Zealand Norway Pakistan Poland Romania Russia Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Serbia Seychelles Singapore Slovakia Somalia South Africa Switzerland Tajikistan Thailand Turkmenistan United States of America Uzbekistan Vietnam Western Sahara Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Eritrea

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Rock Doves exhibit impressive agility, particularly in urban environments. Their ability to navigate through city structures, perform quick take-offs, and maintain steady, direct flight demonstrates high manoeuvrability. Their characteristic wing-clapping during sudden flight further indicates their agile nature.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not exceptionally strong for their size, Rock Doves possess moderate strength. They can fly at speeds up to 92.5 km/h and carry materials for nest building. Their ability to thrive in various environments suggests a reasonable level of physical robustness.

Adaptability 95

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Rock Doves show remarkable adaptability. Originally cliff-dwellers, they've successfully colonised urban environments worldwide, utilising buildings as artificial cliffs. Their ability to thrive in diverse climates and altitudes, from sea level to 4,500 metres, further demonstrates their highly adaptive nature.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Rock Doves are generally not aggressive birds. They're highly social, often seen in large flocks, which suggests a relatively peaceful disposition. However, they may display some aggression during breeding season or when competing for food in urban settings, hence the moderate score.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Rock Doves demonstrate good endurance. Their ability to fly long distances, particularly evident in their homing capabilities, indicates strong stamina. Additionally, their year-round breeding in suitable conditions and adaptability to various climates suggest a robust constitution.

Diet

Rock Doves are primarily granivorous, feeding on seeds, grains, and occasionally small invertebrates and fruit. In urban environments, they often scavenge for human food scraps.

They have a unique ability to drink water by suction, unlike most birds that must tilt their heads back to swallow.

Behaviour

Rock Doves are highly social, often seen in large flocks in urban areas. They exhibit a characteristic head-bobbing motion when walking.

These birds are known for their homing ability, using the Earth's magnetic field and visual landmarks for navigation.

Vocalisation

The Rock Dove's call is a soft, rolling 'coo-ROO-coo' or 'kroo-ku-ku'. Males often produce a louder, more prolonged cooing during courtship.

In flight, their wings can produce a characteristic whistling or clapping sound, especially when taking off quickly.

Nesting & Breeding

Rock Doves form monogamous pairs and can breed year-round, especially in urban areas with abundant food. Up to 5 broods can be raised a year. Courtship involves males puffing up their neck feathers and strutting around females with a characteristic 'bow-coo' display.

Nests are simple platforms of twigs and grass, often placed on ledges or in small cavities on buildings. Females typically lay two white eggs per clutch.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 18 days. The chicks, known as squabs, fledge after 25-32 days but may continue to be fed by their parents for several more weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While Rock Doves are not of conservation concern globally, some cities implement control measures due to their large populations.

Conservation efforts focus on managing feral populations humanely and preventing conflicts with human activities.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

260,000,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Rock Doves in urban areas, especially near buildings and in city squares.
Observe their distinctive flight pattern: quick takeoff followed by steady, direct flight.
Listen for their soft, rolling 'coo-COO-coo' calls, often heard from building ledges.
In coastal areas, check cliff faces where wild populations may nest.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Feral Pigeon, City Pigeon, Street Pigeon

Family:

Columbidae

Average Lifespan

3 to 6 years

Max Lifespan

35 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include peregrine falcons, hawks, owls, and in urban areas, domestic cats. Rats and squirrels may prey on eggs and nestlings.

Did You Know?

Rock Doves can fly at speeds up to 92.5 km/h (57.5 mph) and have exceptional homing abilities.
They are one of the few bird species that produce 'crop milk' to feed their young.
Rock Doves have been domesticated for thousands of years and were the first birds to have their genome fully sequenced.

FAQs

Is a Rock Dove the same as a pigeon?

Despite its traditional name, the Rock Dove is a true pigeon in the Columba genus. Rock Doves are the parent species of the common feral pigeon as well as the domesticated pigeon. Domestic birds have been selectively bred into a huge range of breeds, from all-white fan-tailed specimens to king pigeons that weigh up to two pounds.

Why are they called Rock Doves?

Rock Doves probably take their name from their habit of roosting and nesting in rocky cliffs and mountain slopes.

Are Rock Pigeons protected in the US?

Rock Pigeons are an introduced species in the United States of America. Like the House Sparrow and European Starling, these familiar urban birds are not federally protected.

Are Rock Pigeons protected in the UK?

Rock Doves are protected in the United Kingdom. Wild populations still live around the coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland, but even feral birds are protected by law. As such, it is an offence to harm them or disturb them when nesting.