One of the world’s most widespread birds and has been valued and cherished by humans for at least five millennia. Domesticated and trained for sport and transporting messages, these birds originated in the wilds of the Old World, where they still live today.

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

Garden

Wetland

Coastal

Urban

Farmland

Grassland

Desert

Tundra

Rainforest

Mountain

Savanna

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

© 2025 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Get Bird Updates in Your Inbox

Stay informed about Rock Dove and other fascinating birds, with expert bird watching tips, as well as relevant seasonal information.

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85
Strength 60
Adaptability 95
Aggressiveness 40
Endurance 75

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.

Lifespan

Typical Lifespan Range 3 - 6 years
Max Recorded Lifespan 35 years [1]
0
9
19
28
37

years

The Rock Dove typically lives for 3 to 6 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 35 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [2]

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 [3]

Global Population Trend

Decreasing[4]

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

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?

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

Was this bird profile helpful?

Your feedback helps us improve our content

Community Experience

Community Ratings

No ratings yet - be the first to rate this bird!

Ease of Spotting
0.0/5
Visual Appeal
0.0/5
Song Recognition
0.0/5

Latest Community Reviews

No reviews yet

Sign in to be the first to review

Create Your Free Account Welcome Back!

Join our community to rate birds and share your experiences. Creating an account is completely free and only takes a minute. Sign in to your account to rate birds and share your experiences with our community.

• At least 8 characters • One uppercase letter • One number
Already have an account? Don't have an account yet?

Your information is secure and will never be shared.

By creating an account, you agree to our Privacy Policy.

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.

References

  1. 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2019. Columba livia (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22690066A155493121.

    View source
  2. 3 4

    report, 2004: Rich et al.

  3. 1

    website, 2000: Carey and Judge

    View source