Stock Dove

Columba oenas

The gentle cooing of this widespread pigeon echoes through woodlands and farmlands across Eurasia, often mistaken for its more familiar cousin, the Wood Pigeon.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Stock Dove is a medium-sized pigeon with predominantly blue-grey plumage. It features a distinctive green and pink iridescent patch on the side of its neck, and two partial black wing bars that distinguish it from the similar Wood Pigeon.

Females are similar to males, although they are slightly smaller, have less vibrant markings and their bills and legs are usually slightly darker. Both sexes have pinkish-red feet and dark eyes.

Juveniles lack the neck patch and have duller plumage overall, with a dark eye and greyish-pink feet.

Size

Length

32cm to 34cm

Wingspan

63cm to 70cm

Weight

290g to 330g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Blue

Secondary Colour

Pink Green

Beak Colour

Red Yellow Pink

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Stock Dove can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Stock Dove can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Stock Dove is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Stock Doves inhabit open woodlands, parklands, and agricultural areas across much of Europe and western Asia. They prefer areas with a mix of trees for nesting and open ground for feeding.

In the UK, they are widespread residents, while northern populations may migrate south for winter. They are absent from Ireland and most of Scotland.

They are more wary of humans than feral pigeons and are not as commonly spotted in gardens or heavily urban areas.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Continental

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Stock 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