Woodpigeon

Columba palumbus

Least Concern
A familiar sight in gardens and parks worldwide, this plump, gentle bird is known for its soft cooing and distinctive white neck patch.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Woodpigeon is a large, robust pigeon with a distinctive grey body and pink breast. Its most notable features are the white patches on the sides of its neck and the iridescent green and purple sheen on its nape.

Distinguishing between male and female Woodpigeoons is challenging, although the females are slightly smaller and slimmer. They also have less prominent white neck patches and duller breast plumage.

Adults have a pale pink bill and feet, while juveniles are duller in colour, lacking the neck patches and iridescence, rusty brown chests and blue (not yellow) eyes.

Size

Length

40cm to 45cm

Wingspan

75cm to 80cm

Weight

400g to 600g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Grey Pink

Secondary Colour

White Green

Beak Colour

Pink

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Woodpigeon can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Woodpigeon can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Woodpigeon can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Woodpigeon can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Woodpigeon is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Woodpigeons are widely distributed across Europe, parts of North Africa, and western Asia. They thrive in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, farmlands, parks, and urban areas.

In the UK, they are common year-round residents, with numbers boosted by winter migrants from northern Europe. They have successfully adapted to urban environments, becoming a familiar sight in cities and towns.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,600 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Woodpigeon. 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
© 2024 - Birdfact
Resident
Breeding
Passage
Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year
Algeria Andorra Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece India Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Latvia Lebanon Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Moldova Morocco Nepal Netherlands Oman Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Syria The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Ukraine Western Sahara
Species that are present in the area during their breeding season
Afghanistan Albania Armenia Austria Belarus China Faroe Islands Georgia Hungary Iceland Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Liechtenstein Malta Mongolia Montenegro Norway Pakistan Serbia Tajikistan Uzbekistan
Species that pass through the area during migration
Kuwait Turkmenistan
Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range
Egypt Gibraltar Jordan Mauritania Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands United Arab Emirates

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.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 65

Agility

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

Woodpigeons display moderate agility. Their strong, direct flight and ability to navigate urban environments demonstrate decent manoeuvrability, but their clumsy takeoffs and robust build suggest they're not as nimble as some smaller bird species.

Strength 70

Strength

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

These birds are relatively strong for their size. Their large, robust build and ability to carry out wing-clapping flights during courtship indicate good muscular strength. Their capacity to fly with a full crop also suggests considerable strength.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

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

Woodpigeons show high adaptability. They thrive in various habitats from woodlands to urban areas, adjust their diet to include human food scraps, and have successfully colonised cities. Their increasing population trend further evidences their adaptability.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

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

Woodpigeons are generally not aggressive birds. Their tameness in urban settings and tendency to gather in large feeding flocks suggest a relatively peaceful nature. However, they may display some aggression during breeding season or when defending nests.

Endurance 75

Endurance

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

Woodpigeons demonstrate good endurance. Their ability to undertake partial migrations, maintain strong direct flight, and their success as a species across a wide range of elevations (up to 1500 metres) indicate considerable stamina. Their year-round breeding activity also suggests robust endurance.

Diet

Woodpigeons are omnivores and have a varied diet, primarily consisting of plant matter. They feed on various plant parts, including seeds, shoots, fruits, and leaves, and select the most abundant and nutritious food sources as they become available throughout the year.

Crops like peas and sprouts and grains like wheat, barley, maize and oats are energy-rich and readily available food sources, although they utilise a wide variety of weeds and native plant species, too.

They will eat insects and other invertebrates like earthworms opportunistically. In urban areas, they readily consume bread and other human food scraps.

Behaviour

Woodpigeons are known for their clumsy, noisy takeoffs and strong, direct flight. They often gather in large flocks to feed on the ground, particularly in agricultural areas.

These birds are relatively tame in urban settings, frequently seen in parks and gardens.

Vocalisation

The Woodpigeon's call is a distinctive, rhythmic cooing, often described as sounding like 'take two cows, Taffy' or ''My toe hurts Betty. This five-note phrase is repeated several times, with the emphasis on the second syllable: 'hoo HOO-hoo hoo-hoo'.

In urban areas, their cooing is a common dawn chorus sound.

Nesting & Breeding

Woodpigeons breed throughout the year, with peak activity from March to October. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, including wing-clapping flights and bowing on branches.

Nests are flimsy platforms of twigs, typically built in trees or large shrubs. However, they will also nest in other vegetation, on buildings, and sometimes even on the ground. Females usually lay two white eggs per clutch.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 17 days. Chicks fledge after 28-32 days but may return to the nest for several days after their first flight.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

The Woodpigeon is currently of Least Concern due to its large range and increasing population. However, it faces localised threats from hunting and agricultural changes.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable habitats and monitoring population trends.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

51,000,000 - 73,000,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for Woodpigeons in parks, gardens, and woodland edges
  • Listen for their distinctive five-note cooing call
  • Observe feeding flocks in open fields, especially during autumn
  • In the UK, watch for their courtship displays in spring, involving wing-clapping flights

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Common Wood Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Ring Dove

Family:

Columbidae

Average Lifespan

3 years

Max Lifespan

17.7 years [4]

Predators

Main predators include birds of prey such as goshawks and peregrine falcons, as well as foxes and domestic cats, particularly for young or nesting birds.

Did You Know?

  1. Woodpigeons can drink without tilting their head back, unlike most birds.
  2. They are one of the few birds that produce 'crop milk' to feed their young.
  3. In the UK, Woodpigeons are the largest and most common pigeon species.

FAQs

Is a Woodpigeon the same as a pigeon?

The Woodpigeon is just one of five wild pigeon and dove species in the UK. They are the largest and commonest pigeon in most habitats.

Are Woodpigeons a pest?

Woodpigeons are considered an agricultural pest species due to their habit of feeding on grain and vegetable crops. They may cause significant localised damage at times of the year when they gather in large flocks.

Do Woodpigeons make good pets?

Pigeons and doves are known to make lovely pets, and there’s no reason to think a tame Woodpigeon would be any exception. However, keeping a domesticated bird like a fancy pigeon or Diamond Dove as a pet would be far more practical.

Do rats eat Woodpigeons?

Rats do not eat live adult Woodpigeons, although they are known to feed on their eggs, and they may feed on young chicks.

Can you shoot Woodpigeons in your garden UK?

In England, Woodpigeons are covered by a general licence that makes their lethal control legal under certain circumstances. They may be shot only if they pose a legitimate risk of spreading disease among livestock, eating their feedstuffs, or damaging crops.

Consult with Natural England and any relevant departments for more information before shooting any wild birds.

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2018. Columba palumbus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22690103A131924602.

    View source
  2. 3

    report, 2015: EBCC

  3. 4

    website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds

    View source

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