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Rock Pigeon

Columba liviaOrder: COLUMBIFORMESFamily: Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Pigeon Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye color: Orange iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Spotted, Special (unique patterns or features)
  • Crown color:
  • Forehead color: Purple or Violet
  • Nape Color: Blue-gray with iridescent green, bronze and purple sheen.
  • Throat color: Blue
  • Cere color:
Splitbar
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Rock Pigeon Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 33-36 cm (13-14 in)
  • Weight: 368 g (13 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: Blue, White, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: Blue-gray
  • Upperparts: Blue-gray with white rump.
  • Back Pattern: Solid, Mottled
  • Belly Pattern: Solid, Mottled
  • Breast Pattern: Solid, Mottled
Rock Pigeon Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 61-64 cm (24-25 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Blue-gray with dark gray terminal band.
  • Under Tail: Blue-gray with dark gray terminal band.
  • Leg color: Orange
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Family Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)_blue
Species Columba livia
Length13 - 14 Inches
Wingspan24.5 Inches

Rock Pigeon

Rock Pigeon: Large, highly variably colored dove; wild form has gray body, dark blue-gray head, neck, breast, and white rump. Wings are gray with two black bars. Tail is gray and rounded with dark terminal band. Forages on ground, eats grass, seeds, grains, clover and berries. Swift direct flight.

● Song: "cooing coo-a-roo", "coo-roo-cooo"

● Foraging & Feeding: Rock Pigeon: Eats mostly seeds, but also takes fruits and berries; subsists on scraps in urban and suburban areas; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Rock Pigeon: Two white eggs are laid in a crude nest lined with sticks and debris, built on a window ledge, building, bridge, or cliff. Incubation ranges from 16 to 19 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Rock Pigeon: Band-tailed Pigeon has a white bar on nape and broad gray tail band.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Rock Pigeon Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Rock Pigeon: Native to Eurasia; introduced and established in most of North America from central Canada southward. Found in agricultural lands, open shrub, and urban areas.
BreedingMonogamous
Population
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight13 Ounces