Rock Dove
Columba livia
Summary 3
The Rock Dove (Columba livia) or Rock Pigeon is usually referred to as the "pigeon" and is highly variable in color due to a history of selective breeding, but most birds are bluish gray with two black bands on the wing and a black tip to the tail ("blue bar" wild type) and an iridescent throat. Other common color morphs include a “red bar” version (similarly marked, but with rusty red replacing bluish gray); “checker” (birds that have spots on the wings); “spread” (all black or all gray); “pied” (birds of any color that are splotched with white); and mostly red or mostly white forms. (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/rock_pigeon/lifehistory). To learn more about the history of pigeon breeding: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publications/Birdscope/Summer2008/bird_paradox.html.
Similar SpeciesBand-tailed Pigeons are grayish overall, with yellow legs and bill and a white collar on the back of the neck. These are also much larger birds and would probably only be flying over, not resident on campus.
Mourning Doves are gray-brown with black spots on the wings; they're more slender and have a long, pointed tail.
Where on Foothill campus? 4
Everywhere.
Habitat 4
A very adaptable species, they are found in most habitats worldwide. They nest on ledges of buildings
Life History 4
Nesting Nest are comprised of a platform of straw, stems, and sticks from materials brought by the male. They will nest in the same place over time, ultimately creating a cup-like nest from the feces. Pigeons can lay up to 6 broods/year.
FeedingThese ground feeding birds primarily eat seeds and fruit, but are also attracted to human food and garbage.
Distribution 5
Pigeons are native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. Feral pigeons are found worldwide, including throughout all of North America.
Migration 4
Naturalized resident bird.
Sources and Credits
- (c) jim gifford, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/12015033@N00/2175759757
- (c) 2013 Simon J. Tonge, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=559969&one=T
- Adapted by gillian360 from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba_livia
- (c) gillian360, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- Adapted by gillian360 from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/18641597
