Birds of Foothill College

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 Species

Band-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. less ↑

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is medium-sized dove, most easily identified by its grayish-tan body, speckled back, black “ear” patch behind the eye, and long pointed tail. Male and female Mourning Doves are similar to one another in all seasons.

To hear examples of their calls and sounds go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds less ↑