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, ...more ↓
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.
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