Rock Dove (/Pigeon) Colomba livia
The Rock Dove, above, is the wild ancestor of the common town pigeon.
The Feral Pigeon genes have been diluted by domestic breeding for homing/racing/message carrying/fancy plumage and
other traits and the feral escapees and hybrids now common worldwide, particularly in cities, come in various patterns and colours.
ROCK DOVE
FERAL PIGEON with Rock Dove-type plumage
True Rock Doves, also called Rock Pigeons, are increasingly rare as wild pigeons hybridise with feral, and pure
Rock Doves are usually on rocky offshore outposts away from human settlements (in UK, mostly off Scotland). The Rock Dove looks like a pale grey pigeon
with iridescent green and purple neck and two black wing bars. It has a smaller cere (white on nostrils), bright red feet, a white patch on the back
and a pale grey lower rump.
Rock Dove: The grey tail, when spread, reveals white side edges as well as a black bar at the end.
It has a white patch on its back.
The bird above has an over-large white cere (on beak above nostril), pink legs/feet and is in a town garden.
It is a Feral Pigeon showing its ancestral
plumage pattern.
Links
Feral Pigeon
Wood Pigeon
Stock Dove