| Rock Dove (Columbia livia (Gmelin, 1789)) |
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Scientific name: Columbia livia (Gmelin, 1789) Common name: Rock Dove French name: Pigeon biset Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Size: 31 to 34 cm, 240 to 300 g Habitat: Sea coasts and rocky cliffs, towns. Food: Rock Doves feed on the ground on wild or cultivated seeds. They sometimes eat molluscs or snails. Nesting: Rock Doves nest in colonies. They build rudimentary nests made up of sticks and roots. They are located in natural or building holes. There are 2 or 3 broods of 2 eggs per year. Migration: Sedentary. Geographic area: The original wild Rock Doves are only found on some rocky coasts and in the Mediterranean area. |
This pigeon is the ancestor of domestic pigeons or feral pigeons. It has a round body and thin and pointed wings. The beak is thin, short and black with a white mark near the base. The legs are red and the eyes are dark orange with a yellow orbital ring. The plumage of the adult is a grey-blue colour. The wings are crossed by black lines and the underside of the wings is white. The neck is slate-grey with purple and blue-green sheen. Females are a slightly duller colour. Current year's juveniles are brown without metallic sheen. |
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A flock of pigeons, certainly coming from an old flock of domestic birds, nests in the old barns of the neighbourhood. This one came and landed on a window ledge at the first floor. Maybe it was looking for a new nesting location. While it was inspecting the inside of the room, I had time to go and fetch the camera. |
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I have photographed this Rock Dove on the Fauconière rock near the cap Fréhel. Is this one specimen of the original wild species? |
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A pair of Rock Doves perched on the roof of the old farm where I spent my childhood. I don't know of any breeding nearby but I think they are domestic pigeons or from domestic pigeons. |
André Bon November 2020