Rock Dove Identification
What I look like
The Rock Dove, commonly known as the city pigeon, is ubiquitous in our cities.
It can have a highly varied plumage...
from black...
to white...
in shades of gray...
or reddish-brown...
All these differences result from various crossings from its ancestor, the rock pigeon.
Some resemble their wild progenitor, the rock pigeon, which lives on cliffs and in mountains.
The rock pigeon has orange eyes, a dark gray head, and a neck with green then violet hues towards the chest.
The rock pigeon's body is gray with two dark wing bars and a black tail tip.
My songs, my calls
The Rock Dove's song is more of a gentle cooing "coo oo"
It is used during courtship.
It can be heard almost all year round.
How I behave
The Rock Dove is highly sociable. It lives in groups, sometimes in very large numbers.
They are found wherever they can scavenge food, sometimes reaching high balconies.
It is so tame that it is easy to domesticate.
Historically, its breeding has been used for food or for sending messages during wars with "carrier pigeons."
The ability of these pigeons to faithfully return to their pigeon loft remains a mystery today.
Some pigeons have even been medaled for their contributions to saving lives during the World War I.
How I reproduce
The breeding season of the Rock Dove extends from March to September, sometimes year-round.
It lays 3 to 6 clutches per year of 2 white eggs.
It nests in holes and on beams of buildings.
Its nest is a platform of twigs and sticks.
What I eat
The Rock Dove is primarily granivorous...
but it has become omnivorous and opportunistic since living mainly in cities.
It finds enough food by itself in cities and towns.
Some cities prohibit feeding pigeons because it leads to their overpopulation and diseases...
also threatening historic buildings with the acidity of their droppings.
Where to find me
The Rock Dove lives in large numbers in cities and towns, but are rather rare in open country.
Its ancestor, the rock pigeon lives exclusively on coastal cliffs and in mountainous areas.
The Rock Dove is a sedentary species.