The familiar city pigeon — descended from cliff-dwelling Eurasian wild rock doves. Introduced to North America in the 1600s. Highly variable plumage (white, brown, black, multicolored).

Also called: Common Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, City Pigeon, Rock Dove

Native status: Non-native (domesticated from Eurasian wild Rock Doves); cosmopolitan

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 30–37 cm (12–15 in); wingspan 50–67 cm
Weight265–380 g (9.4–13.4 oz)
LifespanWild typically 3–5 years; captive 30+
OrderColumbiformes
FamilyColumbidae

§ Encyclopedia

The rock dove, also known as the common pigeon or rock pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae. In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although the rock dove is the wild form of the bird; the pigeons familiar to most people are the domesticated forms of the wild rock dove.

Source: Wikipedia — Rock dove Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Familiar plump city pigeon. Wild type: gray body with two black wing bars and iridescent green-purple neck. Highly variable: white, black, rust, checker patterns all common in feral populations.

Similar species. Band-tailed Pigeon (more uniform gray, white neck band). Mourning Dove (much smaller and slenderer).

Voice. Soft cooing "coo-roo-coo."

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Seeds, grains, fruits, human food scraps; in cities, anything edible.

Behavior. Domesticated from wild Rock Doves (cliff-nesting pigeons of southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia) over 5,000 years ago. Brought to North America by colonists in the 1600s. Selectively bred for hundreds of "fancy" varieties; many escapees have produced the highly variable urban populations. Famous as the first species used to demonstrate magnetic navigation: pigeons trained to home from distant sites maintain accuracy through 1000+ km journeys, using a combination of magnetic, solar, and visual cues. Also among the first species shown to recognize themselves in a mirror.

§ Range

Cities and suburbs across North America

§ Habitat

Urban areas, cliffs, agricultural buildings

§ Threats

Anti-pigeon control programs, lead poisoning from urban contamination, raptors learning to hunt urban pigeons.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the rock pigeon is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Don't use poisoned bait. Support humane population control. Don't feed (creates flocks that cause conflicts).

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • Charles Walcott pigeon navigation studies
  • National Audubon Society
  • IUCN Red List 2018