Can someone explain to me about the common pigeons seen everywhere in cities, is it true they are captive birds that have escaped and become 'feral'? Is there a difference between the birds that are light grey with the two dark bands at the end of the feathers, and the others that are much darker coloured, brown and grey?
Thank you
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
the most common pigeon we see around towns and cities is the Rock Dove
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Columba-livia
there is a bit of the information that you seek on that weblink.
Regards
Cheryl
Happy Birding!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/138588528@N02/
i'm a bit hesitant calling them rock doves, they are domestic mongrels.
kinda like the difference between wild wolf and a pug or poodle, and calling the latter two wolves.
the wild type in its native europe, africa and central asia has become threatened by extensive hybridisation with feral domestic escapees
zosterops has explained it well other than the colours
if memory serves me correctly - 2 dark bands = Blue Bar; dark wing = Chequer or maybe Black Chequer and I forget the others
Peter
apparently there are 1,100 breeds.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/54359/9-bizarre-and-beautiful-fancy-pigeons
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/18-most-bizarre-pigeon-breeds
swallow pigeon:
http://www.unitedswallowclub.com/Shows%20Folder/2012%20Annual%20Meet%20Photos/Slide%20Show%201-2012.html
Thank you for these links!
Those pigeons are extraordinary zosterops.
Elizabeth
elizabeth
Yes, but many pigeons you see are many generations wild. All the white ones, black and white, brown spotted ones etc are all the same species (domestic Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon), but different breed.
The enormous colour variation in birds you often see in flocks is due to their mixed origins, they are often a cornucopia of breeds in them (originally the breeds they were derived from were bred for racing, ornamentals, or meat production) which have escaped over the years and joined wild flocks, instilling the flocks with new genetics.
however the majority of birds in most areas tend to be more or less greyish due to natural selection working on the population (hawks find it easier to pick out white birds for example out of a flock, reducing their numbers).
For comparison here are some wild Rock Doves/Pigeons* from the wild in Europe:
http://carolinabirds.org/Daniels/GreatBritain/Photos/dove,%20rock%2006-02b%20SCOT.jpg
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/photo/rock-dove-columba-livia/flying-over-coast-colony-wild-birds-sea-cliff
Note wild birds in Australia can be extremely similar to these, however they are technically not wild Rock Doves (despite being Rock Doves and being in the wild) as they are descended from domestic pigeon breeds (which is why they are usually specified as 'Domestic type' by birders) in the same way that Australian feral cats are not the Wild Cat of Eurasia from which the Domestic Cat was domesticated, despite their being ferals at liberty. The Australian birds which look like the above links will contain genes from many pigeon breeds, mother nature tries 'reverting' them to a more natural state via selection.
*There is actually no technical difference between 'pigeon' and 'dove' (though there are many species in the family) and the terms are used as official common names for species haphazardly.
Most informative, zosterops. Thanks.
yes, thanks for all this info.
Elizabeth
elizabeth