Pigeons and doves

Pigeons may perhaps be the most commonly known bird in the UK. They are easily identified by their head shape being rounded and small with small slim bills. They also have very rounded bodies with a dense layer of soft feathers with neat, tapered wings. Their legs are scaled and short and they make a distinctive cooing call. The rock dove is the most common type of pigeon and is an ancestor of feral pigeons. Its scientific name is Columba livia and are in the pigeons and doves bird family. They come in many different shades including pale grey, dark blue, green, black, brick-red or cinnamon-brown. Their markings are chequered and darker than their main colour. 

A wood pigeon, Columba livia.
Reproduction can occur for them at any time during the year but the peak times are during spring and summer. Once females reach 7 months they are able to reproduce and once mated all pigeons mate for life and once. They build nests from straw and sticks and put it on a ledge such as window ledges. 12 days after mating the females have clutches of 1-3 eggs which hatch after 18 days. 25-32 days after hatching chicks fledge but during winter it takes 45 days for chicks to fledge. The males role during nesting is to provide materials for the nest and to guard the female whilst she is in the nest. After the first clutch leaves the nest, another clutch is laid. Young pigeons are fed milk that is regurgitated from both parent.

Their main diet comprises of seeds and cereals and they will occasionally eat insects, snails or earthworms. Diet varies from species to species. Ground species tend to eat fruit and worms whereas feral pigeons tend to feed on seeds and human refuse. Wood pigeons have a diet of vegetables and berries that they find in the area they live. To drink, pigeons suck water up by using their beaks in a same way a straw would be used which is different to other birds as they sip the water then throw their heads back to swallow it.
A pigeon in flight. bird-pigeon-1100x733.jpg

Predation is a large threat to pigeons. Their main threat is from peregrine falcons but sparrow hawks also predate wild pigeon. Humans are one of the largest threats to pigeons as well as humans see pigeons as pest so kill them purposely and also they get hit by cars.

Pigeons can fly at altitude of over 6000 feet and fly at an average of 77.6 mph. They can fly over 600 miles a day. The longest flight of a pigeon ever recorded was in the 19th century where a pigeon flew for 55 days from Africa to England and covered 7000 miles. It is thought that pigeons navigate the earth by sensing its magnetic field and also by using the sun for direction. 

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