The differences between pigeons and doves: an ID guide
Discover the five UK species and how they’ve been bred to live alongside people.
Seen an all-white dove? It’s actually a Feral Pigeon.
Birds and wildlife
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Columba liviaGroup: Pigeons and dovesUK Conservation status:Green
How to identify
The Rock Dove is the wild ancestor of domestic Pigeons the world over, which were originally domesticated to provide food. Feral Pigeons come in all shades, some bluer, others blacker – some are pale grey with darker checked markings, others an unusual shade of dull brick-red or cinnamon-brown. Some can be more or less white while others look exactly like wild Rock Doves. They can be considered a nuisance in urban areas where numbers are allowed to increase.Call
Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon
Stuart Fisher / xeno-canto
Key features of a Rock Dove to look out for:
- Smaller than a Woodpigeon
- Light grey body
- Bold, black wing bars
- Pink chest
- Metallic neck patch
Homing pigeons
Homing pigeons are the same species of bird but have been selectively bred for their navigation skills. These are birds that will reliably return home – an essential quality for carrying post. The pigeon post was an essential form of communication and even helped to save lives throughout the Second World War.
Where to see Rock Doves
It’s impossible to know if you’re looking at a true, wild Rock Dove on sight alone. Their colonies are now confined to the rocky coasts of north and west Scotland, on offshore islands, and of Northern Ireland. When separating the two, location can give you the best guess.
Where to see Feral Pigeons
Feral Pigeons are mostly in cities and towns. Look out under bridges and on roofs – these mimic their natural preference of nesting on rocky cliff ledges.
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Top tip: