Stock Doves are more common than you might think. They’re a numerous bird but are easily mistaken for both Woodpigeons and Feral Pigeons. Thanks to a ban of a pesticide in the 1970s, Stock Dove populations have been steadily increasing and have near doubled in the past 30 years.
Top tip: The lack of white on neck makes it easy to separate from Woodpigeon
Discover the five UK species and how they’ve been bred to live alongside people.
Most of the UK and Ireland – although they’re absent from north and west Scotland and north and west Ireland. They can be found in woodland, parkland, and large gardens. In winter, they’re like to be seen on farmland, reliant on seed crops through the colder months.
These doves get their name from their nesting habits. Stock comes from the word ‘stocc’ in Old English, meaning stump, as these birds lay their eggs in holes in trees. They’ve also occasionally been known to nest in Rabbit warrens.