02/07/2016
PIGEON:-
late Middle English: from Old French pijon, denoting a young bird, especially a young dove, from an alteration of late Latin pipio(n- ), ‘young cheeping bird’ of imitative origin.
Latin Name: Columba livia (‘dove’ or ‘bird of leaden or blue-grey colour’).
Common Names: Pigeon, dove, blue rock pigeon, rock dove, wild rock pigeon, rock pigeon, feral pigeon.
Derivation: The word ‘pigeon’ is derived from the Latin word ‘pipio’, meaning ‘young cheeping bird’. The word ‘dove’ is of Norse origin and first appeared in the 14th century as ‘dova’ or ‘douve’.
Bird Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae (includes 315 different species)
Subspecies: C. l. livia, C. l. atlantis, C. l. canariensis, C. l. gymnocyclus, C. l. targia, C. l. nigricans, C. l. dakhlae, C. l. schimperi, C. l. intermedia, C. l. palaestinae, C. l. gaddi, C. l. neglecta
Varieties: 350 recorded varieties.
Most Common: Feral Pigeon - 10-15 million in Europe.
Origin: Europe, North Africa and Asia.
Habitat: The wild pigeon is found in coastal areas and the feral pigeon is found almost exclusively in areas of human habitation.
Distribution: Worldwide except Sahara Desert, Antarctica and the high Arctic. European population estimated at between 17 and 28 million birds.
Description (adult of the nominate subspecies of the rock pigeon):
32-37 cm long
64-72 cm wingspan
Dark bluish-grey head, neck and chest with glossy greenish and reddish-purple iridescence around the neck and wing feathers
Orange or red iris with pale inner ring (adult) or brown or greyish brown (juveniles)
Black bill with off-white cere
Red feet and legs
Distinctive twin black wing bars
White lower back feathers
Reproduction:
Breeds all year round with peak breeding periods in spring and summer
All columbiformes are monogamous (mate for life)
Wild birds breed on coastal cliffs and some inland cliffs
Feral birds breed on or in buildings, usually in urban areas
Flimsy nest built on rocky shelf (wild) or accessible ledge on a building or in the roof void of a building (feral)
Two white eggs that are incubated by both parents for 17-19 days
The squab (chick) has yellow down and a pink bill
Squabs are fed on ‘crop milk’ by both parents
Fledging period is approximately 30 days depending on time of year
Pigeons can breed at 6 months of age.