Bird · GBIF taxon 2495414
Columba livia
Columba liviaAlso known as Rock Pigeon, Common Pigeon, Street Pigeon, City Pigeon
Rock doves originally nested on sheer sea cliffs and inland rock faces, but feral populations have successfully colonized urban landscapes worldwide by treating concrete buildings as artificial canyons. They navigate using visual landmarks, the earth's magnetic field, and atmospheric odors to return to their roosts over vast distances. Both parent birds secrete a nutrient-rich substance called crop milk to feed their newly hatched chicks, allowing them to breed during any season with adequate food.
Urban WildlifeSeed EaterAdaptable
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Seeds
- Grains
- Small Invertebrates
Predators
- Peregrine Falcon
- Cooper's Hawk
- Domestic Cat
ThreatsPredation by raptors, pest control, collisions with human structures
HabitatsUrban areas, agricultural fields, coastal cliffs, rocky gorges
Life span3–6 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColumbiformes
- FamilyColumbidae
- GenusColumba
- SpeciesColumba livia
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Urban Observation: Watch for courtship displays involving puffed neck feathers, tail fanning, and bowing.
- Feeding Caution: Avoid hand-feeding in dense cities to reduce crowding and pest management issues.
- Cliff Nesting: Look for wild non-feral populations along steep, secluded coastal cliffs and river gorges.
Predator Mykola Swarnyk / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) Paul Danese, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) hedera.baltica, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative aroid from San Luis Obispo, CA, USA / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Species set
Urban Dwellers
Columba livia is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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