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Rock Dove Columba livia [JF Gmelin, 1789]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Columbiformes
Family:
Columbidae
BTO Codes:
DV , ROCDO
EURING No:
6650
Number in Britain:
100 thousand pairs (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(AC4) Resident Breeder
Subspecies:
livia recorded in Britain (of 9 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
32 cm
Wingspan:
66 cm
Weight:
M/F: 300 g
Scientific name from:
L.: columba =a pigeon or dove
and Mod. L.: liveus =bluish-grey
World Distribution:
Originally Eurasia & n Africa
Habitat:
Cliffs, caves & eaves
Diet:
Seeds of cereals and weeds; feral birds also take scraps extensively
TitBit:
The ancestor of all feral pigeons (and doesticated pigeons, of which Darwin counted 228 distinct varieties), 'pure' Rock Doves probably now only exist in the wildest corners of northern Europe and Asia, where they nest on sheer sea-cliffs
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
100 thousand pairs
in 1968-72
First Record:
10th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
Summer:
6.8 to 10 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(II*), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
39 x 29 mm
Egg Weight:
17.8 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
41
Clutch Size:
2 eggs
Incubation:
16 - 19 days
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
35 - 37 days
as:
Altricial, downy
First Clutches Laid:
Unavailable
Number of Broods:
5+
Number Ringed:
62
Adult Survival:
0.665
Juvenile Survival:
0.570 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
3
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
7yr0m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E
Wing Length
Adult:
229.3 ± 7.1
Range
218 - 241 mm, N =58
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
359.6 ± 43.06
Range
299.0 - 441.0 g , N =57
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Common / Feral Pigeon
Gaelic:
Calman-creige
Welsh:
Colomen Ddôf
Danish:
Klippedue
Dutch:
Rotsduif
Finnish:
Kalliokyyhky
French:
Pigeon biset
German:
Felsentaube
Hungarian:
Szirti galamb
Icelandic:
Bjargdúfa
Irish:
Colm Aille
Italian:
Piccione selvatico
Norwegian:
Klippedue
Polish:
Golab skalny
Portuguese:
Pombo-das-rochas
Spanish:
Paloma bravía
Swedish:
Klippduva
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Goodwin, D. 1983 Pigeons and doves of the world (3rd ed) Cornell University Press, Ithaca
[598.623 GOO]
See Also:
All About Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
Gough, G.A. et al. (1998) Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter
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