Columba livia

SUBFAMILY

Columbinae

TAXONOMY

Columba livia Gmelin, 1789, southern Europe. Thirteen subspecies.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Rock dove; French: Pigeon biset; German: Felsentaube; Spanish: Paloma Bravia.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Male, 12.2–13.4 in (31–34 cm), 6.3–12.5 oz (180–355 g). Plumage generally bluish gray with relatively short tail and long, strong wings.

DISTRIBUTION

Including feral pigeons, worldwide.

HABITAT

Breeds in cliffs and human structures from sea level to high alpine Himalayas. Feeds in unwooded areas.

BEHAVIOR

The rock pigeon has a rather fast and long step. It is a skillful flyer. Flight velocities of 115 mph (185 kph) have been recorded. Günther Niethammer notes that rock pigeons in the Ennedi mountains of Africa fly down cliff walls almost vertically when a falcon is spotted, and with surprisingly great velocity into cliff crevices. They are also able to start vertically and use this ability when returning after drinking in narrow and deep wells in the desert. Oskar Heinroth considers rock pigeons to be more clever and resourceful than other wild pigeons. This may be the consequence of adapting to its socioecological niche. The social organization—the hierarchy within the flock—is not well understood. Their curiosity is similar to that of ravens. They pick at every button, and at all things their caretaker handles. They quickly learn the time of day they will be fed, and become accustomed to sounds that initially frighten them, such as vacuum cleaners.

The alarm call is a short "ruh," and the nesting call is a "ruu-ruu-ruu," which can be heard at a distance.

Rock pigeon courtship behavior has been thoroughly described by Oskar and Katharina Heinroth: "Courtship is initiated when each partner rapidly rubs its beak across its back and under the wings in a characteristic manner; it looks as if each bird is preening its back. Occasionally the male during courtship feeds the female; the female sticks her beak inside that of the male, much like the motion of feeding young. They mutually preen each other on the head and neck. Soon the female assumes the copulatory position and is mounted by the male, and generally the female flies away immediately thereafter."

At sundown or earlier, rock pigeons begin roosting. They sleep in recesses and under roofs, but not in trees, and awaken immediately with the onset of dawn. In most regions they are permanent residents.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

The rock pigeon is a typical seed eater, preferring weed seeds, and peas over wheat, barley, and corn.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Particular stimuli evoke egg laying. A captive female will not lay an egg until a caretaker simulates male courtship behavior by stroking the back of the female with his finger or preening neck feathers. Generally a female lays two white eggs that weigh 0.6 oz (17 g). Young hatch after 17–18 days and are initially fed with crop milk by both parents; later, seed that has been soaked is added to the diet. Young make loud peeping sounds, and can fly after 4–5 weeks.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Interbreeding with feral pigeons seriously threatens the species.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

The rock pigeon, which has a wide geographical range, has been domesticated several times and in different locales. There are three theories on domestication. According to one theory, the rock pigeon was domesticated in connection with the start of agriculture 10,000 years ago in the region of the near-East "fertile crescent." A second theory holds that they were domesticated as people collected nestlings for food, and a third from the fact that temples were erected near cliffs and colonized by rock pigeons. The pigeon was transformed into the accompanying bird of Ishtar, and later of Venus.

Carrier pigeons deserve special mention. Pigeons have been used to send communications since earliest times. In ancient Egypt, Pharaoh Djoser (2600–2550 B.C.) released house pigeons at the borders of his empire to mail the news that enemies were attacking the frontiers. Today's carrier pigeon was created about 1850 in Belgium by breeding various races. Carrier pigeons can cover up to 621 mi (1,000 km) in a single day, and were trained to live with two lofts 12.4 mi (20 km) apart. In one they were fed, in the other they roosted. If they were released in a place in between, hungry pigeons flew to the feeding loft and fed pigeons flew to the roosting loft. They navigated with the help of an internal map.

Urban predators have become rare. The number of unhealthy pigeons in cities is relatively high, and a lack of predators and availability of food allows sick feral pigeons to withstand poor weather conditions. Pigeons and their nests, especially in crowded situations, are subject to parasites, including bird mites, bed bugs, ticks, and others, which can gain entry to human habitations from pigeon nests. Some feral pigeons carry the parrot disease, psittacosis, which can be fatal in humans. Salmonella organisms, which propagate typhus, have also been found in pigeons. Playgrounds are dangerous if they become soiled with pigeon droppings.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: pale gray Eurasian pigeon having black-striped wings from which most domestic species are descended
  Synonyms: rock dove, Columba livia

"Rock pigeon" redirects here. For Australian rock pigeons, see Petrophassa.

For Feral Rock Pigeons found in urban areas, see Feral pigeon.

Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon near the shore in Connecticut
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Columba Species: C. livia
Binomial name
Columba livia Gmelin, 1789

The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae, doves and pigeons. The domestic pigeon is this species, and escaped domestic pigeons have given rise to the feral pigeon. In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". The species was commonly known as Rock Dove until 2004, when the British Ornithologists' Union and the American Ornithologists' Union changed the official English name of the bird in their regions to Rock Pigeon.

Habitat

Rock Pigeons in their natural habitat perched on sea cliffs

The Rock Pigeon has a restricted natural resident range in western and southern Europe, North Africa, and into South Asia. Its habitat is natural cliffs, usually on coasts. Its domesticated form, the feral pigeon, has been widely introduced elsewhere, and is common, especially in cities, over much of the world. In Britain, Ireland and much of its former range, the Rock Pigeon probably only occurs pure in the most remote areas. A Rock Pigeon's life span is anywhere from 3–5 years in the wild to 15 years in captivity, though longer-lived specimens have been reported.

The species was first introduced to North America in 1606 at Port Royal, Acadia (now Nova Scotia).

Characteristics

in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Feral Pigeons in foreplay in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The Rock Pigeon is 32–37 cm long with a 64–72 cm wingspan. The white lower back of the pure Rock Pigeon is its best identification character, but the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive. The tail is margined with white. It is strong and quick on the wing, dashing out from sea caves, flying low over the water, its lighter grey rump showing well from above.

The head and neck of the mature bird are a darker blue-grey than the back and wings; the lower back is white. The green and lilac or purple patch on the side of the neck is larger than that of the Stock Dove, and the tail is more distinctly banded. These birds come in many different colours, dark grey, light blue/grey, brown, white, grey and white and more. Young birds show little lustre and are duller. Eye colour of the pigeon is generally an orange colour but a few pigeons may have white-grey eyes. The eyelids are orange in colour and are encapsulated in a grey-white eye ring. The feet are red to pink.

Varying eye colour in Rock Pigeons

A white and grey Rock Pigeon

When circling overhead, the white underwing of the bird becomes conspicuous. In its flight, behaviour, and voice, which is more of a dovecot coo than the phrase of the Wood Pigeon, it is a typical pigeon. Although it is a relatively strong flier, it also glides frequently, holding its wings in a very pronounced V shape as it does. Though fields are visited for grain and green food, it is nowhere so plentiful as to be a pest.

The bowing courtship, when the metallic lustre of the neck is fully displayed, often takes place on ledges where Guillemots and Razorbills sit.

A small prehistoric subspecies of the Rock Dove that lived during the last ice age in France has been described as Columba livia minuta.

Reproduction

The nest is usually on a ledge in a cave; it is a slight structure of grass, heather, or seaweed. Like most pigeons it lays two white eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for about 18 days.

The nestling has pale yellow down and a flesh-coloured bill with a dark band. It is tended and fed on "crop milk" like other doves. The fledging period is 30 days.

Egg, measured in centimetres	Nest with two eggs	Newly hatched nestling and one egg	Nestlings, one day
Nestling, five days	Nestlings, about ten days	Young bird, 22 days:- Note the beak is similar to that of the Extinct Dodo.

Domestication

Main article: Domestic pigeon

Rock Pigeon in flight

Rock Pigeons have been domesticated for several thousand years, giving rise to the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica). Many domestic birds have escaped or been released over the years, and have given rise to the Feral pigeon. These show a variety of plumages, although some look very like the pure Rock Pigeons. The scarcity of the pure wild species is largely due to interbreeding with feral birds.

Return to the wild

Main article: Feral pigeon

Many domestic birds have escaped or been released over the years, and have given rise to the feral pigeon. These show a variety of plumages, although some look very like the pure Rock Pigeons. The scarcity of the pure wild species is partly due to interbreeding with feral birds.

Spread of disease

Though feral pigeons are often associated with the threat of disease, this is actually a fairly recent idea. Pigeons have been associated with a variety of diseases, including histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis.

In addition, pigeons do not spread West Nile Virus; though they can contract it, they do not appear to be able to transmit it. In fact, they are no longer monitored as an indication of the presence of the virus in the area (as crows still are). Pigeons are also at potential risk for carrying and spreading avian flu.[1] [2]

Certainly pigeons, like any other wild animal, carry some risk of disease. They are known, in particular, to be susceptible to salmonellosis, tuberculosis, and ornithosis (None of these have been proven to be transmitted from pigeons to humans, however). It is wise, therefore, to use precautions when handling them.

Extreme fear of pigeons is known as peristerophobia.^[1]

Pigeon Lung

Pigeon breeders sometimes suffer from an ailment known as Pigeon Lung. A form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, Pigeon Lung is caused by the inhalation of the avian proteins found in feathers and dung. It can sometimes be combatted by wearing a filtered mask.[3]

References

1. ^ Why do we hate pigeons so much? - BBC News 23 April 2007

Further reading

• Collins Bird Guide by Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterström and Grant ISBN 0-00-219728-6
• Columba livia (TSN 177071). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 9 February 2006.
• Panigrahy B et al (2004) Susceptibility of pigeons to avian influenza. Avian Dis. 1996 Jul-Sep;40(3):600-4

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Columba livia

• Birdfeeding
• Dovecote
• Doves as Symbols
• Homing pigeons
• Histoplasmosis
• List of Pigeon Breeds
• Tipplers

External links

• BirdLife International (2004). Columba livia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 08 May 2006.
• National Pigeon Association (USA)
• National Pigeon Association (Great Britain)
• The Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association
• Some photographs of rock pigeons
• Why do pigeons bob their heads? (from The Straight Dope)
• BBC Life and Nature (from the BBC)
• Facts about pigeon-related diseases
• Pigeon and dove information
• Some squab recipes
• Pigeon and Dove info
• South Dakota Birds - Rock Pigeon Information

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