Birds · Columbiformes · Columbidae

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is the wild ancestor of every domestic and homing pigeon in the world. Both the male and the female produce crop milk to feed their young.

Weight

300 g – 400 g

Size

28 cm – 38 cm

Lifespan

4 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

MountainOmnivore Diurnal Colonial Bird Mountain

51countries 110parks11same family

Fun facts

It is the wild ancestor of every domestic and homing pigeon in the world.
Both the male and the female produce crop milk, a secretion rich in fat and protein.
It can raise as many as 6 broods a year.
inteligenciaIt can recognise letters of the alphabet and tell paintings by different artists apart in laboratory experiments.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Rocky cliffs in the wild; widely adapted to towns and cities around the world
Birth weight: 15.2 grams at hatching
Size at birth: Blind and thinly downed on hatching; fed on crop milk regurgitated by both parents
Sexual maturity: ~4.5 months (140 days)
Gestation / incubation: 17-19 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 3 eggs per clutch (2 most often), up to 6 broods a year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of 35 years in captivity

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); NHPBS NatureWorks; Birds of the World; BioKIDS; American Pest Control; Rock Pigeon (tsusinvasives.org)