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Encyclopedia > Rock dove
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Rock Dove

A feral Rock Dove with the
natural wild-type plumage pattern
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 Dove (Columba livia), or feral pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae, doves and pigeons. In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". The British Ornithologists' Union and the American Ornithologists' Union have changed the official English name of the bird in their regions to Rock Pigeon. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (765x709, 141 KB) Columba livia (Rock Dove) - a feral bird, but one that closely resembles the wild type in plumage pattern. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anenomes) Placozoa (trichoplax) Subregnum Bilateria (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Genera Subfamily Columbinae Columba Streptopelia Macropygia Reinwardtoena Turacoena Turtur Oena Chalcophaps Henicophaps Phaps Ocyphaps Geophaps Petrophassa Geopelia Leucosarcia Zenaida Ectopistes (extinct) Columbina Claravis Metropelia Scardafella Uropelia Leptotila Geotrygon Starnoenas Caloenas Gallicolumba Trugon Microgoura (extinct?) Subfamily Otidiphabinae Otidiphaps Subfamily Gourinae Goura Subfamily Didunculinae Didunculus Subfamily Treroninae Phapitreron Treron Ptilinopus Drepanoptila Alectroenas... Pigeon redirects here. ... Genus Columba The large bird genus Columba comprises a group of medium to large stout-bodied pigeons, often referred to as the typical pigeons. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Johann Friedrich Gmelin (August 8, 1748 - November 1, 1804) was a German naturalist and botanist. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Genera Subfamily Columbinae Columba Streptopelia Macropygia Reinwardtoena Turacoena Turtur Oena Chalcophaps Henicophaps Phaps Ocyphaps Geophaps Petrophassa Geopelia Leucosarcia Zenaida Ectopistes (extinct) Columbina Claravis Metropelia Scardafella Uropelia Leptotila Geotrygon Starnoenas Caloenas Gallicolumba Trugon Microgoura (extinct?) Subfamily Otidiphabinae Otidiphaps Subfamily Gourinae Goura Subfamily Didunculinae Didunculus Subfamily Treroninae Phapitreron Treron Ptilinopus Drepanoptila Alectroenas... The British Ornithologists Union (BOU) aims to encourage the study of birds (ornithology) in Britain, Europe and throughout the world, in order to understand their biology and to aid their conservation. ... The American Ornithologists Union (AOU) is the oldest and largest organization in the New World devoted to the scientific study of birds. ...


The Rock Dove has a restricted natural resident range in western and southern Europe, North Africa and into southwest 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 Dove probably only occurs pure in the most remote areas. A Rock Dove's life span is anywhere from 3-5 years in the wild to 15 years in captivity, though longer-lived specimens have been reported. A satellite composite image of Europe // Etymology Picture of Europa, carried away by bull-shaped Zeus. ... North Africa is a region generally considered to include: Algeria Egypt Libya Mauritania Morocco Sudan Tunisia Western Sahara The Azores, Canary Islands, and Madeira are sometimes considered to be a part of North Africa. ... World map showing Asia. ...


The species was first introduced to North America in 1606 at Port Royal, Acadia (now Nova Scotia). World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the... Events January 27 - The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins ending in their execution on January 31 May 17 - Supporters of Vasili Shusky invade the Kremlin and kill Premier Dmitri December 26 - Shakespeares King Lear performed in court Storm buries a village of St Ismails near... The Habitation at Port-Royal is a National Historic Site located at Port Royal in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. ... The national flag of Acadia, adopted in 1884. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit (Latin: One defends and the other conquers) Official languages English Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman Premier John Hamm (PC) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 11 10 Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 12th 55,283 km² 3. ...


The Rock Dove is 30-35 cm long with a 62-68 cm wingspan. The white lower back of the pure Rock Dove 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 white rump showing well from above.

Feral Rock Doves commonly show a very wide range of plumage variation
Feral Rock Doves commonly show a very wide range of plumage variation

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. Young birds show little lustre and are duller. Download high resolution version (1202x698, 207 KB)Pigeons with feathers fluffed to keep warm during winter. ... Download high resolution version (1202x698, 207 KB)Pigeons with feathers fluffed to keep warm during winter. ... Binomial name Columba oenas Linnaeus, 1758 The Stock Dove (Columba oenas) is a member of the family Columbidae, doves and pigeons. ...


Little parties will circle over the sea and the cliff tops, when the white under wing is equally 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. Though fields are visited for grain and green food, it is nowhere so plentiful as to be a pest. For the New Zealand Wood Pigeon see Kereru. ...


The bowing courtship, when the metallic lustre of the neck is fully displayed, often takes place on ledges where Guillemots and Razorbills sit. Genera Alle Uria Alca Pinguinus Cepphus Brachyramphus Synthliboramphus Ptychoramphus Cyclorrhynchus Aethia Cerorhinca Fratercula Auks are birds of the family Alcidae in the order Charadriiformes. ... Binomial name Alca torda Linnaeus, 1758 The Razorbill, Alca torda, is a large alcid, 38-43 cm in length, with a 60-69 cm wingspan. ...

Urban feral Rock Dove nest with two nestlings approximately 10 days after hatching.
Urban feral Rock Dove nest with two nestlings approximately 10 days after hatching.

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. Feral Rock Dove nest with two babies. ... Feral Rock Dove nest with two babies. ...


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

Contents


Domestication

Rock Doves have been domesticated for several thousand years, giving rise to the domestic pigeon. Trained domestic pigeons are able to return to the home loft if released at a location that they have never visited before and that may be up to 1000 km away. A special breed, called homing pigeons has been developed through selective breeding to carry messages and members of this variety of pigeon are still being used in pigeon racing. To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 106 and 107 m (1,000 and 10,000 km). ... The homing pigeon is a variety of domesticated Rock Dove (Columba livia) that has been selectively bred to be able to find its way home over extremely long distances. ... Pigeon racing is a sport in which pigeons are removed by an agreed distance from their home coops and then released at a predetermined time. ...


Pigeons are also bred for meat and by fanciers to develop many exotic forms. Among those forms are the carrier pigeons, a variety of pigeon with wattles and a unique, almost vertical, stance (pictures). A carrier pigeon is a breed of pigeon (specifically a domesticated Rock Dove, Columba livia) that has wattles, a nearly vertical stature, and that may once have been used to carry messages. ...


Pigeons' extraordinary navigation abilities are in part due to the fact that they are able to sense the Earth's magnetic field with tiny magnetic tissues in their head. This is all the more surprising as they are not a migratory species. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. ...


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 Doves. The scarcity of the pure wild species is due to interbreeding with feral birds.


Domestic pigeons are commonly used in laboratory experiments in biology, medicine and cognitive science. They have been trained to distinguish between cubist and impressionist paintings, for instance. In another project, pigeons were shown to be more effective than humans in spotting shipwreck victims at sea. Current (2004) research in pigeons is widespread, encompassing shape and texture perception, exemplar and prototype memory, category-based and associative concepts, and many more unlisted here (see Pigeon intelligence and discrimination abilities of pigeons). Rendering of human brain based on MRI data Cognitive science is usually defined as the scientific study either of mind or of intelligence (e. ... Woman with a guitar by Georges Braque, 1913 Cubist house in Prague Cubism was probably the most important and influential art movement since the Italian Renaissance; it was an avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture in the early 20th century. ... Impressionism was a 19th century art movement, that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists who began publicly exhibiting their art in the 1860s. ... Pigeons have featured in numerous experiments in comparative psychology, including experiments concerned with animal cognition, and as a result we have considerable knowledge of pigeon intelligence. ... In a famous article in 1995, Watanabe, Sakamoto and Wakita described an experiment which showed that pigeons can be trained to discriminate between paintings by Picasso and Monet. ...


Feral pigeons in cities

Feral pigeons, also called city doves or city pigeons, find the ledges of high buildings a perfect substitute for sea cliffs, and have become abundant in cities all over the world. Some city squares are famous for them, for example:

In some cities feeding them is forbidden because of the pollution they cause and the danger that they spread diseases. Some fences and ledges of buildings are equipped with strips of bird control spikes to discourage pigeons from staying there. Trafalgar Square is a square in central London that commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... Dam square in Amsterdam is where the Amstel dam was located, which gave the city its name. ... Amsterdam Location Country The Netherlands Province North Holland Population 742,951(1 January 2005) Coordinates 52°22′N 4°54′E Website www. ... Martin Place Martin Place is a pedestrian mall in the business district of Sydney, Australia. ... Sydney is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian state of New South Wales, as well as Australias largest and oldest city (founded in 1788). ... St Marks Square, often known in English by its Italian name Piazza San Marco, is the town square of Venice, Italy. ... Location within Italy Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venessia in the local dialect), the city of canals, is the capital of the region of Veneto and of the province of Venice, 45°26′N 12°19′E, population 271,663 (census estimate 2004-01-01). ... Located between Takovska, Ilije Garasanina, Beogradska streets and Boulevard Kralja Aleksandra. ... [[Image:|Location of Belgrade]] Mayor Nenad Bogdanović Area 359. ... Environmental Pollution is the release of harmful environmental contaminants, or the substances so released. ... A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. ...

Pigeon in flight
Enlarge
Pigeon in flight

Rock dove flying over asphalt. ... Rock dove flying over asphalt. ...

See also

Birdfeeding is the activity of feeding (and usually observing) wild birds. ... There are at least four main types of competitive pigeon sport: Pigeon racing Tumbling Mumbling Tippling Though not quite a sport, fancy breeds of pigeons are also bred to standards and judged in a competitive fashion. ... [Flying Tippler] - NTU. The sport of seeing which bird could fly the longest originated from England in 1840. ... The homing pigeon is a variety of domesticated Rock Dove (Columba livia) that has been selectively bred to be able to find its way home over extremely long distances. ...

References

  • Collins Bird Guide by Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterström and Grant ISBN 0-00-219728-6

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Rock Dove - Wildlife - Presidio of San Francisco (66 words)
Rock Dove - Wildlife - Presidio of San Francisco
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The Rock Dove is gray with a white rump, two fl bands on the secondary feathers, and a dark band on its tail.
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A dove was supposed to have been released by Noah after the flood in order to find land; it came back carrying an olive branch, telling Noah that, somewhere, there was land.
A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba; Auk 118, 4 (2001): 874-887]
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