Columba livia - Rock Dove
Feather characters. Barbules are extremely long (2.6-4.4 mm). Barbules are unpigmented, although in some cases some lightly stippled pigment may be seen in basal nodes and internodes. Quadrilobed nodes are located on proximal end of the barbules, abruptly decreasing in size towards distal end (10-18 per mm). In some cases these quadrilobed nodes are less developed. On distal end these nodal structures are too small to qualify as nodes and may be hard to discern. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Minute prongs are present on distal end of barbules and on both sides of the pennulum.
Field characters. Size 33 cm. Weight: male 369 g, female 340 g (Dunning, 1993). Smaller than Wood Pigeon, near Stock Dove (Columba oenas, not included in BRIS) in size. Rather like a Stock Dove, showing mainly grey plumage, but neck sides green and purple, two distinct black bars on wings, and rump usually white. Underwing white; bill black. The domesticated Feral Pigeon is numerous near human settlements, and some colour forms look exactly like Rock Doves. Sometimes interbreeds with Feral Pigeon.
Voice. Like Feral Pigeon: "oo-coo" and variants.
Distribution. True Rock Doves probably rare. Feral Pigeon common. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Resident on steep cliffs on oceanic coasts and in inland mountain areas.
Food. Mainly seeds, but also green vegetable matter and some invertebrates.