Lemon Dove vs Rock Pigeon
Aplopelia larvata compared with Columba livia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lemon Dove | Rock Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aplopelia larvata | Columba livia |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 28.6 cm (11.3 in) | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) |
| Weight | 163.5 g (5.77 oz) | 300.0 g (10.58 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Seeds, grain, fruit, and human food scraps. Primarily a ground feeder. Feral birds are heavily … |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Rock Pigeon
Originally cliff-nesting in Mediterranean regions. Now the quintessential urban bird, inhabiting cities worldwide on every continent.
Song & Call Comparison
Lemon Dove
Soft, lemon-toned cooing with delicate quality; gentle pure notes typical of lemon dove in African forest.
Rock Pigeon
Soft, rhythmic cooing 'roo-c'too-coo' repeated multiple times, with emphasis on second syllable. Male courtship coo is deeper and more persistent. Wing-clapping on takeoff is loud.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lemon Dove
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Conservation Status
Lemon Dove
Rock Pigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Lemon Dove
White-crowned Pigeon: dark gray-blue; brilliant white crown; iridescent neck; pale below; Caribbean species; white crown striking
Rock Pigeon
Wild-type has a blue-grey body with iridescent green and purple neck feathers, two black wing bars, and a white rump. Feral populations show enormous color variation.
Slender dark bill with a white fleshy cere at the base
About These Birds
Lemon Dove
Small, 24–26 cm dove with warm cinnamon-brown plumage, a pale grey face mask, and a dark bill. Also known as Cinnamon Dove. Inhabits dense montane and coastal forests of eastern and southern Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa. Terrestrial forager of seeds and fallen fruits on the forest floor. Least Concern.
Rock Pigeon
The rock pigeon is the ancestor of all domestic pigeon breeds and one of the most abundant birds in cities worldwide. Pigeons have served humans as messengers, food, and subjects for scientific research — their homing ability and vision have been studied extensively. Darwin's study of pigeon breeding contributed to his theory of evolution.