Spice Imperial-pigeon vs Rock Pigeon
Ducula myristicivora compared with Columba livia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spice Imperial-pigeon | Rock Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ducula myristicivora | Columba livia |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 50.2 cm (19.8 in) | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) |
| Weight | 535.0 g (18.87 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 | -- | 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
Spice Imperial-pigeon
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
Spice Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Conservation Status
Spice Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Spice Imperial-pigeon
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
Spice Imperial-pigeon
Spice Imperial-pigeon (Ducula myristicivora), 40 cm. Dark metallic green upperparts; pale grey-pink head; specialises in nutmeg seeds. Found on islands of the Banda Sea and western New Guinea. Inhabits coastal and lowland forest. Frugivore; key nutmeg disperser. Near Threatened.
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.