Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon vs Rock Pigeon
Ducula rufigaster compared with Columba livia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon | Rock Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ducula rufigaster | Columba livia |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) |
| Weight | 498.0 g (17.57 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
Purple-tailed 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
Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Conservation Status
Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Purple-tailed 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
Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon
Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon (Ducula rufigaster), 41 cm. Dark metallic green upperparts and a diagnostic purple-washed tail; pale grey head. Found in montane forests of New Guinea above 600 m. Frugivore. Least Concern; widespread across New Guinea highlands.
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.