Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon vs Rock Pigeon
Ducula whartoni compared with Columba livia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon | Rock Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ducula whartoni | 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 | 570.8333333333334 g (20.14 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 | 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
Christmas Island 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
Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Conservation Status
Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Christmas Island 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
Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon
Christmas Island Imperial-pigeon (Ducula whartoni), 45 cm. Dark slate-green overall; heavier and darker than relatives. Endemic to Christmas Island (Australia). Inhabits primary rainforest. Frugivore, key seed disperser for the island. Least Concern; protected within National Park.
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.