Grey-fronted Dove vs Rock Pigeon
Leptotila rufaxilla compared with Columba livia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey-fronted Dove | Rock Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Leptotila rufaxilla | Columba livia |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | 27.1 cm (10.7 in) | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) |
| Weight | 149.0 g (5.26 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 | 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
Grey-fronted Dove
Soft, gentle cooing with grey-fronted quality; pure warm notes typical of South American dry lowland scrub.
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
Grey-fronted Dove
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Conservation Status
Grey-fronted Dove
Rock Pigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey-fronted Dove
Grey-fronted Dove: pale gray forehead; brown above; pale buff below; pinkish below; bare red orbital skin; South American dove
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
Grey-fronted Dove
Medium dove, 26–29 cm, brown above with a grey forehead, rufous cheeks, vinaceous-pink breast, and white tail corners. Inhabits humid lowland and foothill forest and secondary growth from Colombia and Venezuela to Bolivia and southeastern Brazil. Terrestrial frugivore and granivore. 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.