Rodrigues Turtle-dove vs Rock Pigeon
Nesoenas rodericanus compared with Columba livia
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rodrigues Turtle-dove | Rock Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nesoenas rodericanus | Columba livia |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) |
| Weight | — | 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
Rodrigues Turtle-dove
Soft, gentle cooing; pure warm notes typical of African dry open woodland. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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
Rodrigues Turtle-dove
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Conservation Status
Rodrigues Turtle-dove
Rock Pigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Rodrigues Turtle-dove
African Mourning-dove: gray-blue; black half-collar; pale orange-buff below; pink orbital ring; East African woodland 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
Rodrigues Turtle-dove
Extinct Mascarene dove, known only from subfossil remains discovered on Rodrigues Island. It was a medium-sized, ground-dwelling pigeon related to the Pink Pigeon. Likely became extinct in the 17th or 18th century following human settlement, introduced predators, and habitat clearance on the small island.
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.