Rock Pigeon vs Burmese Collared-dove
Columba livia compared with Streptopelia xanthocycla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rock Pigeon | Burmese Collared-dove |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba livia | Streptopelia xanthocycla |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) | 35.2 cm (13.9 in) |
| Weight | 300.0 g (10.58 oz) | 149.0 g (5.26 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, grain, fruit, and human food scraps. Primarily a ground feeder. Feral birds are heavily … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2-3 |
| 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
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.
Burmese Collared-dove
Soft, gentle cooing with Burmese warmth; pure notes with mild rhythmic quality through open dry woodland.
Geographic Range & Migration
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Burmese Collared-dove
Conservation Status
Rock Pigeon
Burmese Collared-dove
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Burmese Collared-dove
Indonesian Cuckoo-dove: rufous-brown above; barred below; long barred tail; red orbital ring; Indonesian archipelago species
About These Birds
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.
Burmese Collared-dove
Medium dove, 28–31 cm, similar to Eurasian Collared-dove but with a broader yellow orbital ring and slightly darker plumage. Endemic to Myanmar. Inhabits open woodland, scrub, and cultivated land. Granivore of seeds and small grains. Formerly treated as a subspecies of the Eurasian Collared-dove. Least Concern.