Rock Pigeon vs Pin-tailed Green-pigeon
Columba livia compared with Treron apicauda
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rock Pigeon | Pin-tailed Green-pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba livia | Treron apicauda |
| 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) | 32.7 cm (12.9 in) |
| Weight | 300.0 g (10.58 oz) | 220.0 g (7.76 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, grain, fruit, and human food scraps. Primarily a ground feeder. Feral birds are heavily … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 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
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.
Pin-tailed Green-pigeon
Geographic Range & Migration
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Pin-tailed Green-pigeon
Conservation Status
Rock Pigeon
Pin-tailed Green-pigeon
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
Pin-tailed Green-pigeon
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.
Pin-tailed Green-pigeon
Pin-tailed Green-pigeon (Treron apicauda), 42 cm including elongated central tail feathers. Bright apple-green with a yellow-green head and a diagnostic elongated pointed tail. Found in subtropical broadleaf forest from the Himalayas through Myanmar to Indochina. Frugivore specialising in figs. Locally common but declining.