Rock Pigeon vs Madagascar Green-pigeon
Columba livia compared with Treron australis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rock Pigeon | Madagascar Green-pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba livia | Treron australis |
| 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) | 34.1 cm (13.4 in) |
| Weight | 300.0 g (10.58 oz) | 216.66666666666666 g (7.64 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.
Madagascar Green-pigeon
Geographic Range & Migration
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Madagascar Green-pigeon
Conservation Status
Rock Pigeon
Madagascar 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
Madagascar Green-pigeon
Madagascar Green-pigeon: bright green body; yellow-green below; orange-yellow below; bare red orbital skin; Madagascar endemic
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.
Madagascar Green-pigeon
Medium green-pigeon, 28–32 cm, bright green with a grey head and yellowish underparts; male has a maroon mantle patch. Found in eastern Madagascar and Mayotte Island in forest, forest edge, and wooded areas. Frugivore of figs and forest fruits. Least Concern.