Rock Pigeon vs Taiwan Green-pigeon
Columba livia compared with Treron formosae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rock Pigeon | Taiwan Green-pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba livia | Treron formosae |
| Order | Columbiformes | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae | Columbidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 33.0 cm (13.0 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 68.0 cm (26.8 in) | 38.1 cm (15.0 in) |
| Weight | 300.0 g (10.58 oz) | 221.5 g (7.81 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.
Taiwan Green-pigeon
Geographic Range & Migration
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
Taiwan Green-pigeon
Conservation Status
Rock Pigeon
Taiwan 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
Taiwan 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.
Taiwan Green-pigeon
Taiwan Green-pigeon (Treron formosae), 35 cm. Endemic to Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. Bright green with an orange-tinted breast in males and a distinctive white belly. Occupies montane broadleaf forest between 500 and 2,500 m. Frugivore feeding mainly on figs and lauraceous fruits. Near Threatened.