Rock Pigeon vs West Peruvian Dove
Columba livia compared with Zenaida meloda
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Rock Pigeon | West Peruvian Dove |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Columba livia | Zenaida meloda |
| 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) | 31.6 cm (12.4 in) |
| Weight | 300.0 g (10.58 oz) | 209.5 g (7.39 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, grain, fruit, and human food scraps. Primarily a ground feeder. Feral birds are heavily … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| 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.
West Peruvian Dove
Geographic Range & Migration
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
West Peruvian Dove
Conservation Status
Rock Pigeon
West Peruvian 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
West Peruvian Dove
West Peruvian Dove: pale gray-brown; pale buff below; iridescent neck; white wing stripe; Peruvian Pacific coast 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.
West Peruvian Dove
Medium dove, 27–30 cm, similar to White-winged Dove with a white wing stripe, but slightly paler and more olive-tinged. Restricted to the Pacific coast and dry valleys of Peru and Chile. Inhabits arid coastal scrub, desert edge, and agricultural areas. Granivore of seeds and cactus fruits. Least Concern.