Stock Dove vs Rock Pigeon

Columba oenas comparé à Columba livia

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Stock Dove Rock Pigeon
Nom scientifique Columba oenas Columba livia
Ordre Columbiformes Columbiformes
Famille Columbidae Columbidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur 33,0 cm (13.0 in)
Envergure 43,0 cm (16.9 in) 68,0 cm (26.8 in)
Poids 300,25 g (10.59 oz) 300,0 g (10.58 oz)
Régime alimentaire -- Seeds, grain, fruit, and human food scraps. Primarily a ground feeder. Feral birds are heavily …
Taille de la couvée 1-2 2
Population Trend
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Size Comparison

Body Length
Stock Dove
Rock Pigeon 33,0 cm
Envergure
Stock Dove 43,0 cm
Rock Pigeon 68,0 cm
Poids
Stock Dove 300,25 g
Rock Pigeon 300,0 g
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Aucun(e)

Stock Dove only

Rock Pigeon only

Rock Pigeon

Originally cliff-nesting in Mediterranean regions. Now the quintessential urban bird, inhabiting cities worldwide on every continent.

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Song & Call Comparison

Stock Dove

Chant

Soft, gentle cooing call; pure notes with mild quality typical of Somali dry rocky terrain. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.

Rock Pigeon

Chant

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Stock Dove

Rock Pigeon

Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Stock Dove

Least Concern

Rock Pigeon

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How to Tell Them Apart

Stock Dove

Plumage

Stock Dove: blue-gray overall; two short black wing bars; green neck gloss; no white; yellow bill; smaller than Common Woodpigeon

Rock Pigeon

Plumage

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.

Bec

Slender dark bill with a white fleshy cere at the base

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About These Birds

Stock Dove

Stock Dove (Columba oenas) — 32–34 cm. Blue-grey; two short incomplete black wing bars; green iridescent neck patch; no white; pinkish breast. Breeds across Europe and western Asia in farmland, woodland, and cliffs; partially migratory. Granivore feeding on weed seeds and grain. Nests in tree holes and rock crevices.

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.

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Related Comparisons

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