Originally cliff-nesting in Mediterranean regions. Now the quintessential urban bird, inhabiting cities worldwide on every continent.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Island Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
鸣唱
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
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Geographic Range & Migration
Island Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Native to Europe, North Africa, and South Asia. Feral populations on every continent except Antarctica.
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Conservation Status Comparison
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保护状况
Least Concern
Island Imperial-pigeon
Least Concern
Rock Pigeon
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Island Imperial-pigeon
Rock Pigeon
羽毛
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.
喙
Slender dark bill with a white fleshy cere at the base
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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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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More Birds in Family
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