Rock dove

The familiar city and farm pigeon, descended from a cliff-dwelling species.

Field guide

The familiar city and farm pigeon, descended from a cliff-dwelling species.

Identification

Shared features

Stocky bird with a small head, broad wings and often two dark wing bars; feral colors vary.

Male

Both sexes have a small head, broad wings and, in wild-type birds, two dark wing bars and an iridescent neck. Males may be larger or more iridescent, but feral color variation prevents reliable sexing by plumage.

Female

Females share the same shape and can show any common feral color. Size and neck sheen overlap with males; courtship behavior may help but a still photo rarely can.

Habitat

Buildings, bridges, grain areas, cliffs and open feeding ground.

Where to look during the day

Morning

At dawn, look around ledges and nearby feeding areas as flocks leave roosts.

Afternoon

In the afternoon, watch plazas, farmyards and sheltered building ledges.

Evening

At dusk, flocks return to ledges and sheltered roosts.

Sounds

Soft rolling coos, with loud wing claps at takeoff.

Recorded calls

Rock dove

Field recording of a rock dove. A narrower call type or the caller's sex is not assigned to this clip.

Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · Recording source

Natural history source: Read the source

Bag limits

Bag and possession summaries.

-No bag limit or possession limit.

Official bag-limit source