Rock Pigeon Facts
Rock dove or pigeon.
Rock pigeon facts. They navigate by means of the earth s magnetic fields and the sun s position and perhaps also by using smell and sound. Domestic rock doves as homing pigeons can find their way back home even if the release location is distant and they are blindfolded. Pigeons also known as rock doves rock pigeons and common pigeons are widespread birds commonly viewed as pests. Facts about rock pigeon.
The common city pigeon columba livia also known as the rock pigeon might be the first bird humankind ever domesticated. The feral pigeon that we see in our towns and cities today is descended from the rock dove columba livia a cliff dwelling bird historically found in coastal regions. 624 in common usage this bird is often simply referred to as the pigeon. A common sight in cities around the world rock pigeons crowd streets and public squares living on discarded food and offerings of birdseed.
1 places where rock pigeons live. ə n also ˈ p ɪ dʒ. May gather in large flocks in urban parks where people feed them. Columba livia is a member of the bird family columbidae doves and pigeons.
Domestic pigeons were bred from wild rock doves and escaped domestic individuals have increased feral pigeon populations in cities worldwide. In addition to the typical blue gray bird with two dark wingbars you ll often see flocks with plain spotted pale or rusty red birds in them. In the early 1600s rock doves were introduced to north america. The rock dove rock pigeon or common pigeon ˈ p ɪ dʒ.
In the countryside they also nest on barns and grain towers under bridges and on natural cliffs. Birds most closely resembling their wild ancestors are gray with head and neck darker than back and a prominent white rump. In addition to the typical blue gray bird with two dark wingbars you ll often see flocks with plain spotted pale or rusty red birds in them. The domestic pigeon columba livia domestica which includes about 1 000 different breeds descended from this species.
Introduced to north america from europe in the early 1600s city pigeons nest on buildings and window ledges. Non native populations have been introduced in many locations and thrive in urban. Fun facts for kids. In the countryside they also nest on barns and grain towers under bridges and on natural cliffs.
You can see them in art dating back as far as 4500 bce in modern iraq. The word pigeon is actually derived from the latin word pipio which means young bird. Urban areas farmland and rocky cliffs. Humans have trained rock pigeons as homing pigeons.
A common sight in cities around the world rock pigeons crowd streets and public squares living on discarded food and offerings of birdseed. The rock dove or pigeon has a dark bluish gray head neck and chest with glossy yellowish greenish and reddish purple iridescent along its neck and wing feathers. A medium size compact pigeon with long wings and a short tail. They were also awarded with various laurels throughout for their service.