Rock Pigeon — Australian Bird Identification Guide

Descended from the wild Rock Dove, feral pigeons now thrive in cities worldwide, including every Australian capital.

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyPigeons and Doves

SizeMedium

RarityCommon

HabitatDarker birds may be better able to store trace metals in their feathers due to their higher concentrations of melanin, which may help mitigate the negative effects of the metals, the concentrations of which are typically higher in urban areas.

Best timeReported across most months in Victoria, with no narrow seasonal peak.

Sounds

Sound sample

0:000:00

Recorded by Ulf Elman

Range map

Occurrence window

4020visible hotspots

397626visible records

6states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Pale gray overall with two bold black wingbars and iridescent purple and green on neck. Variable plumage: some identical to wild-type birds, but can be completely black, white, or orangey-brown and any combination in between.

Behavior

True wild birds nest on cliffs and in caves from western Europe to central Asia. Feral varieties are common in cities and farmland, often in large flocks.

Gallery