UK: - Rock Dove or Homing Pigeon (1 Viewer)

[Oggy]

I noticed this dove this morning whilst out walking and am note sure if it's a Rock Dove or a domestic pigeon. The bird had two coloured rings on one leg and a Numbered ring on the other that appears to say GB A 03770.
Would I be right in thinking it's a Rock Dove?

 

[Steve Lister]

Racing pigeon.

Steve

 

[Grumbledook]

I only have two (very, very awful) shots of what I'm 90% sure is a Rock Dove. I saw no rings but it was the white rump patch that convinced me, second opinions welcome.

There are many feral/racing pigeons that visit me, but this is the only one I was ever convinced of being a Rock Dove.

 

[nandu1256]

It is the Blue Rock Pigeon Colomba livia. The two dark bars on the wings are the id. Possibly id'd for census or something

 

[njlarsen]

I think that rock dove/pigeon, feral pigeon, racing pigeon, homing pigeon all are different names for the same species, just in different degrees of domestication. Second point is that the pure wild rock pigeon without genes from birds that at one time were domestic might not exist (at least in Europe); it seems that after several generations in the wild, most previously domestic birds will revert to a plumage very similar or even identical with the wild form. Unless you see a colony of birds breeding in a mountain/cliff area far away from any town, you should probably not expect it to be a pure wild form; on the other hand, most wild looking birds will be feral enough to count in group C, similar to where you would count a pheasant (if you do).

Cheers
Niels

 

[Alan G]

It looks like someone's lost, pet pigeon to me.

 

[Gentoo]

I think that rock dove/pigeon, feral pigeon, racing pigeon, homing pigeon all are different names for the same species, just in different degrees of domestication. Second point is that the pure wild rock pigeon without genes from birds that at one time were domestic might not exist (at least in Europe); it seems that after several generations in the wild, most previously domestic birds will revert to a plumage very similar or even identical with the wild form. Unless you see a colony of birds breeding in a mountain/cliff area far away from any town, you should probably not expect it to be a pure wild form; on the other hand, most wild looking birds will be feral enough to count in group C, similar to where you would count a pheasant (if you do).

Cheers
Niels

I agree, they are all different names for the same species of bird.

 

[Jane Turner]

I only have two (very, very awful) shots of what I'm 90% sure is a Rock Dove. I saw no rings but it was the white rump patch that convinced me, second opinions welcome.

There are many feral/racing pigeons that visit me, but this is the only one I was ever convinced of being a Rock Dove.

It may look like a pure Rock Dove, but unless you are on a windswept beach/cliff edge, surrounded by Choughs with the Atlantic pounding in behind you (to a first approximation) the odds of it being genetically pure are infinitesimally small. Even if you do go to the far NW, where the percentage of birds that look "good" is much much higher, the odds are not that good.

You get throwback Rock Doves in the domesticated Feral Pigeons.

 

[Grumbledook]

It may look like a pure Rock Dove, but unless you are on a windswept beach/cliff edge, surrounded by Choughs with the Atlantic pounding in behind you (to a first approximation) the odds of it being genetically pure are infinitesimally small. Even if you do go to the far NW, where the percentage of birds that look "good" is much much higher, the odds are not that good.

You get throwback Rock Doves in the domesticated Feral Pigeons.

After reading your and other replies I agree chances are it's feral, sound advice from the BF as usual :t:

 

[KnockerNorton]

It is definately 100% a domestic racing pigeon, and what's more is that it's actually in a race. Those rings are from the pigeon registration organisation, not the BTO, and the blue rubber one is a race ring.

Many feral pigeons, and domestic, have the wild-type 'rock dove' colouring.

 

[Oggy]

It is definately 100% a domestic racing pigeon, and what's more is that it's actually in a race. Those rings are from the pigeon registration organisation, not the BTO, and the blue rubber one is a race ring.

Many feral pigeons, and domestic, have the wild-type 'rock dove' colouring.

Many thanks but if it was in a race then I wouldn't want any money on it, it just walked around and when it did fly off it only moved 50 yards !!!!! Maybe suffering the same problem as some of the Tour de France racers ;-)

 

[KnockerNorton]

Many thanks but if it was in a race then I wouldn't want any money on it, it just walked around and when it did fly off it only moved 50 yards !!!!! Maybe suffering the same problem as some of the Tour de France racers ;-)

yeah, it's surprising how many you see that 'drop out' when you know what to look for. Sometimes they just get lost, other times they're knackered, other times they're not trained very well, and other times they just probably can't be bothered! Many just have a rest and a drink and then carry on. If they hit a bad weather system it can really drain them.

 

[DGRW]

I had someones prize racing pidgeon land on my garage roof and stay there for three years in the early eighties.

We called him Percy.

No doubt his owner was very suitably impressed.

 

[Henry B]

And they then blame it on Peregrine,s for not returning back to them.

 

[KnockerNorton]

And they then blame it on Peregrine,s for not returning back to them.

indeed. Sparrowhawks take loads more!

 

[jurek]

I think RSPB says only "wild-type birds", suggesting that no pure rock dove remain.

 

[KnockerNorton]

I think RSPB says only "wild-type birds", suggesting that no pure rock dove remain.

I think that's probably true. I don't think any pure birds will remain virtually anywhere now, as feral birds are so ubiquitous throughout the world and they quicly revert to wild lives.

 

[DGRW]

And they then blame it on Peregrine,s for not returning back to them.

Well I didn't invite him. He just turned up and stayed. Maybe I could have ID's his owner via his ring if he'd let me get close enough and then I could have written them a letter tot the effect that he had decided to move in with me but then we would have had all of the usual custody and maintenance battle.

The only time that I've logged a "Rock Dove" as a Rock Dove is on the few occasions that I've seen them right up in the far north west and even then I think it's true to say that there are no guarantees.