Stock Dove (Columba oenas)

OTHER NAMES: Stock Pigeon

Latin Etymology: Columba ("pigeon/dove") oenas ("pigeon")

  Adult Stock Dove (subspecies C. o. oenas) at Rutland Water, Rutland - July 2012

Featured Subspecies: Columba oenas oenas
Weight: 300g  /  Length: 32-34cm  /  Wingspan: 66cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Stock Dove is the far gentler looking cousin of the far more common rock dove and wood pigeon. Due to how common those two species are, I suspect this bird goes under most peoples radar - written off as another pigeon. It can be identified by the lack of white on it, and being smaller than the wood pigeon and more delicate looking than the rock dove. It does seem a little more timid than the other pigeons, but still should be relatively easy.  It is more of a bird of the countryside than the other two, and a lot more timid so can be a bit more problematic.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Subspecies: C. o. oenas, C. o. yarkandensis   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Widespread breeding resident (260,000 territories)

 - Seen at Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes and Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Rock Dove (Columba livia)

OTHER NAMES: Pigeon, Rock Pigeon, Common Pigeon
Latin Etymology: Columba ("pigeon/dove") livia ("rock dove")

Adult Rock Dove (subspecies C. l. domestica) at Regent's Park, London - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: Columba livia domestica ("Feral Pigeon")

Weight: 360g  /  Length: 29-37cm  /  Wingspan: 62-72cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

About the easiest bird to see in the UK - widely spread, and present in towns in large numbers. Appearance varies wildly as it mixes with white doves and fancy breeds, but the above image represents one of the most common colourations, as well as being one of the more natural plumage before breeding. Photographing them is equally easy- pigeons in towns will usually be very tame, probably about the easiest of all birds to see.  You must bear in mind, that although feral pigeons are abundant, the true wild rock dove is limited to a few coasts in isolated parts of Scotland - ironic considering the success of it's feral counterpart, however, for the sake of this project, the feral ones count.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Subspecies: C. l. livia, C. l. atlantis, C. l. canariensis, C. l. gymnocycla, C. l. targia, C. l. dakhlae, C. l. butleri,C. l. schimperi, C. l. palaestinae, C. l. gaddi,C. l. neglecta, C. l. intermedia,C. l. nigricans, C. l. domestica 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common to abundant in cities.

 - Birds seen commonly at a large number of sites, including but not limited to Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.

COSTA RICA

Common in cities

 - COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen in San Jose

JAPAN - Japanese - カワラバト / Kawara-bato ("Dry Riverbed Pigeon")

Common in cities.

 - Seen in Kyoto and Tokyo.

MALAYSIA - Malaysia - Merpati ("Pigeon")
Common in cities.

 - Seen in all cities..

SPAIN - Spanish - Paloma bravía ("Brave dove")

Common in cities.

 - Seen on all trips.

UNITED STATES 
Feral population throughout

- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco and Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)

OTHER NAMES: Wood Pigeon
Latin Etymology: Columba ("pigeon/dove") palumbus ("wood pigeon")

Adult Common Wood Pigeon (subspecies C. p. palumbus) at Geddington, Northants - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: Columba palumbus palumbus

Weight: 490g  /  Length: 38-44cm  /  Wingspan: 75-80cm

UK GREEN LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most widely spread species in the UK and the largest British pigeon. In cities it will probably be easier to approach closer for photography purpose, as, like with most species, it tends to be tamer in the city than countryside. They do sometimes frequent bird-tables, often shoving off every other bird, but really they are common and bold enough that you probably don't even need that to get good views.  In the winter, the may gather in large flocks on fields.

Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Subspecies: C. p. azorica, C. p. maderensis, C. p. excelsa, C. p. palumbus, C. p. iranica, C. p. casiotis   

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Abundant breeding resident (5,400,000 pairs)

 - Seen in virtually every location including Rutland Water, Trevose Head, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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