The Pigeon and Dove Family
(Columbidae)

Order: Pigeons and Doves (Columbiformes)

You can explore:

Wood Pigeon

Collared Dove

Wood Pigeon

Columba palambus

Wood Pigeons are very common in the countryside and in towns. They are grey, with a white patch on the side of their necks, and a pink tinge on their throats.

The Wood Pigeons living in woodland seem to be more wary than those in towns, flying off if a human walks nearby. Perhaps those living in towns have had to overcome their natural shyness in order to get food from humans.

Habitat

Wood Pigeons are found in woods, gardens, parks and town squares.

Food

Wood pigeons seemingly eat anything, including weed-seeds, plant shoots, acorns, grain, berries and slugs.

Wood Pigeons make a flat nest out of sticks, in a tree or bush.

Wood Pigeons can be found all year long throughout Britain.

Wood Pigeons make a "Coocooroo, coocoo" sound.

41 cm.

Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaocto

Collared Doves can be easily recognised by the black collar around their neck.

The rest of the body is a pale salmon-brown colour.

Habitat

The Collared Dove is good at living in all sort of habitats, and can be found in parks and gardens. It is often found around human settlements, where food is available.

Collared Doves like to eat seeds, berries and other parts of plants, such as the shoots.

Its nest is a flat pile of twigs, built on a tree or building. It raises two to four broods a year, and lays two white eggs at a time.

The collared Dove was introduced to Britain in 1955, and can now be found troughout the British Isles all year long.

Their song is a repeated "coo COOO coo" sound.

28 cm.

Its close relative, the Turtle Dove, has tortoiseshell patterning on its back and wing feathers, hence the name "Turtle Dove".