Rock Dove
Columba livia (JF Gmelin, 1789)
DV
ROCDO
6650
Family: Columbiformes > Columbidae
If you were searching for Feral Pigeon you have been redirected to our Rock Dove page because this species is the ancestor of the Feral Pigeon.
- You can find information about both Rock Doves and Feral Pigeons on this page.
- You can learn more about both birds in our blog, Wild Rock Doves: solving a genetic enigma.
A deep-red eye, pale-grey plumage, two black wingbars and a white rump make the Rock Dove a beautiful bird.
The Rock Dove is the ancestor of the Feral Pigeon, but truly wild birds occupy a very different setting to their urban cousins. Wild Rock Doves are confined to our northern rocky coasts and islands and nest in sea caves and on steep cliff ledges, whilst Feral Pigeons use a range of human structures, from windowsills to the underside of bridges.
Wild Rock Doves are ringed as part of the Ringing Scheme, results from which reveal that they can live to over seven years of age and, unlike their racing relatives, rarely move very far.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Rock Dove
2m records
BTO RECORDS
Identification
Rock Dove identification is often straightforward.
SONGS AND CALLS
Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Rock Dove, provided by xeno-canto contributors.
Call
Song
Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| UK Birds of Conservation Concern | Green listed |
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Least Concern |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
|
Listed on the Annexes of
|
WBD(II*), Bern(III) |
POPULATION SIZE
| UK (breeding) | 465 thousand Pairs (2016) |
| BOU Category | A C4 |
|
First Record
|
Recorded in Medieval times |
DISTRIBUTION
Pure Rock Doves are thought to be restricted to remote coastlines of north and west Scotland and north, west and south Ireland. Elsewhere, birds resembling Rock Doves occur in many Feral Pigeon flocks. Owing to the difficulty of assigning such individuals to each form the maps here combine Rock Doves and Feral Pigeons. The resulting maps show this resident species to be widespread in Britain, though largely absent from the uplands of central Wales, northwest England, the Southern Uplands and Scottish Highlands. In Ireland it is found mostly in the east and south, and is absent from large parts of the midlands.
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in breeding season | 2362 |
| % occupied in breeding season | 78 |
| No. occupied in winter | 2460 |
| % occupied in winter | 81 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution Change 1968–72 to 2008–11.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution Change 1981–84 to 2007–11
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK
| % change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11) | +46.1% |
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +22.1% |
SEASONALITY
Rock Doves (and Feral Pigeons) are recorded throughout the year.
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Rock Dove, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
|
Number of Broods
|
5+ |
|
Egg Size
|
39×29 mm Weight = 17.8 g (of which 6% is shell) |
SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report
|
Maximum Age from Ringing
|
7 years 8 months 25 days (set in 2010)
|
|
Typical Lifespan
|
3 years with breeding typically at 1 year |
|
Adult Survival
|
0.665±0.049
|
|
Juvenile Survival
|
0.57 (in first year)
|
BIOMETRICS
|
Wing Length
|
Adults | 229.3±7.1 | Range 218–241mm, N=58 |
|
Body Weight
|
Adults | 360±43.06 | Range 299–441g, N=57 |
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Ring size
|
E |
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: DV | 5-letter code: ROCDO | Euring: 6650 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
Gaelic: Calman-creige
Welsh: Colomen y Graig
Catalan: colom roquer
Czech: holub skalní
Danish: Klippedue
Dutch: Rotsduif
Estonian: kaljutuvi
Finnish: kalliokyyhky (kesykyyhky)
French: Pigeon biset
German: Felsentaube
Hungarian: szirti galamb
Icelandic: Bjargdúfa
Irish: Colm Aille
Italian: Piccione selvatico
Latvian: klinšu balodis
Lithuanian: uolinis karvelis
Norwegian: Klippedue (Bydue)
Polish: golab skalny
Portuguese: pombo-doméstico / pombo-das-rochas
Slovak: holub divý
Slovenian: skalni golob
Spanish: Paloma bravía
Swedish: klippduva
Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com
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