Back Wildeposduif Afrikaans Columba livia AN حمام طوراني Arabic حمام جبلى ARZ Columba livia AST Çöl göyərçini Azerbaijani Күк күгәрсен Bashkir Merpati batu BAN Шызы голуб Byelorussian Шызы голуб BE-X-OLD
| Rock dove | |
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| Group of wild birds in Shetland, Scotland, with common starlings | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Columba |
| Species: | C. livia
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| Binomial name | |
| Columba livia Gmelin, JF, 1789[2]
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approximate native range introduced non-native populations
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The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon (/ˈpɪdʒ.ən/ also /ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn/; Columba livia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).[3]: 624 In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although this is the wild form of the bird; the pigeons most familiar to people are the domesticated forms of the wild rock dove.
Wild rock doves are uniformly pale grey with two black bars on each wing, with few differences being seen between males and females; i.e. they are not strongly sexually dimorphic.[4] The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica, which includes about 1,000 different breeds) descended from this species. Escaped domestic pigeons are the origin of feral pigeons around the world. Both forms can vary widely in the colour and pattern of their plumage unlike their wild ancestor, being red, brown, checkered, uniformly colored, or piebald.[5]
Habitats include various open and semi-open environments where they are able to forage on the ground. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originating in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, when including their domestic and feral descendants, they are an example of a least-concern species per IUCN among birds, being abundant with an estimated population of 17 to 28 million wild and feral birds in Europe alone and up to 120 million worldwide.[1][6]
- ^ a b BirdLife International (2019) [amended version of 2016 assessment]. "Columba livia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22690066A155493121. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690066A155493121.en. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Columba livia". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ^ Gibbs, David; Eustace Barnes; John Cox (2010-06-30). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World. United Kingdom: Pica Press. ISBN 978-1-873403-60-0.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Cornellwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Blechman, Andrew (2007). Pigeons-The fascinating saga of the world's most revered and reviled bird. St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-7022-3641-9.
- ^ "Rock Pigeon Life History". All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 2019-12-24.