The Rock Pigeon

Rock Pigeons are a chunky bird measuring 12 to 14 inches in length with a wing span of 25 to 27 inches. Most are a bluish-gray with a blue-green sheen to their neck and breast. The color of their plumage can be variable, but most have two black wing bands and a black terminal tail band. They have a large black bill with a white dot, red eyes and eye rings, salmon-colored feet, and a white rump. They are often confused with the feral pigeons.

The Rock Pigeon's original habitat was in open environments along rock ledges and cliffs. Many still nest along the ledges and cliffs but they have also made their home in urban, suburban and agricultural environments.

They are not native to North America. They were first introduced in the United States in the 1600's as a domesticated bird. As is often the case, a few escaped captivity. Now the prolific Rock Pigeon can be found in most major cities throughout the world.

The Rock Pigeon's courtship ritual is often observed in urban parks and playgrounds. It starts out with the male puffing up the feathers at the nape of his neck in an attempt to impress the females. Once they've singled out a female, they bow as they approach. Not impressed, the female usually walks or flies a short distance away. The male follows, bowing again. The ritual is repeated a few more time with the male adding pirouettes to his courtship dance. Persistence pays off and the pair mate.

The pair will build their nest along cliff faces, or on windowsills, under bridges, cracks in brick buildings, or under ledges. The nest is made from sticks, twigs, and anything else they can find.

A brood usually consists of just two eggs, but a pair can raise as many as five broods a year. The eggs are incubated for 16 to 19 days and the responsibility is shared by both the male and the female.

The young are fed "pigeon milk," a protein rich liquid produced in the crops by both the male and the female. The young fledge around four weeks of age.

Rock Pigeons residing in cities will eat anything edible. They will pick at food such as French fries dropped on the ground beside a café, snatch insects and bugs out of the air, and dine on green leaves and grass. In rural areas they feed on seeds found in and around barnyards and fields. If a birdfeeder is available, they will forage on the ground beneath it.

The Rock Pigeon's voice is a soft coo. Listen to the familiar sound of the cooing Rock Pigeon by clicking on the site listed below.

Sound Byte: Rock Pigeon
National Park Service

Many people consider the Rock Pigeon and its cousins to be a pest. They build their nest in inconvenient locations, leave droppings in walkways, and on park benches and windshields. While this may be true, we need to remember the pigeon's roll in human history. During times of war the pigeon's homing abilities were put to use. These "war pigeons" carried vital messages back and forth. Some were even decorated for their services.