Name

Columbiformes

pigeon

Framing

Phylum: Chordata

Subphylum: Vertebrata

Class: Aves

Order: Columbiformes

Habitat

Birds associated with woodland and landscaped areas, nesting in trees, rocks or buildings, depending on the species, and usually feeding on the ground.

Feeding

Free. Gregarious or solitary for nesting, depending on the species, although in winter they gather in large flocks. Mainly granivorous and frugivorous.

Distribution

A cosmopolitan genus (Columba), as is one of the three Iberian species (rock pigeon), the other two (wood pigeon and stock dove) occupy the western Palaearctic. The first one is sedentary, the other two are summer birds in the northern half of their range and sedentary in the south.

Conservation status

Of the three species present in the Iberian Peninsula, the stock dove is listed as endangered in Andalusia (EN), its status is considered undetermined in Spain (I), and not endangered worldwide.

Additional information

Medium-sized birds (30-40 cm), with small head and short beak (with wax) and legs. General colouring grey with green and purple metallic highlights on the neck and black spots on wings and tail. The most obvious difference between the three species in our fauna is the presence or absence and distribution of white spots on wings, tail and neck.