Specie's Page                                               Garden and Hedgerow - Feral Pigeon

Feral Pigeon\Rock Doves:

UK Status: Originally domesticated birds that escaped their captors and started to breed in the wild. The domestic pigeons were originally bred from captive wild Rock Doves. Over centuries they have interbred with other pigeons, and as a result are seen in varying shades of colour, their markings differ greatly as well. Some domestic pigeons are still a spitting image of the wild Rock Dove.

Habitat: Their true habitat is sea cliffs and rocky ledges, but like some wild doves have adapted to man made structures. Often they nest under concrete road bridges, building ledges and other suitable man made structures.

Breeding: This birds nesting habits are much the same as the Rock Dove. Feral Pigeons nest on rocky ledges, and concrete or brick parapets. The nests are flimsy flat platforms,  being made of sticks and straw, usually two white eggs are laid in each clutch. These doves can breed throughout the year, though breeding peeks in the spring and summer months.

Comment: Common throughout the British Isles, and many other parts of the world, to be seen in major cities, towns and parks often in very large sociable groups. Trafalgar Square in London has always been a notable place where these birds congregate.