Rock Dove

Rock Dove, common name for a pigeon native to Europe, North Africa, and India, and now found throughout the world. The relationship between humans and the rock dove goes back 4000 years to when it was first domesticated for food. Later, rock doves were bred for racing, homing, and as late as World War I (1914-1918) were vital as message carriers for the British army.

The rock dove measures about 33 to 36 cm (about 13 to 14 in) in length, and is often gray with a whitish rump. Selective breeding, however, has led to a number of different races, each with its own distinct plumage.

The rock dove eats the seeds of grasses and other plants, acorns, and sometimes earthworms and insects. In cities it will also eat popcorn, bread crumbs, and garbage. It forages while walking on the ground. The rock dove is a social bird that usually lives and feeds in small flocks.

Pigeons are energetic breeders, sometimes producing four or five batches, or broods, of young in a year. The male and female may mate for life but each spring the male continues to perform his courtship dance. This usually consists of puffing up his chest, spreading his tail, bowing his head, cooing, and walking in circles around the female. The flat nest is built by the female out of twigs, leaves, and grass supplied by the male. The nest is built on cliff ledges, building ledges, rafters, or under bridges. The male and female take turns incubating, or warming, the one or two white eggs by sitting on them for about 19 days.

The newly hatched young have no feathers, or down, and are unable to feed themselves. For the first few days the parents feed them a fatty, protein-rich liquid called pigeon milk, which is produced in a special pocket in the throats of adult rock doves. The young leave the nest about 25 to 32 days after hatching.

Scientific classification: The rock dove is a member of the pigeon family, Columbidae, in the order Columbiformes, and is classified as Columba livia.