Columba palumbus
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Mass
~490 g
Habitat
Woodlands and parks
Diet
Omnivore
How to recognize it
The common wood-pigeon is a large, solid-looking pigeon with a calm presence and a pale bar on the wing. Adults also show white patches on the neck, which stand out well even from a distance.
It flies fast, with a noisy wing-clap when it takes off, and the wings can crack sharply in the air. During the breeding season it becomes more secretive, staying quiet and keeping out of sight near people and other animals.
It lives in woods, but also uses parks, gardens, and fields. It eats seeds and other plant food, and sometimes adds insects, worms, molluscs, and berries; in some areas it moves seasonally, while in others it stays all year.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The common wood-pigeon is a large, solid-looking pigeon with a calm presence and a pale bar on the wing. Adults also show white patches on the neck, which stand out well even from a distance.
It flies fast, with a noisy wing-clap when it takes off, and the wings can crack sharply in the air. During the breeding season it becomes more secretive, staying quiet and keeping out of sight near people and other animals.
It lives in woods, but also uses parks, gardens, and fields. It eats seeds and other plant food, and sometimes adds insects, worms, molluscs, and berries; in some areas it moves seasonally, while in others it stays all year.
