Species Profile
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
Woodpigeon
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernAlso known as: Common Wood Pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Ring Dove
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Appearance
The Woodpigeon is a large, robust pigeon with a distinctive grey body and pink breast. Its most notable features are the white patches on the sides of its neck and the iridescent green and purple sheen on its nape.
Distinguishing between male and female Woodpigeoons is challenging, although the females are slightly smaller and slimmer. They also have less prominent white neck patches and duller breast plumage.
Adults have a pale pink bill and feet, while juveniles are duller in colour, lacking the neck patches and iridescence, rusty brown chests and blue (not yellow) eyes.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Grey
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Pink
- Legs
- Pink
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Woodpigeons are widely distributed across Europe, parts of North Africa, and western Asia. They thrive in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, farmlands, parks, and urban areas.
In the UK, they are common year-round residents, with numbers boosted by winter migrants from northern Europe. They have successfully adapted to urban environments, becoming a familiar sight in cities and towns.
Distribution
Diet
Woodpigeons are omnivores and have a varied diet, primarily consisting of plant matter. They feed on various plant parts, including seeds, shoots, fruits, and leaves, and select the most abundant and nutritious food sources as they become available throughout the year.
Crops like peas and sprouts and grains like wheat, barley, maize and oats are energy-rich and readily available food sources, although they utilise a wide variety of weeds and native plant species, too.
They will eat insects and other invertebrates like earthworms opportunistically. In urban areas, they readily consume bread and other human food scraps.
Behaviour
Woodpigeons are known for their clumsy, noisy takeoffs and strong, direct flight. They often gather in large flocks to feed on the ground, particularly in agricultural areas.
These birds are relatively tame in urban settings, frequently seen in parks and gardens.
Calls & Sounds
The Woodpigeon's call is a distinctive, rhythmic cooing, often described as sounding like 'take two cows, Taffy' or ''My toe hurts Betty. This five-note phrase is repeated several times, with the emphasis on the second syllable: 'hoo HOO-hoo hoo-hoo'.
In urban areas, their cooing is a common dawn chorus sound.
Nesting & Breeding
Woodpigeons breed throughout the year, with peak activity from March to October. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, including wing-clapping flights and bowing on branches.
Nests are flimsy platforms of twigs, typically built in trees or large shrubs. However, they will also nest in other vegetation, on buildings, and sometimes even on the ground. Females usually lay two white eggs per clutch.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 17 days. Chicks fledge after 28-32 days but may return to the nest for several days after their first flight.
Conservation
The Woodpigeon is currently of Least Concern due to its large range and increasing population. However, it faces localised threats from hunting and agricultural changes.
Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable habitats and monitoring population trends.
Elevation
Up to 1,600 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Main predators include birds of prey such as goshawks and peregrine falcons, as well as foxes and domestic cats, particularly for young or nesting birds.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Woodpigeons in parks, gardens, and woodland edges
- Listen for their distinctive five-note cooing call
- Observe feeding flocks in open fields, especially during autumn
- In the UK, watch for their courtship displays in spring, involving wing-clapping flights
Did You Know?
- Woodpigeons can drink without tilting their head back, unlike most birds.
- They are one of the few birds that produce 'crop milk' to feed their young.
- In the UK, Woodpigeons are the largest and most common pigeon species.
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