The wood pigeon ( Columba palumbus ) is the largest of the pigeons and usually inhabits forested areas.Unlike the domestic pigeon, which can have a great variety of shades in its feathers, the coloring pattern of the wood pigeon is always the same, and the white spots on the neck are never missing.
It is increasingly common to see this species of the order of the columbiforms in our cities, that is why in this Animals and Pets Online file we want to talk about this beautiful ave.Discover below everything you need about the wood pigeon : origin, habitat, characteristics, food and reproduction.
Origin of the wood pigeon
The wood pigeon is native to Europe and Western Asia.They are year-round residents in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Greece, Morocco and other countries in the Mediterranean basin.They have a large breeding area in northern Europe, but in winter they migrate to warmer areas of the south.
Several subspecies are known, one of them extinct:
- Columba palumbus azorica , occupies them in the Azores Islands.
- Columba palumbus casioti, is located from southeastern Iran to Nepal.
- Columba palumbus Iranian, extends from southern Iran to Turkmenistan.
- Columba palumbus maderensis, extinct, lived in Madeira.
Characteristics of the wood pigeon
Comparing it with other species of columbiforms, the wood pigeon has a large size, in addition, its wings and its tail is longer than that of other species of pigeon.They measure about 40 centimeters long and their wingspan can reach 80 centimeters.Its body is mostly gray, with pink weight and a characteristic white spot on both sides of the neck and shoulders.When they fly, on the wings we can see a transverse white strip, very striking.
Habitat of the wood pigeon
The wood pigeon is, above all, a field pigeon.He likes to live in forests where he can find cavities with ease to protect himself from the inclement weather.With the passing of the years and the gradual disappearance of In the forests, this pigeon has been approaching the fields, where food is abundant.It was not usual to observe it in cities, since they are very elusive animals, but currently they are the main species of pigeon in the gardens of certain cities.p>
Pigeon feeding pigeon
As we said, this bird is typical of forest areas where pines, holm oaks and cork oaks abound.Throughout the year, these pigeons feed on the pinons that are in the treetops and those found by the ground.In autumn, when the fruiting of cork oaks and holm oaks occurs, these animals feed on acorns, which are capable of swallowing whole.
In winter, they can also feed on the small buds that remain asleep in the branches of the trees waiting for spring.In the same morning, they go to the fields to gramine seeds.
Reproduction of the wood pigeon
The breeding season of the wood pigeon takes place between the months of April and August.During this period, a pair of pigeons can have between 3 and 4 nests.In their natural environment, the male courts the female throwing himself from the top of a tree to the ground and once there, he begins to jump after the female with the tail feathers deployed.In the city, we will not see the jump from the top of the tree.
The nests of these pigeons are usually located in a high area of the tree or the lower part of the branches.Several days after the copulation, the female will lay up to a maximum of two eggs that will incubate for 15 or 18 days.Both parents will incubate the eggs , the female usually does it from 4 in the afternoon until 8 in the morning of the next day and the male the rest of the time.
Once the chicks are born, these will be fed with milk of buche that produce their parents and with some seeds.After 3 or 4 weeks being fed, the new pigeons of they pull the nest, and the couple can make a new nest.
Bibliography
- Bang, J., Jensen, B.,&Sunde, P.(2005).Woodpigeons Columba palumbus breeding in open land associate with Kestrel Falco tinnunculus nests.Bird Study, 52 (1), 93-95.
- Bea, A., Beitia, R.,&Fernandez, JM (2003).The census and distribution of wintering woodpigeons Columba palumbus in the Iberian peninsula.Ornis Hungarica, 12 (13), 157-167.
- Spanish bird guide.Paloma torcaz, ( Columba palumbus ).2008.SEOBirdLife.Available at: https://www.seo.org/ave/mochuelo-europeo/
- Marrero, P., Oliveira, P.,&Nogales, M.(2004).Diet of the endemic Madeira Laurel Pigeon Columba trocaz in agricultural and forest areas: implications for conservation.Bird Conservation International, 14 (3), 165-172.
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