Family Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Least Concern
Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
Taxonomy
French: Pigeon ramier German: Ringeltaube Spanish: Paloma torcaz
Other common names:
Wood Pigeon
Taxonomy:
Columba Palumbus
Linnaeus
, 1758,Sweden
.Subspecies and Distribution
C. p. azorica
E. J. O. Hartert, 1905 – E & C Azores.
C. p. maderensis
Tschusi, 1904 – montane forests of Madeira.
C. p. palumbus
Linnaeus, 1758 – NW Africa, Europe E to W Siberia and S to Iraq; winters S to N Africa.
C. p. iranica
(Zarudny, 1910) – S Transcaspia, N & W Iran.
C. p. casiotis
(Bonaparte, 1854) – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to N Afghanistan, N Oman, SE Iran, N Pakistan and Kashmir; winters E to Nepal.
Descriptive notes
41–45 cm; 284–690 g. General colour bluish grey, duller on wings; primaries black with pale edges; breast mauve-pink merging to creamy on belly; flanks grey... read more
Voice
Quite vocal. Advertising call a repeated rhythmic phrase involving five cooing notes with only... read more
Habitat
Typically a species of ecotone in deciduous or coniferous woodland. Occurs at 1500–1600 m,... read more
Food and feeding
Takes most of food from ground, but also feeds in trees. Most of diet made up of plant matter, including green leaves, buds, flowers, seeds... read more
Breeding
Season varies with zone, ranging from late Feb to early Sept. Nest 17–23 cm in diameter, consists of twigs up to 20 cm long; lined... read more
Movements
N and E European birds mostly migratory, as are W Siberian populations; species partially migratory... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. Generally common to very common or even abundant, e.g. in many parts of Britain, where it is frequently very tame, especially in town gardens. A... read more
Related to C. trocaz and C. bollii of Macaronesia and C. unicincta of Africa; probably also to C. junoniae of Canary Is. Race iranica intergrades with nominate in E Turkey and Transcaucasia. Proposed races excelsa (NW Africa), ghigii (Sardinia) and kleinschmidti (C Scotland) all currently lumped into nominate#R, and kirmanica (SE Iran) into casiotis. Four extant subspecies recognized.