Pigeons are some of the most common birds found in Guyana. Sometimes they can become serious nuisance when in the wrong locations like on your window sill, under your roof, in your patio or even on the road when driving. Despite this though some people really enjoy feeding and entertaining them. The type of pigeon found in Guyana can also be called rock pigeon or rock dove. Read on to find out more about these fascinating birds.
About Rock Pigeons
The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon (Columba livia) is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons). In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the “pigeon”. The domestic pigeon descended from this species. Wild rock doves are pale grey with two black bars on each wing, whereas domestic and feral pigeons vary in color and pattern. Few differences are seen between males and females. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents care for the young for a time.
Tip: Columbidae is an animal family constituted of pigeons and doves. These are stout-bodied birds with short necks, and short slender bills that in some species feature fleshy ceres. They primarily feed on seeds, fruits, and plants, and the family occurs worldwide.
Features Of The Rock Pigeons
- Color – It has a dark bluish-grey head, neck, and chest with glossy yellowish, greenish, and reddish-purple iridescence along its neck and wing feathers.
- Female Color – The adult female is almost identical in outward appearance to the male, but the iridescence on her neck is less intense and more restricted to the rear and sides, whereas that on the breast is often very obscure.
- Young Color – Young birds show little lustre and are duller. Eye color of the pigeon is generally orange, but a few pigeons may have white-grey eyes. The eyelids are orange and encapsulated in a grey-white eye ring.
- Eyes – The iris is orange, red, or golden with a paler inner ring, and the bare skin round the eye is bluish-grey.
- Bill & Feet – The bill is grey-black with a conspicuous off-white cere, and the feet are purplish-red. The feet are red to pink.
- Weight & Length – The adult of the nominate subspecies of the rock dove is 29 to 37 cm (11 to 15 in) long with a 62 to 72 cm (24 to 28 in) wingspan. Weight for wild or feral rock doves ranges from 238–380 g (8.4–13.4 oz), though overfed domestic and semi domestic individuals can exceed normal weights. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is typically around 22.3 cm (8.8 in), the tail is 9.5 to 11 cm (3.7 to 4.3 in), the bill is around 1.8 cm (0.71 in), and the tarsus is 2.6 to 3.5 cm (1.0 to 1.4 in).
Scientific Classification Of The Rock Pigeons
Rock Pigeon – Columba livia [Scientific name]
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Columbiformes
- Family: Columbidae
- Genus: Columba
- Species: C. livia
Diet Of The Rock Pigeons
Pigeons feed on the ground in flocks or individually. They are scavengers, and frequently feed on human garbage and seeds. Pigeon groups typically consist of producers, which locate and obtain food, and scroungers, which feed on food obtained by the producers. In cities, feral pigeons also eat popcorn, cake, peanuts, bread, and currants. Generally, groups of pigeons contain a greater proportion of scroungers than producers. When drinking, while most birds take small sips and tilt their heads backwards to swallow the water, pigeons are able to dip their bills into the water and drink continuously, without having to tilt their heads back.
Habitat Of The Rock Pigeons
Pigeons occur worldwide except in the coldest regions and the most remote islands. About 250 species are known; two-thirds of them occur in tropical Southeast Asia, Australia, and the islands of the western Pacific, but the family also has many members in Africa and South America (Guyana) and a few in temperate Eurasia and North America. They roost together in buildings or on walls or statues. They can also be found on natural cliffs, usually on coasts. Its domesticated form, the feral pigeon, has been widely introduced elsewhere, and is common, especially in cities, over much of the world.
Did You Know? When disturbed, a pigeon in a group will take off with a noisy clapping sound that is said to be a cue for other pigeons in a flock to take to flight.
Reproduction Of The Rock Pigeons
The rock pigeon breeds at any time of the year, but peak times are spring and summer. Nesting sites are along coastal cliff faces, as well as the artificial cliff faces created by apartment buildings with accessible ledges or roof spaces. A rock pigeon’s lifespan ranges from 3–5 years in the wild to 15 years in captivity, though longer-lived specimens have been reported.
Nest & Young: The nest is a flimsy platform of straw and sticks, laid on a ledge, under cover, often on the window ledges of buildings. Two white eggs are laid; incubation, shared by both parents, lasts 17 to 19 days. The newly hatched squab (nestling) has pale yellow down and a flesh-colored bill with a dark band. For the first few days, the baby squabs are tended and fed (through regurgitation) exclusively on “crop milk” (also called “pigeon milk” or “pigeon’s milk”). The pigeon milk is produced in the crops of both parents in all species of pigeons and doves. The fledging period is about 30 days.
Rock Pigeons In Guyana
These pigeons are seen almost everywhere in Guyana. They are known to walk or run while bobbing their heads forward and backward. They fly with a steady and direct path. They are most often seen during daylight, seeking cover at night and in during the heat of the day, according to the climate. They flock while roosting, sunning, and feeding, but no play has been observed. In the nesting territory, both sexes are aggressive, pecking intruders on the head. So, the next time you see a pigeon, instead of writing it off, stop and think about all these fascinating skills they possess.
Article References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbidae
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_Guyana
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_dove
- https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Columba_livia/
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/rock-dove
