Common Wood Pigeon
Columba palumbus

>> GENERAL >>>>>

– largest pigeon, crow-sized
– diurnal migrant
– sometimes mixed with Stock Dove

>> FLIGHT >>>>>

– migratory flocks 5-15 ind. up to several 100s or even 1000s
– very little intra-flock-movement
– on long distances quite dense flocks for such a heavy-build bird
– flight straight, fast, with regular wing beats
– appears a little stout with round belly

>> VISUAL ID >>>>>


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD
BIF1160, 23/08/2012, Cuxhaven, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD
BIF1161, 23/08/2012, Cuxhaven, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD
BIF1162, 02/07/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, 1CY
BIF1164, 09/10/2013, Leipzig, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD
BIF1165, 05/04/2011, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD
Stock Dove Columba o. oenas
BIF1166, 13/12/2012, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD
BIF1167, 21/07/2013, Hof, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus
BIF1168, 26/10/2010, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD, 1CY
Stock Dove Columba o. oenas
BIF1158, 14/09/2013, Wermsdorf, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, AD, 1CY
Stock Dove Columba o. oenas
BIF1159, 26/10/2010, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus
BIF1169, 27/02/2013, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus
BIF1170, 14/10/2013, Wermsdorf, Germany, Mathias Putze


Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus
BIF1172, 19/10/2010, Leipzig, Germany, Mathias Putze

>> SOUND ID >>>>>

– nonvocal during migration but distinctive wing sound

Common Wood Pigeon Columba p. palumbus, wing sound
European Stonechat Saxicola r. rubicola, alarm calls
BIF2951, 22/09/2017, Werbelliner See, Germany, Patrick Franke

>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>

Rock Dove (v)
Feral Pigeon (v)
Stock Dove (v)
Eurasian Collared Dove (v)
European Turtle Dove (v)
Oriental Turtle Dove (v)

#pigeon #dove

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