Species:

Rock Dove (Columba livia)

Demoiselle Crane (Grus virgo)

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Length (cm):
31-34
90-100
Wingspan (cm):
63-70
165-185
Weight (gram):
230-370
2000-2800
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Clearly smaller than Wood Pigeon. Plumage highly variable, and some morphs quite similar to Stock Dove. Differs from latter in complete dark wingbars on secondary coverts (not only inner coverts). Back light grey, contrasting with darker grey neck and head. Often with white patch at lower back, but not always. Underside of wings very pale, and dark trailing edge of tail fairly narrow. Lacks Wood Pigeon's white wing-patches. Feral Pigeon is the same species as Rock Dove. The existance of a population of pure wild Rock Doves without any mixed genes from feral populations anywhere in the world is debateable. There are many traits that can determine a bird as feral (like asymmetrical pigmentation), but birds with "classic" wild Rock Dove plumage also exists in the feral populations.

Sound:

Not loud. Song a two-syllable, but continuous cooing. First a rolling ascending "orrrrrr" immediately followed by a short descending "oohh". Wings produce a quite audible whistling sound.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-sound:Albert Lastukhin, Licence,Link.

Appearance:

Smaller and more delicate than Crane. Front of neck and chest black, with long plumes. Immatures show only faint black markings on neck and head. Upper wing lacks pale patch close to alula, and show little contrast between secondary and primary coverts. Easily mistaken for Crane in flight if black chest is not visible. Identification by call then helpful. Wing beats significantly faster than in Crane.

Sound:

Recalls Crane but timbre very dry, almost rasping and pitch higher.

Call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

CC-sound:Oscar Campbell, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:yann coatanéa, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Pigeons
Silhouette
Heron-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file