The wild, 'pure' rock dove is the ancestor of all domesticated and feral pigeons. It is now only found around rocky sites and cliffs in remote areas. It was originally domesticated to provide food, but soon found its way into our towns and cities, farmland and woodlands. Feral pigeons now breed almost everywhere, except in upland areas.
How to identify
The feral pigeon is familiar to us as the grey-blue bird of our towns and cities. It comes in all shades, from pale grey to cinnamon brown, with some even resembling the wild rock dove perfectly. Feral pigeons are smaller than woodpigeons, but larger than collared doves. They look similar to stock doves, but the latter has a pinker breast, darker rump and black edges to its wings.
Did you know?
As well as being pets, domesticated pigeons have been used as homing and carrier pigeons for years, often taking messages back and forth during wartime. Many pigeons even received medals for bravery and service during the World Wars.
