Rock pigeon: origin and description of the wild species, diet and status of the species

Rock pigeons most often settle in the rocks. Often they can be found near water bodies - large lakes, mountain streams or wide rivers. These birds are considered quite sedentary. Sometimes they wander to the southern regions within their range. In appearance, this species of birds mainly resembles gray doves, but differs from them in smaller sizes. Rock pigeons have a wide distribution range and are not endangered.

Origin of the species

Initially, birds lived in the wild. They met in the northern regions of Africa. Also, birds could be seen in Europe and Asia. The domestication of pigeons took place over 5,000 years ago. However, rock birds are still found naturally.

Appearance and features

In appearance, the birds resemble gray doves. However, they are smaller and look much more elegant. The body length of males is 34-35 centimeters, and females - 33-34. The wings are 22-23.5 centimeters long. At the same time, their span reaches 65.5-67.5 centimeters.

The color of the upper body is light bluish. And it is slightly darker on the neck and head. The upper part of the neck is distinguished by a green sheen, which is not so pronounced in the neck area. The wings have 2 transverse black stripes. They gradually narrow down from the sides. Females are slightly smaller and slimmer compared to males. They are characterized by a not so bright neck and goiter. In addition, they are considered more mobile.

Diet

Rock pigeons eat the seeds of wild plants. In snowy winters, there is a shortage of food. Therefore, birds descend from the mountains to the valleys and there they find the seeds of cultivated plants. Usually they eat wheat, rye, barley, oats. From wild herbs, pigeons prefer seeds of knotweed, dandelion, plantain, chickweed.

A small part of the diet is animal feed - birds can eat snails, slugs, earthworms.

Habitat

These wild pigeons are often found in different regions of Asia. They live in India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia. Also, these birds can be seen in Mongolia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries. The total number of birds is unknown. However, in places of distribution, this species is considered quite common.

Distribution

Birds are fairly widespread. They settle from the mountains of the eastern part of Central Asia to the coast of the Sea of Japan. Outside of North Asia, birds live in China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan. They also live in the western part of the Himalayas.

Wintering

Precise information regarding the flights of rock pigeons is not available. At the same time, scientists have information that in some places birds move from high mountains to lower ones.

In the highlands of Central Asia, birds winter in their habitats. However, they prefer to stay close to settlements.

Daily activity, behavior and reproduction

During the day, rock pigeons are active only during the day. During the non-breeding period, these birds form very strong flocks. They can also form mixed flocks with rock doves. At the same time, the birds have time to separate at the take-off stage.

In cities, rocky and gray pigeons settle in different places. Gray birds prefer to rest on rooftops, lawns or asph alt during the day. At the same time, rocky species of birds do not like city noise. Therefore, they are located on the roofs of tall buildings that overlook quiet courtyards.There is little information regarding the reproduction of this species of birds. It is known that the mating season in birds begins quite early. So, in Primorye, pigeons lay their eggs in February.

Birds build their nests in rock crevices. In settlements, birds can place them under roofs. The exact number of clutches is unknown. During the nesting period, birds form colonies, including 2-4 pairs. Sometimes they are more numerous and include several dozen pairs.

Natural enemies

In a deserted area, the main enemies of this species of pigeons are crows and magpies. In the lowland areas, birds suffer from attacks by falcons and hawks. At the same time, due to their high speed and excellent maneuvering, rock pigeons are less likely than gray pigeons to be attacked by predators.

Doves that live on the cliffs of Lake Baikal and Angara suffer from crows and magpies. They find and destroy bird nests. In these places, rock pigeons are often protected by numerous gulls, which drive away crows and other raptors. At the same time, seagulls do not destroy pigeon nests.

Relatively few of these birds settle in cities, so they are practically not persecuted by people. In addition, birds settle in hard-to-reach places. This almost completely eliminates the influence of people on their numbers.

At the same time, there are other unfavorable factors that negatively affect the number of birds. These include a shortage of food in the high mountain regions. In severe winters with a lot of snow, the birds have to go down to low mountain areas, settling near human habitation.

Population and species status

In many areas of its range, this species of pigeons is considered common or even numerous.In nature, this species of birds lives in inaccessible places. Therefore, it is rarely attacked by people or predatory animals. With the arrival of autumn in the region of Irkutsk and on Baikal, flocks are formed, which include 150-300 individuals. In the Central Asian mountains, there are flocks, which include several dozen birds.

At the same time, ecological plasticity and harsh habitats lead to the fact that rock pigeons are not able to catch up with the rock pigeons in number. Flocks of more than 300 individuals are considered the limit for them.

Rocky pigeons resemble blue-gray pigeons in appearance. However, they are characterized by a number of features. These birds live in mountainous areas and are distinguished by a wide distribution area. However, they also have natural enemies. These include magpies, crows, hawks.