ROCK PIGEON

 114*                   ROCK PIGEON                Columba livia

USA                45

The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).  In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon", although this is the wild form of the bird; the pigeons most familiar to people are the domesticated form of the wild rock dove.

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica, which includes about 1,000 different breeds) descended from this species. Escaped domestic pigeons have increased the populations of feral pigeons around the world.

Habitats include various open and semi-open environments where they are able to forage on the ground. Cliffs and rock ledges are used for roosting and breeding in the wild. Originating in Southern Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, pigeons have become established in cities around the world. A commonly cited example of a least-concern species per IUCN among birds, the rock doves are abundant, with an estimated population of 17 to 28 million feral and wild birds in Europe alone and up to 120 million worldwide

FERAL PIGEON

Photographed in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 2023

  (* 114)          FERAL PIGEON            Columba livia

CAMBODIA               20

Also known as Domestic or Homing pigeon or Rock Dove. 33-36 cm. Widespread across Europe, n Africa and w Asia, probably introduced to Australia with European settlement. Widespread in villages, towns, cities and farm homesteads. Found in urban areas, grain installations, roadsides, woodlands, paddocks.

COLLARED IMPERIAL PIGEON

Photographed on Boigu Island, Torres Straits, March 2018.

1246                COLLARED IMPERIAL PIGEON                 Ducula mullerii

AUSTRALIA                 741

Native to New Guinea and adjacent islands; found in northern and southern New Guinea and the Art Islands, and recorded on Boigu and Saibai. Inhabits lowland rainforest, swamp forest, mangroves and riverine vegetation. Feeds on fruit from forest trees and insects.

Photographed on Saibai, Torres Straits, March 2018

FERAL PIGEON

Photographed at Miranda, June 2017

(*  114)                 FERAL PIGEON              Columba livia      

NEW ZEALAND                 52

Also known as Rock Pigeon. 33 cm. European introduction found throughout New Zealand except south-east of South Island. Found in city parks and streets; grain stores, wharfs and railways stations; in rural areas favour drier arable farmland.

NEW ZEALAND PIGEON

Photographed at Shakespear Regional Park, June 2017

1187                 NEW ZEALAND PIGEON            Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae      

NEW ZEALAND                    21

Known as kereru or kukupa, a common endemic across all New Zealand. 51 cm. Found in native forest, especially in lowland areas, scrub, forest patches among farmland, ruralnand city gardens and parks.

PINK-NECKED GREEN-PIGEON

Langkawi, April 2017

(*   824)               PINK-NECKED GREEN-PIGEON               Treron vernans

MALAYSIA              38

Also known as Pink-necked Pigeon. Common green-pigeon found at low elevations in coastal mangroves, wooded gardens, open country, forest edges and secondary forest. 27 cm. Resident throughout Malaysia.

SRI LANKA GREEN PIGEON

March 2017

 1092             SRI LANKA GREEN PIGEON                 Treron (pompadora) pompadora

SRI LANKA                106

Found in forest and woods. 28 cm. Fairly common breeding resident from lowlands to lower hills; local and uncommon up to mid hills.

FERAL PIGEON

March 2017

114                    FERAL PIGEON                Columba livia

SRI LANKA                 103

Also known as Domestic or Homing pigeon or Rock Dove. 33-36 cm. Widespread across Europe, n Africa and w Asia, and Australia with European settlement. Widespread in villages, towns, cities and farm homesteads. Found in urban areas, grain installations, roadsides, woodlands, paddocks.

ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN PIGEON

Subspecies leggei, photographed March 2017

(*  1064)                 ORANGE-BREASTED GREEN PIGEON                      Treron bicinctus  

SRI LANKA                   40

Found in woods and scrub. 29 cm. Fairly common breeding resident in dry lowlands, local and fairly rare in wet lowlands.

GREEN IMPERIAL PIGEON

Subspecies pusilla, photographed March 2017

 (*   871)                GREEN IMPERIAL PIGEON                    Ducula aenea

SRI LANKA           21

 Found in forests and well wooded gardens. 43-47 cm. Fairly common resident from lowlands up to lower hills.

YELLOW-FOOTED GREEN PIGEON

Kochi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal, March 2017

1024                  YELLOW-FOOTED GREEN PIGEON               Treron phoenicopterus

NEPAL               99

Found in deciduous forest and fruiting trees around villages and cultivation. 33 cm. Widespread and locally common resident.

FERAL PIGEON

(*  114)                      FERAL PIGEON                   Columba livia

NEPAL            29

Common and widespread in villages and towns. 33 cm. 

COMMON EMERALD DOVE

Photographed on Christmas Island

957                  COMMON EMERALD DOVE                    Chalcophaps indica    

AUSTRALIA (Christmas Island)               687

Also called Asian Emerald Dove, Grey-capped Emerald Dove, Green Dove and Green-winged Pigeon. Found in rainforest and similar dense woodlands, farms, gardens, mangroves and coastal heaths. 23- 28 cm. Widespread resident in tropical and subtropical parts of Indian Subcontinent and east through Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Sakishma Islands (Japan), and Indonesia.

CHRISTMAS IMPERIAL PIGEON

Photographed on Christmas Island, December 2016

948           CHRISTMAS IMPERIAL PIGEON                Ducula whartoni

AUSTRALIA (Christmas Island)               677

Inhabits rainforests and secondary growth with fruiting trees. 39 cm length. Endemic to Christmas Island.

FERAL PIGEON

(see   114)          FERAL PIGEON            Columba livia

SINGAPORE     (13)

Also known as Domestic or Homing pigeon or Rock Dove. 33-36 cm. Widespread across Europe, n Africa and w Asia, probably introduced to Australia with European settlement. Widespread in villages, towns, cities and farm homesteads. Found in urban areas, grain installations, roadsides, woodlands, paddocks.

GREEN IMPERIAL PIGEON

Photographed on Nusa Penida, Indonesia October 2016

 (871)              GREEN IMPERIAL PIGEON                   Ducula aenea

INDONESIA (Nusa Penida)          (94)      

Forest bird found in lowland and upper montane rainforest and along forest edges; also occurs locally in mangroves and savanna woodlands. 45 cm. Distribution: Oriental region; widespread and fairly common resident in the Sunda subregion, including the larger islands, extending to Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Sumba.

PINK-NECKED PIGEON

Photographed at Denpasar, Bali October 2016 (female)

(824)           PINK-CHEEKED PIGEON             Theron vernans

INDONESIA (Bali)         (29)

Also known as Pink-cheeked Green Pigeon. 25 cm. A coastal bird, found mainly in mangroves and coastal woodlands, has expanded successfully into disturbed forest, plantations, parks and gardens. Range: Southeast Asia: common resident of the Sunda subregion; extends into Sulawesi, Lombok, Sumbawa and some adjacent islands. 

Photographed near Sanur, Bali October 2016

GREY-CHEEKED PIGEON

Photographed in Badugal Botanic Gardens, Bali October 2016

(823)                  GREY-CHEEKED PIGEON              Theron griseicauda

INDONESIA (Bali)         (28)

Also known as Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon. Found in wooded areas from the lowlands up to the montane forest, on east Java to 2,500 m in elevation. 26 cm. Range: Indonesian endemic; widespread but generally uncommon resident on Java, Bali, Sulawesi and adjacent islands.

NOTE:   these three shots were the only ones I was able to take before the bird disappeared into the foliage. I hope to replace in the next three weeks.

CHESTNUT-QUILLED ROCK-PIGEON

Photographed in Kakadu National Park, May 2016

775         CHESTNUT-QUILLED ROCK-PIGEON           Petrophassa rufippennis

Australia             (619)

Found on sandstone escarpments, with gullies, gorges, tumbled rocks; eucalyptus, figs, other softwoods, pockets of rainforest; nearby grassy woodlands. 28-32 cm. Range: west Arnham Land (NT), from c. Oenpelli s. to Katherine R., mostly in Kakadu NP. Locally common; sedentary.

Note: clear views of two birds but these were the only photographs Until replaced.