You are currently viewing Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)

Scientific name: Columba palumbus

Family: Pigeons and doves

Wingspan: 20 - 25cm (4 1/2 - 6")

Diet: Crops, cabbages, peas and grain; also shoots, seeds, nuts and berries.

Feed with: Sunflower hearts, peanuts and suet foods

Habitat: The woodpigeon can be found in woods and fields and also commonly appear in town and city parks and gardens.

Lifespan: 3 Years

Woodpigeon Characteristics

WOODPIGEONS ARE the most common and largest pigeon in the UK. Although most of the body is covered in grey, woodpigeons are easily recognisable by the characteristic white patches on their necks and wings, which are clearly visible while the bird is in flight. The tail features a prominent black tip and the eyes are a striking yellow colour.

Woodpigeon Breeding & Nesting

WOODPIGEON BREEDING BEGINS IN APRIL. The eggs are smooth and shiny with an elliptical shape. and the incubation period lasts approximately 27 days with between 29 and 35 fledge days, which is slightly longer than other birds.

A TYPICAL WOODPIGEON NEST is built of a collection of twigs and located on either a building or in a tree. Both sexes contribute towards the building of the nest.

Woodpigeon Feeding

WOODPIGEONS HAVE A VARIED DIET that consists mainly of crops such as cabbages and grain and also nuts, berries, fruit and seed. They have a tendency to drink a lot of water due to the fact that they do not get enough moisture from the food they normally eat.

IN THE GARDEN, woodpigeons will eat from a bird table; in fact, they will eat almost anything form a bird table, but it's advisable to provide peanuts, sunflower seeds and hearts, as well as bird seed mixes for them to eat.

Author

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.