Common Woodpigeon/Colm coille (Columba palumbus)
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a large species in the dove and pigeon family. The three Western European Columba pigeons, common wood pigeon, stock dove, and rock pigeon, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the common wood pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size and weight, and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast. Adult birds bear a series of green and white patches on their necks, and a pink patch on their chest.
Juvenile birds do not have the white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about six months old (about three months out of the nest) they gain small white patches on both sides of the neck, which gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6–8 months old (approx. ages only). Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adult birds. The call is a characteristic cooing, coo-COO-coo-coo-coo.
In the colder northern and eastern parts of Europe and western Asia the common woodpigeon is a migrant, but in southern and western Europe it is a well distributed and often abundant resident. In Ireland, woodpigeons are commonly seen in parks and gardens and are seen with increasing numbers in towns and cities.
For birds that survive the first year the typical lifespan is thus only three years, but the maximum recorded age is 17 years and 8 months for a bird ringed and recovered on the Orkney Islands. (wikipedia)
The common or garden Woodpigeon is very underrated. What a stunning bird. Taken at Griffith Park, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Common Woodpigeon/Colm coille (Columba palumbus)
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a large species in the dove and pigeon family. The three Western European Columba pigeons, common wood pigeon, stock dove, and rock pigeon, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the common wood pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size and weight, and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast. Adult birds bear a series of green and white patches on their necks, and a pink patch on their chest.
Juvenile birds do not have the white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about six months old (about three months out of the nest) they gain small white patches on both sides of the neck, which gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6–8 months old (approx. ages only). Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adult birds. The call is a characteristic cooing, coo-COO-coo-coo-coo.
In the colder northern and eastern parts of Europe and western Asia the common woodpigeon is a migrant, but in southern and western Europe it is a well distributed and often abundant resident. In Ireland, woodpigeons are commonly seen in parks and gardens and are seen with increasing numbers in towns and cities.
For birds that survive the first year the typical lifespan is thus only three years, but the maximum recorded age is 17 years and 8 months for a bird ringed and recovered on the Orkney Islands. (wikipedia)
The common or garden Woodpigeon is very underrated. What a stunning bird. Taken at Griffith Park, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.