The Feral Pigeon is derived from a wild bird, the Rock Dove, which lives on rocky cliffs in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Humans have domesticated this bird, developing many different varieties for food, as homing pigeons or for their decorative value. But domestic birds have returned to the wild, or at least semi-wild, living in cities and nesting on buildings like the original rocky cliffs. Because they are successful at living alongside people in cities, they have become very common and widespread. Although in Seychelles they are not kept for food as much as they once were, there are many feral birds on Mahé.
Facts:
Scientific Name: Columba livia
Creole name: Pizon Domestik
Wingspan: 63-70cm.
Population in Seychelles: Unknown
World Distribution: Found all over the world, especially in urban areas.
Distribution in Seychelles: Mahé, Praslin.
Habitat: Towns.
Nests: Untidy, twiggy nests built on ledges on buildings.
Eggs: 2 white eggs.
Diet: Mainly seeds.
Identification: A large, stocky pigeon with plumage in a variety of colours, either grey or white or brown.
See more
Species Fact Sheet at BirdLife Data Zone
(Photo credit: Mike Hill)