Rock Pigeon (Common Pigeon, Rock Dove)

A medium-sized, stout-bodied bird with a small head. This feather shows the classic 'blue' coloration typical of the ancestral wild-type plumage. Rock Pigeons are known for their varied plumage, but this gray-blue is the most diagnostic of the species.

Medium to dark slate-gray (blue-gray) base with a subtle darker terminal band near the tip. Melanin-based coloration.

Pennaceous throughout the upper two-thirds for weatherproofing, transitioning to plumulaceous (downy) at the base for insulation.

Smooth and somewhat waxy to the touch, which helps in shedding water; matte finish with a slight sheen.

The rounded tip, uniform slate-gray color, and the fluffy, white-based downy portion at the bottom of the rachis.

Ubiquitous in urban and agricultural areas; originally coastal cliffs and rocky ledges.

Worldwide distribution across all continents except Antarctica; largely non-migratory but highly mobile.

Significant prey source for urban raptors like Peregrine Falcons; also acts as a seed disperser.

Mourning Dove (smaller, more tan/brown), Eurasian Collared-Dove (lighter gray-buff).

Pigeons are one of the few birds that can produce 'crop milk' to feed their young and have an exceptional ability to navigate using magnetoreception.

Good condition with minimal wear; the pennaceous vane is intact with no visible fault bars.