Rock Pigeon (Common Pigeon, Feral Pigeon)

A classic gray flight feather from a Rock Pigeon. The bird itself is medium-sized with a stout body, iridescent neck feathers, and distinctive two black wing bars in its wild-type form.

Charcoal gray to slate base with a distinct, broad black terminal band and a light silver-gray sheen on the inner vane

Tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs throughout most of the vane with a small plumulaceous section near the base (calamus)

Smooth, matte, and slightly powdery to the touch; features a stiff vane but flexible central shaft

Gray coloration with a dark sub-terminal band, a pale whitish rachis, and a 'powdery' surface texture typical of columbids

Highly adaptable; found in urban city centers, farmland, rocky cliffs, and parks

Worldwide distribution (except the high Arctic and Antarctic); largely resident and non-migratory

Primarily a seed-eater; serves as a major prey source for urban raptors like Peregrine Falcons

Mourning Dove (smaller, more tapered), Band-tailed Pigeon (larger, different banding), or various raptors (which lack the powdery texture)

Rock Pigeons were the first birds to be domesticated and have served as messengers since the time of the ancient Romans.

Fair to Good; shows signs of wear and separation at the tip (splits/fraying), likely a naturally molted specimen