Rock Pigeon Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesRock Pigeon

Plump bird with small head and straight, thin bill. Plumage is variable, but most common form has gray back, 2 black bars in the wing, and blue-gray head.

In flight, note black wingbars and broad black band at tip of tail.

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A common sight in towns and cities around the world.

Plump bird with short legs and small head. Plumage is variable; some birds are dark gray with green-purple iridescence on the neck. Tail usually shows a dark band at the tip.

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Walks and runs with head moving back and forth.

Occasional variants are pale or rusty colored; often found in flocks with pigeons in standard gray plumage.

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Struts on the ground with head-bobbing motion to pick at seeds and handouts.

Plumage is variable; some individuals can be nearly all white.

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A strong flier, capable of sustained high-speed flight.

Gathers in large flocks in urban areas and on farms. In flight, most individuals have pale underwings and a dark band at the tail tip.

Similar SpeciesBand-tailed Pigeon

Adult

Band-tailed Pigeons have a white crescent on the neck and a pale tip to the tail unlike the dark-tipped tail on Rock Pigeons. Band-tailed Pigeons occur more often in forested areas than in towns like Rock Pigeons.

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Similar SpeciesMourning Dove

Adult

Mourning Doves are smaller than Rock Pigeons and have a longer, pointier tail. They are tan overall rather than gray like the Rock Pigeon.

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Similar SpeciesEurasian Collared-Dove

Adult/immature

Eurasian Collared-Doves are smaller than Rock Pigeons, with a longer, square-tipped tail. They are uniform sandy brown except for a black collar on the neck.

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