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  In flight

Pigeons & Doves

Stock Dove

Columba oenas

• epic
• 72 km/h
• Least Concern

Nests in tree cavities and old buildings, never in cliffs. The forest cousin of the pigeon.

Population

~1.7–2.86 million mature individuals globally (BirdLife/IUCN 2018 estimate, current 2024 assessment still LC); over half the European population breeds in the UK, where the breeding population (~320,000 territories, 2016) has risen ~57% since 1995

Habitat

Open wooded country, woodland edges, parkland and farmland with mature trees; also coastal cliffs, quarries and lowland areas with old trees, rabbit burrows or nest boxes for cavity-nesting

Fun fact

Its name comes from Old English "stocc" (tree trunk/stump), reflecting its habit of nesting in tree cavities and old stumps rather than building a stick nest like its relative the Woodpigeon; it was briefly renamed "Stock Pigeon" by the IOC in 2006 before reverting to "Stock Dove" in 2013.

Range

Western Palearctic: from central Scandinavia and the UK south to northwest Africa, east across Europe through Kazakhstan and Siberia to Iran and western China; northern populations fully migratory, southern/western populations largely resident

Diet

Mainly seeds, grain, young shoots, leaves, buds and flowers foraged on the ground; also acorns, pine seeds, berries, cereal grains, beans, peas, and occasionally insects and snails

Size

0.31 m

Wingspan

0.63 m

Lifespan

9 years