Rock Pigeon: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Pigeons, Doves and Sparrows · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. A rock dove bursts off its perch with a noisy wing-clap that warns the flock. The faster the wing beats, the louder the alarm.
2. Rock doves can breed any time of year. Both parents incubate the two white eggs for 17 to 19 days.
3. Newly hatched squabs are helpless and drink crop milk for the first few days.
4. Up to 120 million rock doves roam the planet, and Europe alone hosts between 17 million and 28 million.
5. Dark-feathered pigeons carry more melanin, which lets their feathers bind trace metals more effectively in polluted cities.

The quiz

1. What does a rock dove's noisy wing-clap signal?

• Danger to the flock (correct)
• A search for a mate
• A hunt for food
• The end of the day

The wing-clap signals danger to the flock, louder when wings beat faster.

2. How long do both parents incubate the eggs?

• 3 to 5 days
• 30 to 40 days
• About 3 months
• 17 to 19 days (correct)

Both parents incubate the two white eggs for 17 to 19 days.

3. What do newly hatched squabs drink?

• Nectar
• Crop milk (correct)
• Plain water
• Fish oil

Helpless squabs drink crop milk for the first few days.

4. How many rock doves roam the planet, at most?

• Up to 2 million
• Up to 12 million
• Up to 120 million (correct)
• Up to 5 billion

Up to 120 million rock doves roam the planet.

5. What do dark-feathered pigeons have more of?

• Melanin (correct)
• Carotene
• Oil glands
• Down feathers

Dark-feathered pigeons carry more melanin.

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