<< Previous Next >>

Columba palumbus (Linnaeus 1758)


Columba palumbus (Linnaeus 1758)
Photo Information
Copyright: Ena Simic (Ena) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 568] (2327)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-20
Categories: Birds
Exposure: f/4, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-09 1:41
Viewed: 622
Points: 23
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Columba palumbus (Linnaeus 1758)

The Wood Pigeon is a member of the family Columbidae, doves and pigeons.
In the colder northern and eastern parts of its European and western Asiatic range the Wood Pigeon is a migrant, but in southern and western Europe it is a well distributed and often abundant resident.
The three Western European Columba pigeons, Wood Pigeon, Stock Pigeon, and Rock Pigeon, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the Wood Pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size at 38–43 cm, and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast.
Juvenile birds do not have the white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about 6 months old (about 3 months out of the nest) they gain a small white patch on both sides of the neck, which gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6–8 months old (approx. ages only). Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adult birds.
It breeds in trees in woods, parks and gardens, laying two white eggs in a simple stick nest which hatch after 17 to 19 days. Wood pigeons seem to have a preference for trees near roadways and rivers. The nests are vulnerable to attack, particularly by crows, the more so early in the year when the leaf cover is not fully formed. The young usually fly at 33 to 34 days; however if the nest is disturbed some young may be able to survive having left the nest as early as 20 days from hatching.
Its flight is quick, performed by regular beats, with an occasional sharp flick of the wings, characteristic of pigeons in general. It takes off with a loud clattering. It perches well, and in its nuptial display walks along a horizontal branch with swelled neck, lowered wings, and fanned tail. During the display flight the bird climbs, the wings are smartly cracked like a whiplash, and the bird glides down on stiff wings. The noise in climbing flight is caused by the whipcracks on the downstroke rather than the wings striking together.
The Wood Pigeon is gregarious, often forming very large flocks outside the breeding season. Most of its food is vegetable, taken from open fields or gardens and lawns; young shoots and seedlings are favoured, and it will take grain.
The call is a characteristic cooing (coo-coo-coo-cu-cu). This species can be an agricultural pest, and it is often shot, being a legal quarry species in most European countries. It is wary in rural areas, but often quite tame where it is not persecuted.
Subspecies
Azores Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus azorica Hartert, 1905
Asian Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus casiotis (Bonaparte, 1854)
North African Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus excelsa (Bonaparte 1856)
Iranian Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus iranica (Zarudny, 1910)
Madeiran Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus maderensis Tschusi, 1904 †
European Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus palumbus Linnaeus, 1758
Newzealand Wood Pigeon

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species: C. palumbus


Wikipedia
Truja, Alex99, dejo, thor68, Silvio2006, mlines, Alma, oscarromulus, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

i like your birds collection,the light outside this pigeon,give a particular effect,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Truja (18)
  • [2007-11-09 2:50]

Hi Ena,
beautiful image with attractive and brilliant colors.Great quality. The note that accompanies the photography is also excellent!!
Salut, Jordi

  • Great 
  • bizsu Silver Star Critiquer [C: 39 W: 0 N: 4] (196)
  • [2007-11-09 4:31]

Hi, Ena !
He is a cool picture! He is good POV. They are good colours! Congratulate !
Zsú

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 148 N: 4435] (14369)
  • [2007-11-09 6:30]

Hi Ena.
Very nice combo (human – nature) scenery and pictured scene at whole. I like wonderful framing and POV, amazing colours and very good details. Despite some OE spots shot is looked excellently. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 51 N: 475] (2048)
  • [2007-11-09 12:48]

Hi Ena,
Great shot!
Beautiful colors!
Ciao

  • Good 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 714 W: 114 N: 1032] (4577)
  • [2007-11-09 14:11]

hi ena, this is a difficult one, i guess i start with the good points first - i like the object, the pigeon is colorful and
shows a good pose, and the green branches around it are nice, the blue windowframe in back is ok, but it does not really fit
so well - i assume there was of course nothing you could do about that. there are a few overexposed spots which will be
hard to be saved with PP-work. when you have this it is sometimes better to go down a few stops and underexpose, you
will get a darker photo which can lightened through PP and not have the burnt places. my main problem is though, or maybe it
is just my eyes that need a rest, i do not find the point where the focus is - the bg, the pigeon and the branches all appear to be blurry.
best wishes & take care, thor.

Ciao Ena, bella composizione dai colori molto brillanti e piacevole a vedersi, interessante nota, brava, ciao Silvio

Hi Ena, Good clear composition of the bird on the fence. This is where we see the birds around the home. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • Alma Silver Star Critiquer [C: 13 W: 0 N: 1] (8)
  • [2007-11-13 5:08]

Ciao Ena! Bella foto con colori molto vivaci! Complimenti
Alma

Ena,
Quite an education re: 'this' species. I knew practically nothing about this bird. In Canada and other parts of the world I've lived in I've only seen the "grey" species.
Love its colours.
Very pleasant.
EXCELLENT clarity.
Best regards from Calgary from,
Mario.

Prekrasna kombinacija boja, šteta što je grlica mutna ;o)

Hi Ena...
Bealtiful dove...good shot, in my garden have one.
Congrats.
Linaldo

Hi Ena!
A nice pigeon with different colors from here and also nice capture! TFS.
Regards,
Bayram

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF