Rock Dove

How to recognise it

• White lower back, the best field mark of the pure Rock Dove
• Two black bars across the wing and a grey tail with a black tip band
• Dark blue-grey head, neck and breast with yellowish, greenish and red-violet sheen on the neck
• Female resembles the male, with weaker neck sheen mostly on the back and sides

Call and song

The call is a soft, slightly tremulous cooing "crruoo-u", like that of the feral pigeon. On seeing a predator it gives a grunting alarm call, "oorhh".

Where and when

The Rock Dove is reported from all 21 counties and is reported most in January. It is not red-listed in the Swedish Red List 2025.

Food and behaviour

It eats mainly plant food such as fruit, grain, acorns, conifer seeds, buds and berries, and sometimes snails, insects and worms. It feeds on the ground, alone or in groups, and often lives in flocks of 50 to 500 birds. When disturbed it takes off with a loud clapping sound. When gliding it holds its wings in a clear V shape.