Columba guinea
Originally an inhabitant of mountains, gorges, cliffs and rocky outcrops and ridges from which it set out to forage in adjacent flatlands, the Specked Pigeon (or African Rock Pigeon) has now also adapted very well to human habitations and exotic plantations, which aided the species to expand both its range and population. They feed primarily on seeds, and can become a serious pest to grain farmers. These are rather large pigeons, with adults weighing as much as 400g.
Speckled Pigeons breed throughout the year, with a peak in the spring and summer months. Nests are built of sticks and other plant material on inaccessible crags and caves on cliffs or ledges on buildings. Clutches usually consist of 2 (1-3) eggs and are incubated by both parents for 2 weeks. Chicks can stay in the nest for as long as 5 weeks.
Speckled Pigeons occur in two distinct parts of Africa: The first stretches in a wide band from east to west Africa, with the other in southern Africa. They can commonly be found in suitable habitat all over South Africa. It is considered to be of least concern by the IUCN. Unfortunately they do sometimes hybridize with feral populations of the exotic Eurasian Rock Dove (C. livia) in our towns and cities.
Nice one! I don’t understand pigeons are so underrated for many birdwatchers, as they are amongst some of the more colourful and beautiful bush birds.
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I’ve heard them called “the rats of the skies”, and I suppose it is the feral populations of domesticated doves and pigeons in the cities that give the whole family a bad wrap.
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Voor die balkonnetjie van my woonstel in Sunnyside was daar ‘n ou palmboom waarin ‘n hele kolonie kransduiwe gewoon het. Daar het ek hierdie duiwe liefgekry en tot vandag toe het hulle ‘n spesiale hoekie in my hart.
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Is dit nie wonderlik dat hulle so gemaklik geraak het in die stad nie, Tannie Frannie, terwyl soveel ander soorte voels en diere maar moes padgee.
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Very pretty pigeons! We have a flock of Ring neck doves that live in our neighborhood, I just took a photo of one, I’ll post it in a few days! 🙂
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They’re such a familiar group of birds, and yet they’re still fascinating!
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A very beautiful pigeon! As in most countries we have lots of pigeons, but I do not know a single species of pigeon. Most times when you notice a pigeon is when it differs significantly from the other pigeons. I tried Google how many Swedish species with pigeons there are, but could not get from any information. Here are competitions with homing pigeons a big sport, and its a fast bird that can fly up to 140 km/h. There are no birds of prey that can fly so fast horizontally! As long as the birds of prey do not come from above, the pigeons are out of danger. But the birds of prey know it and lay no energy to chase them.
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That’s very interesting, John, as here in South Africa pigeons and doves feature on the menu of most birds of prey and several mammalian predators – They mostly ambush them when the pigeons arrive to drink at waterholes.
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Mooie fotos van hulle, De Wet.
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Baie dankie, Una. Hulle is seker baie volop daar in julle geweste?
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Hulle is volop ja, veral om die dam.
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i’m a pigeon fancier.
these are so beautiful.
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And there’s such a variety of doves and pigeons in the world!
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