Rock doves in the Avon Gorge, Clifton. (1 Viewer)

[Allan2700]

I was a bit confused by the signs by the Clifton Downs which suggest the Rock doves seen around the Avon Gorge are Rock doves. While on eBird all the sightings in this area are Rock dove (Feral), but in the Collins Bird Guide 'The most complete guide to the birds of Britain and Europe' it does clearly show the Feral and Rock dove are distinct. So are these rock doves in the Avon Gorge area just Feral doves or the distinct Rock dove. (From what I understand the Feral version is just a subspecies of the Rock dove, but the two are distinct)

Thank you.

 

[dantheman]

I was a bit confused by the signs by the Clifton Downs which suggest the Rock doves seen around the Avon Gorge are Rock doves. While on eBird all the sightings in this area are Rock dove (Feral), but in the Collins Bird Guide 'The most complete guide to the birds of Britain and Europe' it does clearly show the Feral and Rock dove are distinct. So are these rock doves in the Avon Gorge area just Feral doves or the distinct Rock dove. (From what I understand the Feral version is just a subspecies of the Rock dove, but the two are distinct)

Thank you.

Feral Pigeon for sure.

(Called Rock Dove (feral) in some listings - but UK birders call them the above).

Think genuine Rock Doves to be found further afield in wilder places such as W Coast of Ireland/Scotland, even then some obvious domesticated birds can be found. Conversely, some Feral Pigeons can closely resemble their wild forebears.

 

[MJB]

I was a bit confused by the signs by the Clifton Downs which suggest the Rock doves seen around the Avon Gorge are Rock doves. While on eBird all the sightings in this area are Rock dove (Feral), but in the Collins Bird Guide 'The most complete guide to the birds of Britain and Europe' it does clearly show the Feral and Rock dove are distinct. So are these rock doves in the Avon Gorge area just Feral doves or the distinct Rock dove. (From what I understand the Feral version is just a subspecies of the Rock dove, but the two are distinct)

Thank you.

Not a subspecies, but a hybrid descended from much interbreeding with domestic pigeons, the proportions of which depend upon where you encounter them in the wild...
MJB