Brown Woodpigeon? (1 Viewer)

I-Robot

New member

• Nov 5, 2011

• #1

We get collared doves and woodpigeons in our garden regularly but today we saw something different.

It was about the size of a well-fed woodpigeon but it looked more like a dove in colouration. It was brown all over with its breast darker than the rest of it. Also, when it took off I caught a flash of black and white striping on the undersides of its wings and tail.

I've done a few internet searches and the nearest thing I can find is the turtle dove but as I said, this bird was a good size even for a woodpigeon. Also, the brown colouration had no real distinctive pattern to it. It was just brown like a nightingale.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

 

Phil Carter

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2011

• #2

Could be a feral pigeon, they come in all colours.
Any chance of getting a pic if it returns?

Phil

 

I-Robot

New member

• Nov 5, 2011

• #3

I will get a pic if it comes back but in the meantime I've found what looks like what I saw. See links below. It's called a Mourning Dove.

It really looks like what I saw...
http://dovesquailsandcottontails.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/mourning-dove-full-feathers.jpg

It has a black and white tail...
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/163/overview/Mourning_Dove.aspx

But apparently it's native to North America... :C
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove

Is it possible that it could have been one of these?

Cheers

 

Phil Carter

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2011

• #4

Extremely unlikely, don't think there have been more than a couple of records in Europe. Mourning Doves are smaller than Collared Doves too.
Phil

 

T

tonyfenn

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2011

• #5

why not

 

lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Nov 5, 2011

• #6

With all the westerlies we have been having not impossible. There have been at least 3 - 1 in Ireland, 1 on Isle of Man & 1 in Scotland

Having said that they are nowhere near as big as Woodpigeon, and more Collared Dove size.

Look forward to seeing the photos if it is one

 

dwatsonbirder

Well-known member

• Nov 6, 2011

• #7

A late breeding Collared dove could still have squabs kicking around, these dont show a ring around the neck like the adults and also have black and white tails? http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?q...9&tbnw=145&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Could be worth looking into oriental (rufous) turtle dove? There's one in Cornwall at the moment, and there were a couple around last winter http://www.birdguides.com/iris/pictures.asp?v=1&f=290776

If you could get some photos Im sure we could ID it.

Cheers
D

 

Sharp Shin

Stewart Belfield

• Nov 6, 2011

• #8

If the bird was perceived to be the size of a "well fed Woodpigeon", I think that Phil is probably right - a Feral Pigeon. When I worked at Colchester Institute there was regularly a wholly brown/bronze Feral Pigeon hanging around that often caused me to look twice. But, as everyone else has said, get a picture and I'm sure that it can be identified.

Stewart

 

E

etudiant

Registered User

Supporter

• Nov 6, 2011

• #9

For a visiting American, Wood Pigeons are big, huge in fact as compared to the relatively dainty and slender Mourning Dove we are used to. So if this bird had the appearance of a 'well fed Wood Pigeon', it would not be a Mourning Dove.

 

I-Robot

New member

• Nov 14, 2011

• #10

Well it hasn't returned so no photo as yet. I'm still unconvinced that it was a feral. I've seen ferals of many different colours including brown but I like to think I can tell the difference between feral and wood pigeons: size, shape, beak and movement and in all of these, this was wood pigeon all the way.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned - could this have simply been a big and overly-brown juvenile?

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgu...JYT88QPKzqCYBA&sqi=2&ved=0CFIQ9QEwBQ&dur=2264

 

auchinbowie

Well-known member

• Nov 14, 2011

• #11

From your description, juvenile Woodpigeon is unlikely -- they are predominantly grey. An intriguing, but most improbable, candidate, would be one of the pigeons endemic to Atlantic islands. Although a Feral Pigeon must be the odds on favourite, there is another possibility to consider. Pigeon fanciers have bred a wide range of birds. These sometimes escape. They are usually ringed. Just a thought.

 

BirdBoyBen

Young birder

• Jan 20, 2012

• #12

I live in East London and we have a friendly Mourning dove that's been at our local park for years, so its not impossible that you simply have an escaped bird.