Pigeon? Coventry, England (1 Viewer)

Freiston

Member

• Mar 19, 2010

• #1

I've seen a dead bird in Coventry city centre - I haven't stopped for a good look - just seen it as passing by during my lunch break. It looks like a turtle dove but appears to have a bright red beak, white head and a prominent black eye-stripe.

Could this just be a variation/aberration of a turtle dove/feral pigeon or does someone have any other idea?

Many thanks,

 

nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Mar 19, 2010

• #2

Sounds like a feral pigeon to me. Certainly won't be a turtle dove, which are summer visitors to open woodlands and farmland, and now sadly quite uncommon.

 

Dave Hall

Bumbling Bears

• Mar 19, 2010

• #3

Agree it sounds like a feral pigeon they come in all colours

 

D

dram7

Well-known member

• Mar 22, 2010

• #4

Never seen a feral pigeon with a bright red beak.

 

nickderry

C'est pas ma faute, je suis anglais.

• Mar 22, 2010

• #5

dram7 said:

Never seen a feral pigeon with a bright red beak.

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quite right, white forms can show a pink bill, but otherwise red isn't normal. Either it was blood (don't know how the bird died) or woodpigeon could be a possibility - but then the rest of the description doesn't fit.

 

TheBirdGarden

I don't have the money

• Mar 22, 2010

• #6

Feral pigeons can come in different shapes, sizes and colours.

 

Freiston

Member

• Mar 24, 2010

• #7

Thanks for all the replies.

 

D

dram7

Well-known member

• Mar 26, 2010

• #8

TheBirdGarden said:

Feral pigeons can come in different shapes, sizes and colours.

Click to expand...

Doesn't explain the red beak. Maybe blood as stated.

 

Freiston

Member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #9

I can't believe this - I've just seen a picture of a red-legged partridge - looked very similar, so I googled for some more pictures - the bird I saw was definitely a red-legged partridge! (I have been back since my first post to get a better look).

 

Adam W

Well-known member

• Mar 27, 2010

• #10

Freiston said:

I can't believe this - I've just seen a picture of a red-legged partridge - looked very similar, so I googled for some more pictures - the bird I saw was definitely a red-legged partridge! (I have been back since my first post to get a better look).

Click to expand...

Of course, its obvious now you said it the original description fits with Redleg nicely.Though i suppose you wouldnt expect it in that location.
I once found a dead Water Rail when i was walking down the road near where i live in the middle of Sunderland.

 

phil baber

Clipped Wing

• Mar 28, 2010

• #11

I had a Woodcock beneath a black lampost in Inner City Bristol.

Broken neck of course!

Anything is possible!