Speckled Pigeon (1 Viewer)

[leon]

We call this bird a Rock Pigeon. Is this the same as the Speckled Pigeon.
(Columba guinea) ?

Watching the sun set on my roof in Pretoria,South Africa.

 

[CJW]

Yes, it's definitely a Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea, Leon.

 

[Rasmus Boegh]

Leon,

As mentioned by Chris, you've certainly got a Speckled Pigeon there. But it is NOT the same as the so-called Rock Pigeon (aka "City/Feral Pigeon"). The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) lives naturally in North Africa, Europe and Asia. However, today it is found all over the world (incl. South Africa) often in association with humans.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Leon,
when I was in South Africa; in most bigger Cities I encountered both species: feral Columba livia (ancestor the eurasian Rock Pigeon) as well as Columba guinea. The feral pigeons were generally much more numerous and much easier to see than the speckled pigeons which I never saw come down to the ground within the city. I only saw speckled pigeons on roofs of higher buildings or flying high over the city (and certainly also in rocky areas outside cities, for example Table Mountain)

 

[leon]

Leon,
when I was in South Africa; in most bigger Cities I encountered both species: feral Columba livia (ancestor the eurasian Rock Pigeon) as well as Columba guinea. The feral pigeons were generally much more numerous and much easier to see than the speckled pigeons which I never saw come down to the ground within the city. I only saw speckled pigeons on roofs of higher buildings or flying high over the city (and certainly also in rocky areas outside cities, for example Table Mountain)

Up to yesterday I was using an old Sasolbird guide (version 1), replaced it the weekend with the newest version. They have adapted the more international names convensions. Being exposed to this website it quickly became clear to me that the names that I have been using were outdated.
I have learned the "Afrikaans" name's as a kid which sometime confuses the issue even more for me. The Speckled pigeon is in Afrikaans a "Kransduif" - directly translated it would be a "Ledgepigeon" - obviously related to where they are seen most.

The Speckled pigeon is quite common in Pretoria, maybe because Pretoria is surounded with rocky hills. I must admit that I hardly ever see them on the ground, always pearched on a roof somewhere, never in a tree. Our homes have become rocks to them ;-).

 

[cuckooroller]

Up to yesterday I was using an old Sasolbird guide (version 1), replaced it the weekend with the newest version. They have adapted the more international names convensions. Being exposed to this website it quickly became clear to me that the names that I have been using were outdated.
I have learned the "Afrikaans" name's as a kid which sometime confuses the issue even more for me. The Speckled pigeon is in Afrikaans a "Kransduif" - directly translated it would be a "Ledgepigeon" - obviously related to where they are seen most.

The Speckled pigeon is quite common in Pretoria, maybe because Pretoria is surounded with rocky hills. I must admit that I hardly ever see them on the ground, always pearched on a roof somewhere, never in a tree. Our homes have become rocks to them ;-).

Leon,
I stuck on an Excel spreadsheet some time ago which is the Sibley-Monroe (updated Sept.2003). It is the current SM classification rather than the SM 1996 version that has been used in constructing the database, but it may be helpful anyway.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=126864#post126864

 

[leon]

Leon,
I stuck on an Excel spreadsheet some time ago which is the Sibley-Monroe (updated Sept.2003). It is the current SM classification rather than the SM 1996 version that has been used in constructing the database, but it may be helpful anyway.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=126864#post126864

Thank you, I found the whole thread to be usefull, it even has some grammer tips.