Rock Dove? (1 Viewer)

[Niknakjamiemac]

Very embarassingly, I thought this was a juvenile Barn Owl - but have been told it is actually just a Rock Dove.

Can anyone confirm it for me please?

Am just surprised due to the size and shape of it!

 

[Niknakjamiemac]

Honestly, just posted them on the gallery and got told that straight away -
thought I was going crazy!?

 

[Apodemus]

No. the crazy one is me for deciding before I opened up the thumbnail. Oops.

 

[Apodemus]

When i saw the thumbnail, I saw barn owl but when you look more closely - pigeon!

 

[OK Birder]

It is a Rock Dove, or more precisely, a Capuchine (a breed of fancy pigeon). Look at the head in the first photo, the bill and eyes are not owl-like at all.

 

[Apodemus]

The first picture shows the pigeon face best, yes.

 

[ChrisKten]

This is what it's supposed to look like:

 

[Apodemus]

What an ugly b******

 

[Niknakjamiemac]

Never thought I would ever get the two confused! Back to the guides for me...

 

[ChrisKten]

What an ugly b******

Yeah, looks so unnatural. Reminds me of how some people dress up their pets. Although I've no idea if Capuchine's are the result of selective breeding.

 

[Apodemus]

It sounds more like a type of coffee

 

[ChrisKten]

Never thought I would ever get the two confused! Back to the guides for me...

I've never seen anything like it, and I doubt many would have known what it was. (Although I must admit Owl wasn't my first thought |=)| )

 

[ChrisKten]

In case it interests someone:

Old Dutch Capuchine
The Old Dutch Capuchine is one of the older breeds of pigeons and likely dates back to the Middle East, Greece or India for its origins. Capuchines were probably brought back to Holland by Dutch sailors no later than the 1500's. We know of its presence in Holland in the 1500's by its depiction in several of the Dutch Masters' works of art.
One of the unique characteristics of the Old Dutch Capuchine is the low-set rosettes on both sides of the neck accompanied by the chain, which is formed by the front portion of the rosettes. The chain flows smoothly out of the hood to form an upside down letter U when viewed from the front. Although there are numerous breeds of pigeons that are crested, only a very few have the large rosettes and chain of the Capuchine.

 

[Niknakjamiemac]

Put two and two together.... got six? The spot where I took the photo is quite a regular haunt for the local barn owls - must admit I thought it had had a hard life!!?

Never seen this one before, any ideas if they are rare or just an offshoot?

 

[ChrisKten]

Put two and two together.... got six? The spot where I took the photo is quite a regular haunt for the local barn owls - must admit I thought it had had a hard life!!?

Never seen this one before, any ideas if they are rare or just an offshoot?

See my last post. I think we posted at the same time.

 

[Dave B Smith]

They're certainly rare in the wild! Kept and bred by pigeon fanciers.

 

[Gill Osborne]

Imagine if it breeds with a wood pigeon or stock dove.....what fun us birders will have sorting that out :-O