Chordates • Earth.com

Woodpigeon

(Columba palumbus)

Description

The wood pigeon or simply wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a species of columbiform bird of the family Columbidae widespread in temperate Europe,northern Africa and the Middle East.The wood pigeon is the largest of the pigeons present in Europe,measuring between 38 and 44.5 cm long and weighing 300 to 615 g.It is a robust pigeon,with the head proportionally small in relation to the body,and has longer wings and tail than other European pigeons.It has a wingspan of 68 to 80 cm and a maximum cord of between 24 and 25.4 cm;and its tail measures from 13.8 to 15 cm.They are characterized by the unmistakable white spots on both sides of the neck and a white stripe on the top of each wing,very visible when the bird flies.Its plumage in general is gray,bluish in the head,and somewhat brownish in the back and a little lighter in its inferior parts,although in the chest it is of vinous tones.It presents irisationsgreen on the neck.Its primary and secondary feathers are black,and its tail also ends in a black band.Its beak has the pink base and the yellow orange tip,and measures between 1.9 and 2.2 cm,and also has a whitish wax in the upper part.It has reddish legs,with a tarsus of 2.5 to 2.8 cm.The iris of their eyes is yellowish.Both sexes have a similar appearance,although the young specimens present brownish tones and lack white spots on the neck.Singing : His singing is serious,similar to owls hooting of cooing,which is composed of five syllables characteristics: (ouu-CUU-CUU-CUU-CUU (? · I)).

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Aves
Order:Columbiformes
Family:Columbidae
Genus:Columba
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