Hi, Dont know who else to ask ? Thought I had a Stock Dove in the garden the other day so got the books out.No white markings or white rump, only the mere suggestion of black wing bars, a bluey grey with irredicent green flashes at the side of the neck. Yep looks like a stock dove I thought, only the eye was suspect as it was black with an orange ring just like a Rock Dove / ferral Pidgeon. Where is this all leading you may ask? Well, in all the pictures I could find of the Stock dove it had a completely black eye and in all the pictures of rock doves / ferral pigeons they had ringed eyes ,yet this, IF IT IS ONE?, obvious and easily spotted difference and instant way of telling the two easily confused birds apart was never mentioned in any of the reference books or net sites I could find. Now here finally is my my question ???? do all Stock Doves have black eyes and all Rock doves / ferral pigeons have ringed eyes if so and nobody else has noticed do I get a free cuddly toy pigeon.I would be interested in any feedback from the experts out there or have I put the cat amonst the pigeons ( I don't usually bother with jokes) . Cheers Walter P.
Don't know the answer I'm afraid, but here is a picture i took of a stock dove over Easter. Had never seen one before but it definitely has the black eye.
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Nice Stock Dove photo :) showing off some of the key ID points.
Some Feral Pigeons have dark irides (plural of iris = the coloured part of the eye), in particular those with white or pied plumage, but Stock doves always have dark irides. So if your mystery bird had orange irides, it would be a Feral Pigeon. Bill colour is another good pointer, Stock Dove's is pink but Feral Pigeon usually has a black bill (unless there is substantial white in the plumage). Also check underwing colour if you see your bird in flight - white in most Feral Pigeons (except the darker forms), grey in Stock Dove.
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Cheers Sarah, thank you for your interest and the beautiful doo pic.
aiki hello, some great info, huh! who needs guide books with guys like you around.. i should be better armed in the future to weed out those sneaky lookalike ferals. great photo of sarah's showing the pink beak ,its a pity some of the books don't pick up on your tips. cheers walter p.
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