I had a young wood pigeon in my garden today, feeding near my window. (Sorry camera batteries drained). He didn't have the white patches on his throat. I was surprised to see him as I thought all the babies from the summer had matured. I've not see him hanging around, so newcomer to my garden. I thought it was strange to have a baby/young one at this time of year. I know wood pigeons aren't the best parents, but there weren't any others around. Does anyone know how old wood pigeons are when their white patches appear to indicate adulthood? I thought this was very strange.
According to Collins Bird Guide, the white neck patches are acquired August - December, dependant upon date of hatching.
My guess would be a later than expected juvenile...or is it possible to be a Stock Dove if not?
No not a stock dove Paul, definitely a baby wood pigeon. I have about 4-6 a year. I'm just surprised, he does look really young, he must've been a really late one. Obviously found my garden looking for food. I'll try and get a pic of him if he comes back.
Thanks for looking in your book anyway Paul :-)
Did you get lots of snow today, we did?
Must be a really late youngster then, bless it lol. Woodpigeons never fail to find food so you'll have a friend for life!
I threw in the Stock Dove thing just in case, lol!
Oh don't talk to me about snow! I'm just about sick of it now! We had a bit more today and its in the air tonight - I gather there's more tomorrow, monday and tuesday and a severe weather warning for wednesday.
Glad I've got the week off work!
Lucky you, but fingers crossed my school/centre where I work will be closed if it's bad. We opened Friday to kids and only 1 came in despite some living only several streets away and they are 11-14 not tinies lol.
Have a lovely week off, but I guess you can't do much if the weather is bad. Shame to spoil your holiday time. Can't you cancel it for when the nicer weather comes.
That's madness! They didn't have excuses for not showing up, any excuse for the day off lol.
Thanks, but believe it or not I'm glad to have the week off and be away from work - and not having to go anywhere or do anything. Plus I work till 11pm two nights a week and defrosting the car at that time of night is no fun!
Having 7 weeks hols I can scatter it quite week...I have another week coming up soon too!
Oh ok - I can see your point, not very safe driving at night with all this snow & ice. I'm just thinking roll on half term lol - only 5 weeks left.
Yep skivers the lot of them. They have messed our attendance up aswell! But maybe our service manager has learnt the hard way not to open up.
I've already got lots of wood pigeon friends, guess I've got another one now. He doesn't mind being gawped at out of the window anyway.
Oh mine are the same, they just sit there and stare back! One of these days their crash landing is going to break my feeding station, lol!
I don't know about you, but there hasn't been a singly gritter round here since the weather has been bad - one reason why its no fun being out late.
I'm guessing you're right, your service manager may have second thoughts about opening up next time, lol!
Dudley council is running out of grit, they are only gritting main roads now but they were gritting my road as it's on a hill & quite hazardous.
My feeder is seriously bent lol due to wood pigeons & doves sitting on it & the weight of my squirrel proof cage feeders. I bought a new one in the sale the other week but I haven't been able to put it in the ground due to it being so frozen.
And the wood pigeons / squirrels have also broken my trellis, which will have to be replaced soon.
Woodpigeons are lovely birds, and I like them in their own way
Regards
Kathy and Dave