Rock Doves were kept for food in the Middle Ages and are resident in this country, but many escaped from the dovecotes and their descendants are the feral pigeons seen in city squares, streets and railway stations. The feral pigeons can still interbreed with the Rock Doves. The Rock Dove is the wild forebear of the modern "Domestic" and "Homing" pigeons, this includes the chequers, fantails, black and whites, tumblers and racers. The true Rock Dove is now found only on the rocky cliffs of north and west Scotland and Ireland. Doves seen on inland cliffs and in caves are domestic pigeons which have become wild (feral). It makes an untidy nest on a cliff or in a cave and lays eggs
at intervals throughout the year. The Rock Dove's major enemy is the peregrine falcon, which is now quite rare. The plumage is grey with a green and purple sheen on the neck with also a whitish rump and lower back. There are two black bars which cross the secondaries and the feet are red.

Biology:

Size: The same as the Stock Dove i.e.. 13 inches or 33cm.

Habitat: Coastal.

Nesting Site: Usually made of seaweed or twigs and grass on a ledge, in a crevice in the rocks or in a cave.

Eggs: Lays two eggs/clutch which are white, during the period March-September.

Food: Feeds mainly on seeds, grain, seaweed and shellfish.

Hatch Time: About 18 days.

Note the white rump and the bars on the inner wing the feral pigeon is often identical.