# Common Wood Pigeon (*Columba palumbus*)

The common wood pigeon (*Columba palumbus*) is a bird of the family Columbidae, in the order Columbiformes.

> The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a large grey pigeon of Europe and western Asia, recognised by the white patch on each side of its neck and the white bands across its wings in flight. It feeds on seeds, crops, buds and berries and is common on farmland and in gardens. BirdLife estimates 51 to 73 million mature birds, increasing, and lists it as Least Concern.

- **Category:** Bird
- **Conservation status (IUCN-style):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Europe, north-west Africa and western Asia.
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wood-pigeon/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Aves
- **Order:** Columbiformes
- **Family:** Columbidae
- **Genus:** Columba

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Columba palumbus |
| Other name | Woodpigeon |
| Diet | Seeds, grain, leaves, buds, berries and acorns |
| Habitat | Farmland, woodland, parks and gardens |
| Weight | UK adults average about 510 g |
| Lifespan | Typically 3 years; oldest ringed bird 17 years 8 months |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2018) |

## Identification

Wood pigeons are bulky blue-grey pigeons with a pinkish breast, a glossy green-and-purple neck sheen and a white neck patch. In flight a broad white bar across each wing is obvious. The call is a soft, rhythmic five-note coo.

## Farmland feeders

Wood pigeons eat seeds and grain, leafy crops such as oilseed rape and cabbages, tree buds, ivy berries and acorns. Large flocks gather on fields in winter, and they are a significant agricultural pest in places.

## Pigeon milk

Like all pigeons, both parents feed their chicks on 'crop milk', a nutritious secretion from the lining of the crop. The nest is a flimsy platform of twigs, and pairs can breed for much of the year.

## Status

BirdLife International lists the common wood pigeon as Least Concern (2018), estimating 51 to 73 million mature birds and an increasing trend. BTO data give a typical life expectancy of 3 years.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a wood pigeon and a feral pigeon?

Wood pigeons are bigger, with a white neck patch and white wing bars; feral pigeons descend from the rock dove and vary in colour, often with two black wing bars.

### What do wood pigeons eat?

Seeds, grain, leafy crops, buds, berries and acorns.

### Do pigeons make milk?

Yes. Both parents produce 'crop milk' to feed their chicks.

### How long do wood pigeons live?

Typically about 3 years, though the oldest ringed bird lived 17 years and 8 months.

## Sources

- [BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.](https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/common-woodpigeon-columba-palumbus)
- [BTO BirdFacts: Woodpigeon. British Trust for Ornithology.](https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/woodpigeon)
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
- [Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.](https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/)

## Help protect the Common Wood Pigeon

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

[Donate to wildlife protection](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/donate/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/wood-pigeon/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.