Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Birds - Pigeon & Doves Page 10

Image Taken on 18 Jun 2017 at 17:41 Image of day on 08 Aug 2017

At the top of our remaining concrete power pole on a really hot day, this Wood Pigeon in the full sun is panting at perhaps 4 times a second, throat fluttering to move air over the moist tongue. Birds don't have 'sweat glands' so cooling options are limited.

Ref: 20170808_d72_20170618_1741_007+008 wood pigeon panting several times per second on top of concrete power pole 1+2 of 2 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 01 May 2020 at 10:47 Image of day on 23 May 2020

This Wood Pigeon works along his tail feathers, 'combing' them out. You can just see the eye's tiny inverted tear drop Iris shape in the bright light.

Ref: 20200523_d01_20200501_1047_177_fb6 wood pigeon preening on meadow post(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Jun 2017 at 12:06 Image of day on 18 Aug 2017

Really bad daytime light and the need for daytime testing happened to get this sequence of a Wood Pigeon enjoying a 10 minute preen.

Ref: 20170818_d01_20170628_1206_027-1216_041_fb6 wood pigeon preening on meadow post 1-4 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 29 Sep 2024 at 09:46 Image of day on 09 Nov 2024

This pigeon has their neck almost folded 180 degrees as they preen underneath the wings. A WWW search of pigeon anatomy suggests that Pigeons have 12 neck vertebrae (compared to Human's 7) although well short of birds with up to 25.

Ref: 20241109_d01_20240929_0946_176_fb6 wood pigeon preening on meadow post showing flexible neck (12 vertebrae)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Aug 2020 at 18:33 Image of day on 23 Sep 2020

Some feather maintenance in progress, starting to preen the way along the row of tail feathers. The feathers may be getting uncomfortable as the moult begins.

Ref: 20200923_d01_20200813_1833_074_fb6 wood pigeon preening tail feather(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 07 Jul 2015 at 18:57 Image of day on 10 Sep 2015

An unusual sequence over 3 minutes with the Wood Pigeon showing the threat posture to a distinctly unimpressed Jackdaw.

Ref: 20150910_e63_20150707_1857_109+1858_110_1900_111_fb1 wood pigeon raising wings against jackdaw over 3 minutes 3 of 3 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 17 Jan 2015 at 15:31 Image of day on 28 Feb 2015

A rook is just sticking it's beak into the left edge of the frame. Pigeons mostly defend themselves by hitting the opposition with their powerful wings. Here we think the Pigeon is just preparing 'in-case'.

Ref: 20150228_e63_20150117_1531_110_fb1 wood pigeon reacting to rook mostly out of frame at left(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 May 2022 at 11:28 Image of day on 02 Jul 2022

Isn't it wonderful how birds can manipulate their feathers?
The tail is spread into almost a complete semi-circle.

Ref: 20220702_d01_20220525_1128_181_fb6 wood pigeon settling wings after landing with tail fully spread(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Sep 2023 at 08:51 Image of day on 14 Nov 2023

A good shake-out of the feathers probably settles them comfortably.

Ref: 20231114_e64_20230915_0851_033_fb2 wood pigeon shaking out feathers(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Nov 2022 at 11:15 Image of day on 06 Dec 2022

Breeding season done, the Wood Pigeons spend a lot less time camped out on post and tree tops doing guard duty. This one has tucked themselves out of the wind by a young tree-trunk and just watched us watching them a few metres away.

Ref: 20221206_df3_20221104_1115_015 wood pigeon squatting on branch in sunshine(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Feb 2021 at 14:39 Image of day on 07 Mar 2021

It's drizzling again, but this Wood Pigeon still looks magnificent.

Ref: 20210307_e6a_20210204_1439_115_fb5 wood pigeon stepping onto stone in drizzle(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Dec 2023 at 15:13 Image of day on 15 Jan 2024

To us Pigeons don't 'walk', they 'stomp'. They are quite heavy birds for their comparatively small feet.

Ref: 20240115_e63_20231213_1513_013_fb1 wood pigeon stomping over hedge bottom(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Jun 2021 at 14:50 Image of day on 02 Aug 2021

'Rond de Jambe' Wood Pigeon Style?
The nearest ballet reference we non-ballet followers could find. A word taken from the ballet mistress in 'Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall'

Ref: 20210802_d01_20210620_1450_060_fb6 wood pigeon struggling to balance on landing(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Mar 2023 at 10:19 Image of day on 02 Apr 2023

Wood Pigeons may be a scourge, but their beautiful matt feathers seem to set Pigeons apart from most common birds.

Ref: 20230402_df3_20230302_1019_013 wood pigeon sunning themselves on branch(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Jun 2022 at 07:43 Image of day on 05 Aug 2022

... a few days later the Meadow Post in the morning ...

Ref: 20220805_d01_20220620_0743_035_fb6 wood pigeon symmetrical landing on meadow post(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Apr 2020 at 17:10 Image of day on 21 May 2020

This Wood Pigeon takes off from the post with rather more verve than usual. Normally they sort of fall off downwards and catch the fall with their wings.

Ref: 20200521_d01_20200425_1710_092+1712_094_fb6 wood pigeon takes off from meadow post 1+2 of 2 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Sep 2017 at 18:51 Image of day on 03 Nov 2017

A Wood Pigeon just starting it's lift off.

Ref: 20171103_e62_20170924_1851_030_fb5 wood pigeon taking off(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Dec 2013 at 15:58 Image of day on 14 Feb 2014

A surprise - a Wood Pigeon threatening a Magpie?
We are sure Magpies take Pigeon eggs in season, but wild pigeons are not obviously brave souls.

Ref: 20140214_d50_20131226_1558_120_fb1 wood pigeon threatening (q) magpie(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 13 Jun 2024 at 09:34 Image of day on 13 Jul 2024

An interesting stand-off. In previous years we would expect the Pigeon to launch upwards out of reach of the Squirrel's claws. But this year we have seen several instances of these confrontations going nowhere. In this case the Pigeon simply walked quietly to the right.

Ref: 20240713_bu7_20240613_0934_028 wood pigeon vs gray squirrel face-off - the pigeon walked away(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Feb 2021 at 16:28 Image of day on 28 Mar 2021

Wood Pigeons and Pheasants usually co-exist without problems. The Pigeon is probably needlessly alarmed by the arrival of the bigger bird.

Ref: 20210328_e63_20210226_1628_116_fb1 wood pigeon wary of approaching pheasant male(r+mb id@768).jpg

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