Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Birds - Pigeon & Doves Page 11

Image Taken on 03 Dec 2020 at 11:16 Image of day on 06 Jan 2021

This Wood Pigeon out in the cold and rain plumps up the feathers to keep out the cold. No sleek breast here - maximise the insulating air-space.

Ref: 20210106_d01_20201203_1116_067_fb6 wood pigeon on meadow post in rain(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 10 Mar 2023 at 07:51 Image of day on 12 Apr 2023

Next morning sees another fall of snow which quickly melted.

Ref: 20230412_d01_20230310_0751_194_fb6 wood pigeon on meadow post in snow (full frame)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Aug 2019 at 08:04 Image of day on 06 Oct 2019

We must stop deriding Wood Pigeon Nests as 'three sticks is enough'!
The meadow post automatic camera captured images of (presumably just one) Wood Pigeon endlessly stopping on the top of the post with 30 different twigs in little over 24 hours. The bird may of course stopped off elsewhere as well, and we don't know where the nest is. But enjoy 12 of the 'twigs' - its quite hard to see how the bird can fly with some of the more awkward shapes.

Ref: 20191006_d01_20190815_0804_023-20190817_0833_591_fb6 wood pigeon on meadow post with 30 twigs (selected) 02-30 of 30 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Sep 2017 at 15:37 Image of day on 03 Nov 2017

We have often commented on the 'teardrop' pupil of all of our local Wood Pigeons. This close-up shows the unusual form particularly well.

Ref: 20171103_df3_20170924_1537_007 wood pigeon on nest in front garden (crop 2 iris detail)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 28 Mar 2025 at 12:25 Image of day on 13 May 2025

We haven't previously noticed the subtle ring of close spaced 'bumps' in the ring around Wood Pigeon eyes.

Ref: 20250513_e6c_20250328_1225_020_fb4 wood pigeon on tree-stump (crop 2)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Nov 2016 at 08:04 Image of day on 27 Dec 2016

Notice the wet speckles on this Wood Pigeon's back as it's immaculate plumage shrugs off the wet.

Ref: 20161227_e64_20161122_0804_049_fb2 wood pigeon on wet leaf litter(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Apr 2019 at 19:15 Image of day on 24 May 2019

Frankenpigeon?
No - just an affectionate pair of Wood Pigeons.

Ref: 20190524_e60_20190425_1915_046_fb3 wood pigeon pair aligned(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Dec 2021 at 13:35 Image of day on 27 Jan 2022

Wood Pigeons now often appearing in pairs.

Ref: 20220127_e6a_20211227_1335_263_fb5 wood pigeon pair at meadow site(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 29 Dec 2021 at 13:24 Image of day on 27 Jan 2022

Wood Pigeons now often appearing in pairs.

Ref: 20220127_e64_20211229_1324_103_fb2 wood pigeon pair at woodland site as leaf drifts down(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 29 May 2024 at 08:22 Image of day on 18 Jun 2024

We are suckers for affectionate Pigeons.

Ref: 20240618_e60_20240529_0822_027_fb3 wood pigeon pair feeding together on kitchen bird table(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 20 Apr 2026 at 17:03 Image of day on 27 May 2026

A pair of Wood Pigeons snuggle together drinking from the submerged water dish. They are probably alternating drinking and keeping watch - the bird on the right has a drop of water falling from their beak and casting a shadow on the matt plumage.
Pigeons are one of a few bird species able to 'suck up' water (using their tongues to suck the water up) rather than most birds who just take as much water as will flow into the beak. It seems that all birds then tip their beaks back to pour the water down the gullet.

Ref: 20260527_e6a_20260420_1703_084_fb5 wood pigeon pair in contact as they drink (crop + insert)(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 05 Jun 2012 at 10:17 Image of day on 10 Jul 2012

This pair of Wood Pigeons are often around the house in treetops, post tops etc. Here they are mutually preening on the back of a seat.

Ref: 20120710_df1_20120605_1017_175+185+196+207 wood pigeon pair mutual preening on seat back 2-5 of 5 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Jan 2025 at 11:44 Image of day on 16 Feb 2025

This pair of Wood Pigeons on the kitchen bird table/perch have appeared as an obviously mated pair for the last 3 years. They often feed together, and trust each other over close spaced landings. They build a nest about 5m from the house but just out of line-of-sight from the kitchen window.

Ref: 20250216_e60_20250109_1144_011_fb3 wood pigeon pair on kitchen bird table & perch(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 May 2019 at 17:43 Image of day on 12 Jun 2019

Wood Pigeons pairs are so affectionate.

Ref: 20190612_e60_20190508_1743_069_fb3 wood pigeon pair perched together(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 02 May 2022 at 17:49 Image of day on 06 Jun 2022

"I'm sure there was more room here before".

Ref: 20220606_e60_20220502_1749_015_fb3 wood pigeon pair squeezed onto small bird table after perch collapses(r+mb id@432).jpg

Image Taken on 25 Dec 2021 at 13:34 Image of day on 27 Jan 2022

Wood Pigeons now often appearing in pairs.
Finish the last nest in November, start again in January?

Ref: 20220127_e64_20211225_1334_085_fb2 wood pigeon pair stepping over branch(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Jun 2023 at 17:43 Image of day on 19 Aug 2023

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

Ref: 20230819_e60_20230622_1743_017_fb3 wood pigeon pair watching something(r+mb id@576).jpg

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 02 Aug 2025 at 09:36 Image of day on 09 Oct 2025

This Wood Pigeon is perched in the top of metres long Hawthorn hedges smothered in red Haws.

Ref: 20251009_r70_20250802_0936_043 wood pigeon perched on hawthorn tree smothered in haws(r+mb id@576).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

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