Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Image-of-the-Day by Subject

Birds - Pigeon & Doves Page 11

Image Taken on 26 May 2014 at 17:36 Image of day on 05 Aug 2014

If looks could kill ...
Pigeons and jackdaws actually tolerate each other well, but the apparent expression on the Jackdaw cracks us up each time we see this image.

Ref: 20140805_e62_20140526_1736_008_fb5 wood pigeon watched by jackdaw(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Sep 2023 at 09:01 Image of day on 14 Nov 2023

The wet breast tells us that this Wood Pigeon is 'shaking out' after a morning bathe.

Ref: 20231114_e64_20230926_0901_027_fb2 wood pigeon wet from bathing(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 21 Apr 2017 at 06:57 Image of day on 11 Jun 2017

Straight off Google: "Crop milk is a secretion from the lining of the crop of parent birds that is regurgitated to young birds. It is found among all pigeons and doves where it is referred to as pigeon milk. An analog to crop milk is also secreted from the esophagus of flamingos and some penguins."
The texture is much thicker than human or cattle milk, and we are sure that this pigeons breast feathers and beak are thoroughly gunged with it.

Ref: 20170611_d36_20170421_0657_043_fb4 wood pigeon with dribbled pigeon milk on breast(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 03 Dec 2016 at 14:16 Image of day on 12 Jan 2017

We particularly like this portrait of a wood pigeon, feathers fluffed out for some interesting detail.

Ref: 20170112_e60_20161203_1416_013_fb3 wood pigeon with fluffed up feathers(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Dec 2022 at 15:13 Image of day on 17 Jan 2023

This Wood Pigeon has their head down into the ever expanding hole started by the collapsed mouse hole.

Ref: 20230117_e6a_20221226_1513_104_fb5 wood pigeon with head in collapsed mouse hole(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Dec 2022 at 07:55 Image of day on 19 Jan 2023

A Wood Pigeon delicately swivels their head in an arc to pick up and swallow all the corn they can reach before moving on.

Ref: 20230119_e6a_20221226_0755_006_fb5 wood pigeon with head turned to pick up corn(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 09 Oct 2016 at 17:05 Image of day on 23 Nov 2016

This simple photo of a Wood Pigeon and female Pheasant quite took us by surprise. Surely even female Pheasants are bigger than Wood Pigeons? But a trawl through our ID book suggests that if you ignore the tails the birds size ranges are very similar.

Ref: 20161123_e62_20161009_1705_272_fb5 wood pigeon with neck feathers lost fighting + pheasant female (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 05 Jul 2024 at 08:08 Image of day on 12 Aug 2024

At the start of the rain that beautiful matt grey breast looks very tatty ...

Ref: 20240812_e6a_20240705_0808_040_fb5 wood pigeon with soaked breast feathers(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 23 May 2019 at 10:04 Image of day on 27 Jun 2019

We have an in-house joke that 3 twigs is enough for a Pigeon nest.
Here a Wood Pigeon is obviously not convinced by our counting.

Ref: 20190627_df5_20190523_1004_006+007+009 wood pigeon with stick in beak flies from concrete power post 1+2+4 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Apr 2020 at 07:58 Image of day on 23 May 2020

A piece of 'Timber' for nest improvements?

Ref: 20200523_e63_20200426_0758_190_fb1 wood pigeon with twig in beak(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 14 Jul 2012 at 13:03 Image of day on 20 Aug 2012

The birds don't care what an eyesore the overhead 11kV electrics have become - to them it is just a convenient place to perch.

Ref: 20120820_df1_20120714_1303_037 23 wood pigeons & others on wires near transformer (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 08 Mar 2023 at 13:56 Image of day on 11 Apr 2023

Two Wood Pigeons, one mostly hidden behind the other, sport a near perfect reflection in the still water of the main pond.

Ref: 20230411_pk1_20230308_1356_167 2 wood pigeons (one hidden behind other) feeding on edge of main pond island with reflection(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 27 Jun 2023 at 16:21 Image of day on 19 Aug 2023

3 immaculate Wood Pigeons check over the Meadow feeding site.

Ref: 20230819_e6a_20230627_1621_167_fb5 3 wood pigeons at meadow site(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 26 Apr 2021 at 19:51 Image of day on 01 Jun 2021

A pair of Wood Pigeons, probably getting amorous at sunset.
Well - they get amorous at every other time of day!

Ref: 20210601_e64_20210426_1951_100_fb2 2 wood pigeons at sunset(r+mb id@576).jpg

Image Taken on 02 Jan 2023 at 09:35 Image of day on 05 Feb 2023

A pair of Wood Pigeons getting 'Romantic'.

Ref: 20230205_df5_20230102_0935_002+0936_006+013 wood pigeons courting in young silver birch tree1- 3 of 3 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 22 Jul 2021 at 18:24 Image of day on 02 Sep 2021

On the grass in the meadow, togetherness, Wood Pigeon Style.

Ref: 20210902_e6a_20210722_1824_041_fb5 2 wood pigeons feeding together(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 24 Feb 2023 at 14:57 Image of day on 02 Apr 2023

These two beautiful Wood Pigeons remind us of a Pas de deux.
Actually ballet seems very artificial compared to the elegance of these two.

Ref: 20230402_e63_20230224_1457_128_fb1 2 wood pigeons in elegant positions at hedge bottom (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 04 Jun 2024 at 09:08 Image of day on 02 Jul 2024

A most unusual moment to capture is this simultaneous arrival at the Meadow Post of two Wood Pigeons. Normally one or both birds would veer away to avoid a collision and come around for another go, so we expect this is a 'pair' who trust the other bird not to create a problem.
Rather sweet - bird style.

Ref: 20240702_d01_20240604_0908_073+074_fb6 2 wood pigeons landing simultaneously on meadow post 1+2 of 2 (montage over 500ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg

Image Taken on 15 Nov 2024 at 10:08 Image of day on 21 Dec 2024

Our patch seems to be a favourite roost for Wood Pigeons, but, the moment we become visible, they depart.

Ref: 20241221_d72_20241115_1008_039 70 wood pigeons launch from black poplar trees near edge of meadow(r+mb id@1024).jpg

Image Taken on 30 Apr 2021 at 17:36 Image of day on 01 Jun 2021

A few days later we see this pair of Wood Pigeons indulge in a little afternoon nookie.

Ref: 20210601_d73_20210430_1736_048+065+070+076 wood pigeons mating on gate rail 1+4+5+8 of 8 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg

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