Columba livia Gmelin, 1789
Rock Pigeon, Rock Dove
CLASSIFICATION
Main Group: Animal
Sublevel 1: Vertebrate
Sublevel 2: Bird
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Columba
Species: Columba livia
STATUS IN NEW ENGLAND
Origin: Introduced
Invasive, Pest, or Pathogen?: No
Rarity Designations: None
BIOLOGY/ECOLOGY
Feeding Type: Heterotroph
HABITAT
NOTES
Often considered a nuisance in urban areas where their nests and dropping may cause property damage and health concerns. They may also contaminate food in grain handling facilities and be considered a hazard to jet aircraft (Williams and Corrigan, 1994).
PHOTOS OF Columba livia
In a city park
Cook County, IL
Date: 2003-10-07
Newburyport Harbor
Essex County, MA
Date: 2007-02-25
REFERENCES
Williams, D.E. and Corrigan, R.M. 1994. Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. Pigeons (Rock Doves). Cooperative Extension Division. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources University of Nebraska - Lincoln. U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Damage Control. Great Plains Agricultural Council Wildlife Committee. Available from: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1067&context=icwdmhandbook.