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Over 300 pigeon species are known worldwide. In Central Europe or Germany, the number is limited to five plus one unofficial category, which are described below.
In a nutshell
- unofficial pigeon species: domestic or ornamental pigeons
- Wild pigeons mostly crossbreeds of different domestic pigeons
- most common: city pigeon
wild pigeons
Wild pigeons are those that live in the wild, breed and grow up in freedom. Some specimens are kept in captivity. As a rule, their life expectancy is significantly higher there, because the risk of being poisoned, hit by a car or shot by natural predators is significantly lower. The following five wild pigeon species are native to Germany:
Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
This pigeon species, which is native to Germany, was given the name "Hohltaube" because of its preferred breeding place. Their pigeon nest is in hollow tree trunks where no other pigeon species breeds.
It stays mostly in "green" areas where it finds food. This can be urban parks, tree-filled gardens and forests. But they can also be seen in German coastal regions.
Characteristics:
- Average age: between eight and twelve years
- Height: 28 to 32 centimeters
- Average adult weight: 250 to 340 grams
- Colours: blue-grey; pink shimmering chest; greenish iridescent neck spot; delicate black wing bars; bright beak
- Voice/understanding: monotonous, soft "oo-uo" or "huuh".
- Activity period: migrate towards western and southern Europe in winter
- Special features: often in groups of up to 20 birds; very shy
Tip: Since there is a risk of confusion with the city pigeon, it is best to use the white markings as a guide. If these are missing, it is not a stock dove.
Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
In contrast to the most common city pigeon, the wood pigeon is mainly attracted to rural areas as well as to forests and open country. It has a comparatively small head. The tail is also a clear distinguishing feature due to its above-average length.
Characteristics:
- Average lifespan: up to twelve years in the wild; less often up to 15 years
- Height: 38 to 42 centimeters
- Average adult weight: 300 to 620 grams
- Colours: grey-blue; turquoise and white patch on the neck; upper side of wings with white horizontal stripe; light yellow iris
- Voice/Understanding: Slightly muffled, rhythmic "guh-guh-gugu-guh, guh-guh-gugu-guh" with main emphasis on first sound
- Period of activity: mostly all year round; some are migratory, moving to warmer areas in winter
- Special features: large wingspan of up to 72 centimeters; loud flight noise; maximum small group gathering; males larger and heavier than females; Juveniles without a white spot
City Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
An estimated five million city pigeons currently live in Germany. It is not a species of its own in the true sense of the word, but a wild domestic and carrier pigeon bred from the rock pigeon. They are also known as street pigeons. They owe their names to their predominant locations in cities and on roads that lead through densely populated areas. But even in villages, they often find a suitable habitat, which mainly depends on food sources.
Characteristics:
- Average age: two to three years; less often 15 years
- Height: 29 to 35 centimeters
- Average weight of adult specimens: up to 320 grams, depending on size
- Colours: mostly uniformly patterned dark gray or white-grey; some gray, pink-green iridescent throat; red-brown eyes
- Voice/Communication: Cooing "Kuh-ruh-kuh-kuh-kuh" or "Kur-roo-kuuh, kur-roo-kuuh"
- Activity period: all year round
- Special features: lifelong partnerships; no shy birds; often large group gatherings
Tip: City pigeons can easily be confused with stock pigeons. The white undersides of the wings and the dark beak make it easy to distinguish them from stock doves.
Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
The collared pigeons are descended from very dry areas such as semi-deserts and the dry savannah and have meanwhile also settled in Germany. Known until a few years ago as a very widespread pigeon species, the population is now rapidly declining. However, the collared pigeon, with between 100,000 and 187,000 breeding pairs, is not yet one of the endangered bird/pigeon species. Their preferred place of residence is in populated cities, where they sit and nest in sparse trees.
Characteristics:
- Average age: nine years; rarely older
- Height: 47 to 55 centimeters
- Average adult weight: 150 to 200 grams
- Colours: beige-grey; upper side mostly medium brown while breast area appears reddish; black neck ring; dark lower tail-covert with white tail-end border
- Voice/understanding: short "guh-guh guk" or "huh-huuhu"
- Period of activity: all year round with mild winter temperatures
- Special features: tend to seasonal partnerships; Wingspan between 47 and 55 centimeters
Notice: The collared pigeon is the only pigeon species among the precocious specimens. They can already be fertile at an age of between three and four months.
Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
Turtle doves are one of the species of pigeons that are considered undecided about their ideal breeding ground. When they return from wintering in southern Sahara in April or May, they fly around for some time and "enjoy" areas outside of preferred breeding grounds. It can take weeks before they begin their targeted search for a breeding site, which is usually a bush.
Characteristics:
- Average age: between eight and twelve years in freedom; up to 25 years in captivity
- Body size: 26 to 28 centimeters (smallest pigeon species native here)
- Average adult weight: 85 to 170 grams
- Colours: mainly grey-brown; upper head and outer elytra blue-grey; back and inner elytra rust-brown, black pen drawings in the middle; black and white striped spots on each side of the neck; throat and chest area slightly reddish; red eye rim; Eye bright red-orange to orange, black beak
- Voice/Communication: monotonous, purring, deep "turrrr-turrrr-turrrr"
- Activity period: deduct between late July and October (only long-haul flier)
- Additional information: wingspan of 45 to 50 centimeters; slim, tapered wings for high flight speeds; graceful, rounded physique
Notice: Did you know that the turtledove is a symbol of love and happiness? However, white carrier pigeons are used at weddings as a romantic ritual.
rock pigeons and domestic pigeons
The domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) descend from the rock pigeons (Columba livia) and represent a separate species in Germany in addition to wild pigeons. Domestic pigeons were first bred in the Orient. One of the oldest specimens is the carrier pigeon, which owes its name to its ability to fly to direct destinations and fly back to the starting point.
In the following, the most popular and most common domestic pigeon species are briefly described.
Domestic and rock pigeons from A to D
Old German Mövchen (Columba livia domestica "Altdeutsches Mövchen")
Because of their similarity to sea gulls, this pigeon species received the shortened part of the name "Mövchen". The old German version forms the basis for other Mövchen pigeons. It has been around for over 300 years but was only recognized as a breed pigeon in 1956.
Source: Uikitireza, Pigeon cravaté Allemand bleu barré, edited by Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
- Age: between eight and twelve years
- Size: up to 40 centimeters
- Weight of awakening animals: between 180 and 230 grams
- Colour: white with brown, gray or black wings
- Wingspan: between 80 and 90 centimeters
- Special features: “cockscomb” on the head/back of the head
Carrier pigeon (Columba livia domestica "carrier pigeon")
The carrier pigeons are swarm birds that have an exceptionally good sense of direction. With the right training, they are able to cover several hundred kilometers in one go. Flight speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour are not uncommon.
- Age: between ten and fifteen years
- Size: between 30 and 35 centimeters
- Weight of awakening animals: between 280 and 340 grams
- Colour: numerous colors from uni to multicolored possible
- Wingspan: 70 centimeters
- Special features: recognizable by two rings on the feet: colored bandage ring with black numbers on the right, electronic ring with the breeder's telephone number on the left
Brno pouter (Columba livia domestica "Brno pouter")
Brno pouters have a very eye-catching appearance. This type of pigeon can usually only be found with experienced breeders, because they place high demands on the attitude and care.
Source: Jiel Beaumadier (http://jiel.b.free.fr), Jielbeaumadier pigeon boulant bruenner agr paris 2013, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Age: between eight and eleven years
- Size: Up to 40 centimeters tall when standing upright
- Weight of awakening animals: up to 250 grams
- Colour: numerous colors from single and multi-coloured, to mackerel and checkered to gray and pure white
- Wingspan: between 80 and 100 centimeters
- Special features: originally from the Czech Republic; pouter pigeon; fine, elegant exterior; temperamental, lively; spherical blowing mechanism (goiter)
from E to Z
Ice dove / trout dove (Columba livia domestica "Eistaube")
The ice pigeon is one of the oldest race pigeon species in Germany. They are very good flyers and take care of their offspring completely on their own.
Source: Graham Manning, Ice Pigeon, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Age: between eight and eleven years
- Size: up to 45 centimeters growth height
- Weight of awakening animals: up to 700 grams
- Color: ice blue base color; greyish underplumage; dark wing and tail markings
- Wingspan: up to 3.5 meters
- Special features: is (indirectly) one of the German color pigeons; shy creature
Color Dove (Columba livia domestica "Color Dove")
The color pigeons are a breed that includes numerous particularly colored specimens. They are divided into southern German, Franconian, Thuringian, Saxon and Silesian color pigeons. Czech and Slovakian species are now also being bred in Germany. The color pigeon "Eistaube" represents a separate species.
Danish Goldfinch; Source: jim gif.webpford, Danish suabien(red - rodsvaber), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Age: between ten and seventeen years
- Size: up to 40 centimeters high
- Weight of awakening animals: between 750 and 950 grams
- Color: white, white-grey, white-brown, black-reddish, black-grey, black-brown; mostly with colored drawings
- Wingspan: usually around 100 centimeters
- Distinctive features: smooth-headed, crests or caps on heads; compact, strong physique
Fantail / Garden fantail (Columba livia domestica "Pfauttaube")
As one of the only species of domestic pigeons, fantails do not fall under the exhibition animals. It originally comes from England, where it still has its main breeding area today. She is so popular throughout Central Europe and especially in Germany that she has now found a new home here as well.
Source: Tango7174, Lazio Montecassino2 tango7174, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Age: between ten and fifteen years
- Size: up to 25 centimeters growth height
- Weight of awakening animals: between 450 and 570 grams
- Color: white, pure white, silver white; glossy or matte
- Wingspan: up to 150 centimeters
- Special features: fanned out, funnel-shaped tail, which it can stretch out like a peacock
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there species that result from crossing wild pigeons?Yes and no. As a rule, crosses are exclusively about the city pigeon, which can cross with feral domestic pigeons - or two feral domestic pigeons of different species, from which the classic city pigeon arises. For example, the fact that a turtle dove crosses with a stock dove rarely if ever happens.
Can you catch wild pigeon species and keep them as pets?It depends on the city regulation and the species. The catching of wild animals and thus also of wild pigeons is prohibited by law according to paragraph 4, paragraph 1, number 1 of the Federal Species Protection Constitution. Only in exceptional cases and in the case of wild pigeons, which includes the right to hunt, can a permit exist or be granted. Traps may not be set up.
Where are the most species of pigeons?Of the currently just over 300 pigeon species, over 200 are native to South Asia and Australia. There are only 29 species of pigeons in the Palearctic. Five of them fall on Central Europe and Germany.