Homage to Winged Rats

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Homage to Winged Rats

by CynthiaW

Today’s special animal friends are the pigeons, 33 extant species in the genus Columba. Don’t worry: I’m not going to cover all of them, just some of the cooler ones. Columba species are native to the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa). “But what about all those pigeons in the United States?” you may ask. Columba livia, the rock dove or rock pigeon, was domesticated more than 5,000 years ago. They were introduced to the Americas as a domesticated bird, so the current population is classified as feral. Although we sometimes call them “flying rats,” they are actually beautiful. Here are some in India:

The speckled pigeon, Columba guinea, is native to Africa. Like many African animals, they are found in a band across the continent south of the Sahara and in a separate area around the southern end, in the not-desert, not-jungle parts of Africa. They are a species of Least Concern. They have a bright red ring around the eye and a reddish back and neck with cute white markings. As is typical of pigeon species, males compete by fluffing up their neck feathers, bobbing, and rushing about.

The Common Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus, is found throughout Europe and in parts of the Middle East. They are permanent residents in western Europe and migratory in the eastern range, into western Siberia. Much of their diet consists of seasonal fruits and vegetables. They also eat a lot of cereal grains and are considered an agricultural pest. Hunting is legal in many countries, but it does not materially affect the population of this abundant species. They are very territorial. Males actively fight as well as posturing and hooting at one another.

Columba junoniae, the Laurel Pigeon, is endemic to the Canary Islands. It is rated Near Threatened by IUCN. It is called the Laurel Pigeon because it lives in laurel forests, of which large areas have been logged in recent decades. Introduced predators, especially rats, are also a threat. This species nests on the ground, which makes its eggs and chicks very vulnerable. The laurel pigeon is a beautiful plum color with the iridescent green-violet neck typical of Columba species.

The Rameron Pigeon, Columba arquatrix, has several discontinuous populations in eastern Africa and some way-off ones in eastern Angola and in Yemen. This implies that it once had a much broader range but was outcompeted by other species. It has a bright yellow eye-ring and beak, rufous-to-purple feathers, and white spots on its wings and breast. It is rated Least Concern.

Finally, the Comoro Pigeon, Columba pollenii, is found in the Comoro Islands off the coast of Mozambique. It has a ruff of white-tipped feathers on its neck, which it can fluff up to look impressive. It is Near Threatened due to hunting and habitat disruption. Research suggests that it does not live in agricultural areas, including tree plantations.