Woodpigeon (Common Wood Pigeon)
Columba palumbus
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Distribution Britain 2,510 (-2.3%) Ireland 945 (-1.2%)
Numbers breeding: Britain 2,350,000 Ireland 900,000 European status: 10,000,000 (33% in Britain and Ireland =1) British population trend: increasing apace (+55% CBC){+201%} How likely are you to record it? 4012 squares (89.3%) Ranked 1 [5=] |
This is the largest pigeon and was a bird of woods until it started to breed in isolated trees, hedgerows, villages and towns from about 150 years ago. The birds have spread to the far west of Ireland and are now colonising the islands and in Scotland they had occupied most of the mainland many years ago but, more recently, are to be found breeding on Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. Many died through toxic chemical poisoning in the 1950s and 1960s but the population did not suffer noticeably. There is a steady increase in CBC index from a very strong level. This may be because the birds are able to survive well in winter, grazing growing crops, and the arrival of autumn sown oilseed rape may be beneficial. Concerted efforts to reduce population through organised shooting, in February, when the game shooting season has closed, seem to have no effect. Onwards ever and upward!
The following Bird On! picture is available:
Woodpigeon (35mm Colour Slide by Roger Tidman)
The following Bird On! sketch is available:
From
The
State of the Nations Birds
Copyright © 2000 by Chris Mead